Mastery of the Air. DAILY MAIL COMPETITION TRIAL OF /EROPLANES. Disappointing Results.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 10, 1 August 1907, Page 360

Mastery of the Air. DAILY MAIL COMPETITION TRIAL OF /EROPLANES. Disappointing Results.

This enterprising paper has reduced the hopes of some recent " flyers " to pulp. Great interest was shown in the trials of the model flying machines entered for the " Daily Mail " competition, which were held by the Aero Club of the United Kingdom, in the Alexander Palace, on 13th April. The enthusiasm of the crowd was somewhat damped by the many failures, and their sense of humour not infrequently aroused by the comical evolutions of some of the machines, especially when, after one dismal failure, Mr. Hewitt Griffin threw a paper dart into the midst of the hall, which flew a great deal better than the two preceding aeroplanes. The preliminary tests took place inside the building, in a large hall. Several of the machines either dropped to the ground or performed weird evolutions. The trials appeared to prove little or nothing. There was little to be learnt, and nothing startling was accomplished. The only two machines worthy of mention were Mr. A. Y. Roe's aeroplane, propelled by elastic, and Mr. W. F. Howards' diamond shaped glider, driven by clockwork. Mr. Roe's machine came as a welcome surprise after the first few unsuccessful attempts, and in its first flight almost reached the net at the end of the open space. The second attempt was even better, while at the third a boundary was scored. Mr. Howard's device, which consisted of a diamond shaped kite, with its sides slightly bent upwards, and two uprights low down, on one of which the clockwork motor and propeller were situated — was attached to a long tape, and sailed gracefully across the open space. , A further test was held in the open a±r, on a downward slope. Here again the machines entered by Messrs. Roe and Howard were pre-eminently successful. That run by the latter gentleman, however, seemed to swerve somewhat on occasions. In its best flight it traversed 108 feet 6 inches. Mr. P. W. K. Clarkes machine, which did not distinguish itself in the hall, behaved much better in the open, and travelled 80 feet. No first prize was given, on the ground that none of the competing machines behaved sufficiently well to deserve it. Mr. A. Y. Roe therefore was awarded the second prize of £75, and Mr. W. F. Howard the third prize of £25. But an aeroplane exhibition without the Wright Brothers is like Hamlet with the Prince left out. These two young Americans have, without doubt, gone furthest in aerial navigation, but their success has largely been due to secrecy, and so they did not take part in the Islington exhibition. Curiously enough, they were first inspired to experiment by seeing the toy made by a French cripple mined Penaud. Until 1903 their machine was merely a glider, with its tail in front instead of behind. On 17th December, 1903

a motor was used, and one of the brothers flew for 59 seconds against a strong wind. Two years later they covered 94 miles in six flights. One witness who saw a 21 mile flight, said that he wished he could control his automobile as well as Orville Wright managed his big flying machine. It is remarkable that such success should have been achieved by men who had so little money to back their experiments. Their invention has become the centre of public interest in aerial locomotion circles in both England and America. In a recent issue we gave a fine illustration of the machine, worked by one of the brothers. The most interesting query of the day is — "Is he the first man to fly ?"' Professor Alexander Graham Bell, Peter Cooper Hewitt, A. M. Herring, Israel Ludlow, and the Wright brothers will compete in a contest that has just been arranged for 14 th September, at the Jamestown Exposition grounds, Norfolk, Virginia. The Wright brothers will use their improved flying machine, and the others are all building new machines of the heavier than air type. It is stipul?ted that the successful machine must fly at least 1000 feet and start under its own power.