Evening star., 1927-10-24
Flying With General Patrick. :.
BY MAI. GEN. NJ. NJ. PATRICK, :,
CHIEF or THE ARMY AIR CORPS.
Pioneers in Aviation.

Mans conquest of the air is no
more remarkable than the rapid prog
ress that has been made in aviation
since Wilbur Wright, in 1903, made
the first successful, Self-sustained,
man-controled flight in a heavier-than-
air machine, driven by a gasoline en-
gine. There had been sporadic at
tempts since the early ages to initiate
birds in flight, but to develop the
first practical airplane was left to
American inventive genius of the
twentieth century.
With the earliest stages of airplane
experimentation in this country are
connected the names of Prof. Samuel
p. Langley and Orville and Wilbur
Wright AS early as 1894 Prof. Lang
ley constructed a model which flew
successfully without pilot or passen-
ger for mO1e than a minute This
flight attracted considerable attention,
and was taken to prove the possibility
of mechanical flight. 1t resulted in
the United States Government making
available $4,000 for the construction
of full sized, man-carrying airplane.
Langley's work was carried on later
with the assistance of Charles NJ.
Manly, who designed a five,cylinder
engine for one of the Langley planes.
The engine, which developed about so
horsepower and weighed about 12O
pounds. drove two propellers connect
ed indirectly with the engine. Two
Nights were attempted, in Octo.
her and in December, 1908, but both
failed because of launching gear diff
culties. Mr.. Manly. who designed the
engine, was the pilot in both instances.
and it may be said that he was the
pioneer airplane pilot He died just a
week ago, and such would be fitting
tribute for his contribution to the de.
velopment of aviation.
Although Langley's experiments
were unsuccessful, and because of
their failure the Government withdrew
its support aviation, nevertheless,
owes much to him because of the in
formation gained through his expert
ments. In 1914 the plane which Manly
was unable to fly in 1903 was equipped
with pontoons and was flown success
fuliy, thus showing that Langleys
design essentially was air-worthy.
While Langley was conducting his
experiments on the Potomac. the
Wright Brothers were experimenting
with gliders in the vincinity of Kitty
Hawk, n. c. After several years of
they installed an
engine in their glider and on Decem.
Der II, 1903, Orville Wright made
he first successful fight in an airplane.
His first flight lasted II seconds,
but 1t was successful in every re-
pect. The same day Wilbur Wright
in the same plane covered distance
of S52 feet in SO seconds, against a
20-mile wind.
Encouraged by their success, the
Wrights continued their experiments
the following year near Dayton, Ohio,
where they made more than 100
nights. Despite their accomplish
ments, they found it difficult to in.
terest capital to continue their re.
searches. The apathy of the Ameri-
can public forced the Wright broth
ers to go abroad. and they were IA
vorably received in Europe.
No attempt was made to develop
the airplane for military purposes in
America after the unsuccessful at.
tempt by Langley. until July l. 1907,
when an aeronautical division was
established in the office of the Chief
signal Corps Officer. Lieut.. y. f.
Selfridge was detailed to the home
OF Dr. Alexander Graham Bell to in
vestigate his aeronautical expert
ments. This was the beginning of the
present Army Air Corps.
Late in 1907 the government adver-
tised, asking for bids for the con.
struction of military airplane.
More than 20 bids, ranging from $500
to $o5 900. were received and, although
two bids were accepted, the Wright
Brothers were the only ones to de.
liver an airplane under the contract.
They made delivery in August. 1908.
at purchase price of 5000.
10 ircf
it is interesting to note the conditions
imposed by the specifications. The
machine was required to develop a
speed of SO miles per hour; to be able
on its trial flight to remain contin.
uously in the air for one hour; to
carry two persons and to have suf-
hciert fuel for Il flight of 125 miles.
The specifications also required that
the machine should he readily as.
sembled and disassembled, capable of
being transported in army wagons.
placed in operation in one hour, and
able to ascend in any country en-.
countered in field service.
tCopyright 1921