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SANTOS-DUMONT'S SUCCESSFUL FAILURE.

I - ______ . The daring attempts of the young Brazilian aeronaut,; Santas-Doraont, to achieve tlie conquest of the air, command a sympathetic interest that is world-wide in its influence. The possibilities suggested by these flights through the.air must appeal to the least imaginative mind, just as the pluck and perseverance of the aeronaut excite our admiration. The latest experiment of Santos-Dumont is ifche most successful he has yet attempted! The task he had set himself was.to win the £4000 offered by M. Deutsch to the first aeronaut who would sail in an airship of his own construction from St. Cloud round tile Eiffel Tower and back, a distance of nine miles.' If ever a competitor deserved success, surely it is Santos-Dumont. Not once, but several times has he essayed tbe daring flight, and "although olten„wifchin an ace of victory, complete'success has never crowned his efforts. In the latest attempt, reported in our cable messages this morning, the aeronaut was only 44 seconds behind the stipulated ti_nc> so that for all practical purposes he may be said to hare j accomplished the task to which he so resolutely set himself. Few men would have persevered as he Ins done in the face of so many mishaps and narrow escapes from death. Our readers may remember that only last month SantosDumont nearly lost his life in the wreck of his fifth airship. But his unlimited confidence in his methods is equalled only by his absolute fearlessness, aad each reverse has bat served as an incentive' to fresh efforts. It is with little surprise, therefore, that we read of tha ovation accorded to Santos-Dmnont alter bis last attempt by the enthusiastic Parisians. In spite of his having been forty-four seconds behind the stipulated time, it is safe to any that if the prize were awarded by, popular vote it would be given. to him. without hesitation. The airship used by Santos-Dumont in

this latest flight differs from his previous inachines in that the balloon portion, instead of beting cigar-shaped, has the : form of an ellipsoid. The change in. construction was made with the object of pre* ventiag the balloon from doubling up and collapsing in a head wind, as did the last one, and' as the cable states that he encountered a strong wind, the innovation appears to have proved a -access. Santos* I DumoQfe'a achievements do not prove that ;he has mastered all the secrets of aerial 1 navigation, but, none the less, they mark a distinct advance towards that end.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19011022.2.22

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11102, 22 October 1901, Page 4

Word Count
420

SANTOS-DUMONT'S SUCCESSFUL FAILURE. Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11102, 22 October 1901, Page 4

SANTOS-DUMONT'S SUCCESSFUL FAILURE. Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11102, 22 October 1901, Page 4