SMITHSONIAN CONTHIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE VOL. 27 



Mr. Manly was pulled out of the wreck uninjured and the wrecked machine 

 was subsequently placed upon the house-boat, and the whole brought back to 

 Washington. 



From what has been said it will be seen that these unfortunate accidents 

 have prevented any test of the apparatus in free flight, and the claim that an 

 engine-driven, man-carrying aerodrome has been constructed lacks the proof 

 which actual flight alone can give. 



Saving reached the present stage of advancement in its development, it 

 would seem highly desirable, before laying down the investigation, to obtain 

 conclusive proof of the possibility of free flight, not only because there are ex- 

 cellent reasons to hope for success, but because it marks the end of a definite 

 step toward the attainment of the final goal. 



Just what further procedure is necessary to secure successful flight with 

 the large aerodrome has not yet been decided upon. Professor Langley is un- 

 derstood to have this subject under advisement, and will doubtless inform the 

 Board of his final conclusions as soon as practicable. 



In the meantime, to avoid any possible misunderstanding, it should be stated 

 that even after a successful test of the present great aerodrome, designed to 

 carry a man, we are still far from the ultimate goal, and it would seem as if 

 years of constant work and study by experts, together with the expenditure of 

 thousands of dollars, would still be necessary before we can hope to produce an 

 apparatus of practical utility on these lines. 



M. M. Macomb, 

 Washington, January 6, 1904. Major Artillery Corps. 



The attitude of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification, with reference to 

 rendering furl her financial assistance to the work, is clearly shown by the fol- 

 lowing extract from the official report of the Board on October 6, 1904, to the 

 Secretary of War: 



THE LANGLEY AERODROME 



Early in the year 1898 a hoard composed of officers of the Army and Navy 

 was appointed to examine the models and principles of the aerodrome devised 

 by Dr. S. I'. Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and to report 

 whether or not, in it> opinion, a large machine of this design could be built, and, 

 if so, whether it would he of practical value. 



The report of this board was referred to the Board of Ordnance and For- 

 tification fur action, and Doctor Langley was invited to appear before the Board 

 and further explain the proposed construction. 



In view of the ureal utility of such a device, if a practical success, the 

 Board, on November 9, 1898, made an allotment of $i!r>,000 for the construction, 

 development, and test of an aerodrome to he made under the direction of Doctor 

 Langley, with the understanding that an additional allotment of the same amount 

 would he made later. On December 18, IS!)!), the additional allotment of $25,- 



was made. 



The construction of the machine was delayed by Doctor Langley's inabil- 

 ity to procure a suitable motor, which he was finally obliged to design. The 

 aerodrome was completed about duly 15, 1903, and preparations for its test 

 were made at a point in the Potomac River about 40 miles below Washington. 



