NO. 5 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND WRIGHT BROTHERS 21 



written by Mr. G. H. Curtiss on April i, 19 14. The machine was 

 thereupon sent to the shops of the Curtiss Aeroplane Company at 

 Hammondsport, New York, on April 2, 1914, and the engine was 

 shipped on April 13, 1914. 



13. In preparing the machine for flight with the original engine, 

 certain modifications and additions were made. These were due, in 

 the main, to the fact that, whereas the original machine was fitted 

 for use with a catapult, these new tests were to be made from the 

 surface of a lake, using hydroplaning floats. Therefore, certain 

 changes were necessary to attach these floats to the machine and to 

 properly inter-brace them and the supporting surfaces together. 



14. It is perfectly clear from the correspondence between the 

 Smithsonian Institution and the Curtiss Aeroplane Company that 

 no emphasis was placed upon the use of the original machine, as 

 such, but that what was desired was knowledge concerning certain 

 features of the Langley design, which was expressed in Dr. Wal- 

 cott's letter of March 31, 1914, previously referred to, in the fol- 

 lowing terms : 



" In connection with the reopening and development of work 

 under the Langley Aerodynamical Laboratory, it seems desirable to 

 make a thorough test of the principles involved in the construction 

 of the Langley heavier-than-air man carrying flying machine, espe- 

 cially the question as to the tandem arrangement of the planes, and 

 general stability, especially longitudinal stability." 



15. A brief interesting account of the Hammondsport tests is 

 contained in the Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for 

 1914, pages 217 to 222. 



16. After the flights were discontinued in November, 191 5, the 

 machine was returned to the Smithsonian shops on June 26, 1916. 

 There it was completely overhauled. New wings and control sur- 

 faces were built to the same form and size (with solid instead of 

 hollow ribs to save the expense of the latter) so as to refit the 

 machine for exhibition purposes in the National Museum and 

 restore it as nearly as possible to its original condition as it was 

 in 1903. As much of the original material was used as possible. 

 When this overhaul was completed, it was placed on exhibition in 

 the National Museum on January 15, 1918. 



17. It is seen that up to 191 5 the Langley machine was used 

 solely and properly for the purposes intended by Professor Langley 

 himself, for which it was originally turned over by the Board of 

 Ordnance and Fortification which had defrayed the major portion 

 of its cost. When all had been done to this end that was possible. 



