Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
America Loses a Trophy.


Oryille wrigft's decision TO send his
famous bi-plane, the first in the world
10 make a sustained free flight under
its own power and carrying man.
to the British Science Museum in Lon
don instead of to the Smithsonian here
is the unfortunate outcome of what
has appeared from its inception to be
rather a childish controversy In max
ing his final decision MIR. Wright may
have satisfied his egoism. but his action
viii cause no sympathetic response from
the American people. To them it must
appear somewhat small.
The controversy between the Wrights
and the Smithsonian may have begun
back in 1908. when the Smithsonian
offered them a place in the museum
for any model that they chose 70 send,
the original machine which made the
first fight at Kittyhawk. N. c.. minia-
ture reproduction of the machine, or
a model Of the machine which few the
same year at Fort Myer. To this offer
the Wrights never replied. evidently
ha,in: been dissatisfied with its terms.
But it was the reconstruction Of the
old Langley machine and its conse-
quent fight in 1914. powered by Cur
lis engine. that seems to have been the
root Of the whole difnculty. After its un-
successful launching by a catapuit back
In 1903. the experiments on the Lang
ley plane ceased and the wreck was
stored in a loft at the Smithsonian.
There il repoSed until 1914. when 1t
was equipped with pontoons and
operated to demonstrate that it would
fiy. Some time after this. demonstration
it was placed in the museum.
MIR Wright charged the Smithsonian
with 'mutilating" the Langley model
and with having enormously labeled it
as the first 'man-carrying" plane cap
able Of sustained fight. He demanded
hat before he would agree TO placing his
machine IN the Smithsonian the label
on the Langley model should be
changed. and in addition imposed a
number Of other conditions upon the
Smithsonian. some OF which were ap-
parently unacceptable TO the authori-
ties. But the label On the Langley was
changed 70 read:
In the opinion of many competent 10
Judge. this was the first heavier than
air craft II the history Of the world
capable of sustained free flight under
It's own power. carrying a man.
This aircraft slightly antedated the
machine designed and built by VIII
bur and OryiDe Wright. which on De-
cember II, 1903. was the first In the
history Of the world 10 accomplish siis-
tanned free flight under its own power,
carrying man.
Despite this change. which gave the
Wrights credit for building the first
plane TO fiy. with man. although the
machine built earlier by Prof Langley
was capable Of fight. Mr.. Wright re-
manned unsatisfied. and after making
a number OF threats, he has finally
| carried them out by sending hts plane
10 rest In a museum In England Ac-
cording 10 the terms Of his agreement
with the British museum. MIR. Wright
can withdraw his plane whenever he
desires. But he has admitted In an In
terview that he never expects 10 with.
| draw IT,
The names Of Wright and Langley are
! for all time identified as pioneers In
the science OF aviation. Nothing car
detract from the credit which they de-
serve. The names viii be remembered
long after the personalities Of those who
bore them have been forgotten That Or.
vile Wright. the survivor OF an epoch.
making trio. should DO anything which
On us face appears az clubbing owe,
! an unimportant division Of credit viii
come al a keen disappointment 10 mil.
lions Of his admirers.