24 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 8l 



25. In conclusion, we beg to call attention to the fact that a 

 careful examination of the Langley machine now on exhibition in 

 the National Museum shows that there are four minor inaccuracies 

 as compared to the original machine of 1903, which should be 

 remedied, namely : 



(a) The safety flotation tanks should be installed ; 



(b) The fin forward of the dihedral rudder should be removed ; 



(c) The vertical surface at the rear of the dihedral rudder 

 should be removed ; and 



(d) The catapult lugs should be fitted to the king post. 



Respectfully submitted, 

 Joseph S. Ames, 



Professor of Physics, 



Johns Hopkins University. 

 D. W. Taylor, 

 Rear Admiral (C. C.) U. S. N., Retired." 



In October, T925, Dr. Walcott directed that the label of 

 the large Langley machine of 1903 should be altered to 

 read as follows : 



LANGLEY AERODROME 

 The Original Langley Flying Machine of 1903. Restored 



IN the opinion of many competent to judge, this was the 

 first heavier-than-air craft in the history of the world 



CAPABLE of sustained FREE FLIGHT UNDER ITS OWN POWER. 

 carrying a MAN. 



THIS AIRCRAFT SLIGHTLY ANTEDATED THE MACHINE DESIGNED 

 AND BUILT BY WILBUR AND ORVILLE WRIGHT, WHICH, ON DECEM- 

 BER 17, 1903, WAS THE FIRST IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD TO 

 ACCOMPLISH SUSTAINED FREE FLIGHT UNDER ITS OWN POWER, 

 CARRYING A MAN. 



The aeronautical work of Samuel Pierpont Langley, third Sec- 

 retary of the Smithsonian Institution, was begun in 1887. By 

 fundamental scientific research he discovered facts, the publication 

 of which largely laid the foundation for modern aviation. Langley 

 designed large model aeroplanes which repeatedly flew in 1896 

 with automatic stability for long distances. The U. S. War De- 

 partment, impressed by his success, authorized him to construct a 

 man-carrying machine which was completed in the Smithsonian 

 shops in the spring of 1903. Attempts made to launch it on October 



