FLYING MACHINES. PURCHASES BY UNITED STATES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1908, Page 7

FLYING MACHINES. PURCHASES BY UNITED STATES.

By Telr?rtiph.--ir > r(;3 Association.— CVpjright. (Received Fcoruary 10, 8.55 v. in.) NEW YORK, 9th February. Mr. Taft, United Fitatcs Secretary for War, on behalf uf tho American Board 1 cf Ordnance, has accepted three tEers of heavier than air flying machines:, including Wright Brothers', which are to be delivered with.n 200 days, at a I cost of £5000. THE BEGINNING OF FLIGHT. Both Wilbur and Orvillo Wright, of Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A., are qnito unlike the common idea, of tho "Typical Amerij nans." They are quiet, reserved young gentlemen, who absolutely strive to avoid publicity and shun anything liko notoriety, either for themselves or their epoch-creating invention. By occupation thoy wero cycle-makers, and were bom in Ohio of threo or four generations of American ancestors. They became interested in tho problem of aerial navigation, and began in practical fashion the business of experimenting. Turning their attention to kites, arid then to "gliders," they becamo famous in a short time as experts in launching into the air stretched and seated upon various aeroplane devices: Somo were like birds' wings, others wero more, liko gigantic box-kites lying in a horizontal position. With those and other contrivances they phot off the sides of hilla, fiprang from heights, and, cooring and gliding, camo down Bornefcimes at considerable distances from their startingplaco. They watched and studied tho movements of soaring bird 3, from the buzzard to the gull, and mado uso of many types of "gliders." They did not escape without occasional tails and knocks, but gradually they evolved a type of glider over which they obtained periocl control when in the air. There wero attached to it appliances which thoy could move so that they camo to bo able to me when in motian and to turn to right or loft. But, besu ! of all, they found a form that gavo absolute stability, and which enabled them to alight oil the ground with jlovfect ease and safety. 1 TYPE. OF MACHINE. They had at last by patienco and dexterity made a great diocoveiy, and it only remained to attach to the apparatus somo kinds of motive power to obksin flight without tho aid of a balloon. Yet they found that a suitable motor .vas not to be picked up anywhere, nor was a satisfactory form of propulsion to be found without experiment. In the end thoy secured both, carrying out with their own hands all tha changes required from first to last in the ccnktruction of their Hying machine and the engines. Outwardly tho Wrights' aeroplane does not appear to differ vory ! materially from the double-decked-like i kites or "gliders" used by Cha,nuto, Archdeacon, and other pioneers of aerial navigation. It looks like a long narrow framework, a 30 feet, length or web of cotton cloth, a few feet above which a : similar ship extends both being held equidistant in a light frame, stiffened by supports. The machine is, indoed, not unlike Cody's kites, which have now been officially included in the list of equipment curried by an army in the field. But although outwardly the Wright Brothers' aeroplane is similar to some of Archdeacon's "gliders," having a tail-piece, yet the resemblance goes no further. The Wrights have a distinction in the shape of their aeroplane, and it is that unnoticed variation which has made all the difference in value, for their modification ensures to them pertect stability and control. It has been assumed by many that their success is only duo to expert handling, but the Wrights declare that learning to control one of their aeroplanes can bo accomplished by any person, and it can be acquired quicker than the art of riding a bicycle. ANYONE CAN FLY. It distinctly means that with little trouble and scarcely any risk, any ordinary man or woman can be taught how to fly — to fly low, to &oar aloft ljke a skylark, to turn and to alight softly and safely even upon hard ground. But perhaps naturally the turf is tho most pleasant ground upon which to come down. Both of the Wrights have flown distances of over twenty-four miles with their small machines. Tho speed obtained was greater than that got out of any dirigible galloon. With an incveabo in size of the aeroplane and a corresponding higher rating of horse-power in tho motor used, aeroplanes could be mado to lift very heavy weights, be driven at fifty miles or more an hour, and sent upon journeys of hundreds of miles. When iv the air the Wrights have often stopped their motor, to find that their machine, as before, was under perfect control. They have tried their aeroplane in various ways — stopping and starting the engines, coming down with the propellers or screws at rest, or driving them in a fashion £0 mako tho craft do their smallest bidding. They have found the screw the most convenient form wheiewith to drive their Hying machines through tho air. The apparatus with which they have conducted many of their absolutely successful flying feats weighed altogether over 9501b of dead weight, of which about 1501b should be deducted as the avoirdupois of Mr. Orvillo Wright.