NO. 3 LANGLE'X MEMOIR ON MECHANICAL FLIGHT '_!(j!t 



tested in the shops prior to the trial, and ii had been found thai with the frame 

 supported only al the extreme front and rear, no appreciable deflection was 

 produced upon il by the concentrated weighl of four men at the center, even 

 when they simultaneously jumped up and down on it. Thai the aerodrome 

 frame was amply strong was further evidenced by the fad thai in the Later 

 trial, hereafter described, no injury was sustained by the frame even when the 

 machine turned over in mid-air and struck the water tlat on its back, in fact, 

 no point regarding the aerodrome is more certain than that the frame was more 

 than strong enough for its purpose. 



Plates 98 to LOO show the aerodrome in the water from the moment after it 

 arose and the writer, who had extricated himself while it was plunging down 

 through the water and beat it to the surface, had swum over to it ami sat down 

 on the upper pyramid to await a row-boat, until the machine was taken in tow 

 by the tug-boat. 



As the weather conditions were continually growing worse, owing to the 

 lateness of the season, it was decided that it would be absolutely impossible to 

 undertake to keep the house-boat down the river until the aerodrome could be 

 repaired and another test made, and the writer accordingly returned to Quan- 

 tico on the following day, expecting to take the tug-boat from there to the 

 house-boat and complete arrangements for bringing everything to Washington. 

 On reaching Quantico, however, it was found thai a most violent storm was 

 raging on the river, and had, in fact, been increasing in violence since the even- 

 ing of October 7, immediately following the trial. On account of the storm it 

 was impossible to reach the house-boat or to get into communication with the 

 workmen, who had sought refuge at the hotel at Clifton Beach, as the tug-boal 

 itself was not at the point at which it was expected to be found, and, in fact, 

 it had not been seen by any of the river people since the morning of October 8, 

 when it was seen taking the workmen from the boat to Clifton Beach. Two days 

 later, or October 11, when the storm had subsided and the tug-boat, which hail 

 been blown many miles down the river, was able to return the workmen to the 

 house-boat, it was found that the storm had made a complete wreck of all the 

 row-boats, the power-launch, and the large raft. The row-boats had been com 

 pletely demolished on the beaches, the launch had been broken from its morn- 

 ings to the house-boat and driven ashore some four miles down the river, where 

 it was found with the deel; torn completely off, a large hole stove in it amid 

 ships, and the engine seriously damaged, while the raft had been very seriously 

 damaged on the beach many miles down the river. After making temporary 

 repairs to the raft and getting it launched, it was used as a floating dock for 

 making temporary repairs on the power-launch; both were then returned to 

 their moorings at the house-boat and everything gol in 7-ea.lines< for towing 

 the house-boat to Washington, and this was finally accomplished on October 12. 



31 



