FLIGHT OS THE AEROPLANE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2519, 4 June 1909, Page 6

FLIGHT OS THE AEROPLANE

A TRIP WITH WRIGHT BROTHERS

(By tho Hon C. S. Rolls.)'

From the day I first met tlio Brothers Wright, in the year 1896, I have never had the slightest doubt as to the genuineness, of their accomplishments, or the correctness of their statements. One could not do otherwise after meeting them, for all who know them say their character is such that they cannot lie. I will therefore say nothing as to the wonderful capacity of their machines, which has been established for several years; suffice it to say that after experience- with every form of locomotion, including eye'e and motor racing, a voyage in a dirigible balloon of the French Army, and over 130 trips in an ordinary balloon, there is nothing so fascinating or exhilarating as flying. , It gives one an entirely new sense of life. The power of flight is as a fresh gift from the Creator, the greatest treasure yet given to man, and one, I believe, destined to work great changes in human life as we know it to-day. Since the earliest flights in America some years ago I have followed the systematic progress of the Brothers Wright with great enthusiasm, and have of recent months been a frequent trespasser at tho Camp d’Auvors (near Le Mans), where I have had the honor of many interesting talks on our pet subject with Mr. Wilbur Wright and his courteous associate, Mr. Hart Berg. But I have never expected the privilege of an actual flight with one of the great brothers; however,, the happy moment —I may say of my life—came while watching in the early morning of last Thursday some adjustments and preparations of the machine, when Mr. Wright suddenly turned and with bis pleasant smile and quiet voice said to me, “Mr. Rolls, I guess I’ll take you up this morning.” Naturally, my feelings would he difficult to describe. The Sensation Of Flight.

I had spent long periods in vain to see a flight, once waiting there a week without seeing the machine emerge from the shed, owing to continuous bad weather; hut patience was now rewarded and I was to have more than I had hoped for, viz., an actual flight. When all was at last ready I took my seat on the flyer, taking care to fasten my cap well down, for the meter was running well and we expected to attain some high speeds. The roar of the engine commenced, the starting weights were released, and off we went with a bound, hut not a worse one than when starting on a switchback. Before reaching the end of the rail we had left it and were in the air. We were flying. Once clear of the ground the. feeling of security was perfect, and I was able to watch with great interest the movements of the operating levefs. We tore along at 40 miles' an hour, and soon came to the first corner. Here a point of interest to motorists was demonstrated, viz,, that no matter at what speed a curve is taken the machine adjusts its own banking, so to speak and at the will of the operator it tilts up gracefully when taking a turn, and is” therefore equivalent to a motor-car tilting up the road in front of it so that it is always “banked” to .-just the correct angle to suit the speed at which a curve is taken; all liability to skid outwards being thus avoided. Those accustomed to motor racing on road or track will appreciate the effect of this, which is that taking a curve on a flying machine will, instead of being more dangerous, he actually safer than on an automobile. The prevalence of “undulations” of the atmosphere rendered very close attention to the two levers controlling the equilibrium and altitude. I noticed that both these were kept constantly on the “joggle” with slight movement.' One has been accustomed to consider the atmosphere as a mass of air, decreasing in density with its altitude, but otherwise uniform; experience on a power-given flyor 5 sliows ‘thau far from this being the case, the atmosphere near the earth’s surface—even in what we. call warm weather —is made up of spiral movements of varying diameter, sometimes vertical and sometimes horizontal, undulations of all sorts—little hills and valleys, and “streams” of air—in fact, one might call ita new “wqrld” conquered by man. A world with “scenery” of great variation which though invisible to the eye, is none the less felt by the operator ot a flving machine. STEERING DIFFICULTIES.

To maintain equilibrium and steering control, while battling with these complex movements of the air, has been the great problem which for centuries has baffled human ingenuity, and which is now solved by tho Wright Brothers after years of systematic study and experiment. . , Sometimes wo flew above the trees, sometimes wo flew three feet off tho ground, entirely at the will of the operator, who thus showed the most perfect control over his machine that anyone could imagine. The side gusts and varving currents which wo encountered at times, caused gentle dipping motions not unlike a switchback, but always under complete control. Our speed in tho early, morning caused tears to roll down our cheeks, hut with goggles oil one would have no difficulty in reading a map, making notes, or taking photographs, etc. After a flight of several nnles a descent was begun for landing. At tlio right moment the engine was stopped and we came to ground so gently that I found it impossible to tell exactly when the runners first touched the surface. On landing, we skimmed along the surface rather like a toboggan, comino- to a standstill a few yards from our starting point. The sensation ot flight was novel and delightful, and the fact of accomplishing what several eminent scientists have, “proved impossible gavo also an added satisfaction. With regard to the art of flying, Mr. Wri'dit and his machine, seem to work together as one unit; the management of a machine of this kind in .breezy weather. however, is not at all easy; at tlio same time, it can only require patience and careful practice before any intelligent man possessed of coolness and good judgment can learn. THE MEN

I would like to say a word about the. personality of thc.se remarkable men One cannot converse with them without being struck by thoir extraordinary intelligence, simple tastes, unassuming mariner, and their absolute mastery of the subject. They have obtained tlieir results entirely through their own work; their machine is built on data and formulae established by their own. experiments all'booksi being found to he so full of inaccuracies as to , bo practically useless to them. Thev have lived through continual accusations of “bluff.” disbelief, and ridicule, and were unaffected; now they have seen the sudden turn of popular opinion, the enthusiasm of the world at their success, and have sprung into .. ... 11 ; lII| ■ ill llifSliiiSiSiWiiiliffliHli Si Wm

fame, hut they are still equally unaffected, "ursuing tlieir daily work "ivitli thoir own hands, and in their own quiet way, as though ignorant of having done anything out of the ordinary; yet tho work of these two men will, I believe, in time bring about one of tho greatest changes that the world has ever seen, even as great as the telegraph, the telephone, or railway train. Aero Club, London; Oct. 9, 1908.