THE ADVANCE OF THE AEROPLANE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 September 1908, Page 2

THE ADVANCE OF THE AEROPLANE.

» IS THE AIR BEING CON- » QTJERED? THE news that Mr Orville Wright j remained over 72 minutes in the air when making the most recent trial of _ of his aeroplane confirms the impression already gaining ground that the . Wright Brothers, according to latest . tests, are easily first with flying ma- • chinos of the class known as ' ' heavier- than *<aJr. " After m any secret trials tbe daring brothers havo ■ come out and givon displays that eclipse the performances of M. Henri Fnrman and M. Delagrange in France, ) and also of Count von Zeppelin in ) Germany. In trials made before Mr Orville Wright's most recent demonstration one of the brothers flew ■ 2500 metres, or about a milo and a half, in lmin. 4osecs., a performance which completely put in the shade | Zeppelin's best records with his ill- , fated airahip. But tho most valuablo attribute of the aeroplane waa its "bird-like" movements and its capacity to soar and skim, while tlie operator averred that he could have remained in the air very much longer than he did. Presumably tho construction of the aeroplano has now reached a stage at wliich tho period during which it can remain in the nir is conditioned simply by the capacity of the motor. • • • • ■ Tho stability already attained makos it clear that the main problems of aerial navigation have been overcome, and rapid improvements are now a certainty. The superiority of tho aeroplane to the dirigible balloon typo of airship is being made manifest by the Wright brothers. But it has yet to be shown that the aeroplane will withstand bad weather — if it will be as safe, or, indeed, a safer, conveyance than tho great gas-inflated airships which, like Count von Zeppelin's and many othere, have begun their careers in triumph and endod in disaster, mostly due to tho weathor. The birds of the air seek shelter from the coming storm, warned by their unfailing instinct of selfproservation. Will man's science and man's appliances ever bo so perfect to foretell tho approach of weather in mid-air in sufficient time to enable an aoroplano to get to shelter, nnd yet so long in advanoe that hours and days may be lost whilo waiting for tho disturbance to arrivo and pass away? In fiction ho . airship simply dodges out of a storm ( stratum by going up or down. In ■ everyday practice, however, it remains tobe seen whether science will bo able to achieve this movement — and till the safety under all aerial , conditions is assured the commercial value of ships of the air must remain problematical. j