LATEST AEROPLANE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 273, 11 August 1908, Page 7

LATEST AEROPLANE.

PURCHASED BY FRANCE.

DESCRIBED AS A REVELATION. BIRDLIKE QUALITIES. 'by telegraph—tress association—corrKianT.) (Rcc. August 10, 10.32 p.m.) . Paris, August 10. Tlio Wright brothers' aeroplane, which was recently sold to tk: French Government,,flew 2500 metres (about 2730 yards), at a height of thirty feet, in 105 seconds, at Lake Leman. Tho aeroplane was quite under control, circled easily, and was flown for hours. There is great enthusiasm in France over its success. Press reports declare that the aeroplane displayed remarkable birdlike' qualities in the way of soaring, skimming, and turning. Exports described it as a revelation in aerial flight.

REPORTED SALE FOR £40,000. Tho Wright Bros., of Dayton, Ohio, who in May last were challenged by Mr. Farman, have for the most, part preserved secrecy as to tho details of their aeroplanes; but they are credited on independent authority with great flights. It was cabled on May 10 from New York that they had covered 25 miles, partly against tho wind. Prior to that, the following flights by tho Wrights were recorded:— Cause Date. Miles (Metros). Time. of Stopping. Sept. 26 11.125 (17,961) 18min. 9s. Exhaustion of fuel. Sept. 29 12,00 (19,570) 19min. 555. Exhaustion of fuel. Oct. 3 15.25 (24.535) 25min. ss. Hot bearing. Oct. 4 20.75 (33,456) 33min. 17s. Hot bearing. Oct. 5 24.20 (38,956) 38min. 13s. Exhaustion of fuel.

Tho Wrights, who are koen business Americans, last year toured Europe, and, it would seem, opened up negotiations for the sale of their aeroplane in Paris, Berlin, and St. Petersburg. The following Paris advico probably explains how France secured' tho Wright machines: — "Tho 'Echo do Paris' announces, under reserve, that a French company lias purchased for ,£40,000 tho secret of the aeroplane invented by the'Wright Brothers, of America. This aeroplane is said to have flown successfully for more than twenty miles, and the purchase is conditional on the inventors being able to manoeuvre it over a space of several miles at a height of 300 yards. The negotiations aro sajd to have taken place when Mr. Wilbur Wright passed through Paris on his way to Germany. It is stated that tho Ministers ot War and of Marino havo promised to buy a dozen of the machines if they prove successful."

Some timo ago it was stated that tho United States War Department was buying Wright aoroplanes. The British War Office is understood to bo experimenting with aeroplanes as well as with dirigible balloons; but tho latter, as represented by the Zeppelins, La Patrie, Nulli Secundus, etc., have so far received tho chief attontion of the military authorities in Europe.