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Me[?] Journal New York
22 Nov 1906

AEROPLANES SOARS MILES OVER DAYTON
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DAYTON, O,. Nov. 22.--Although the Wright brothers maintain absolute secrecy regarding their flying machine, neighbors declare they have witnessed its flight, and that it soared through the air for miles with perfect ease.
From descriptions It is apparent that the Wright brothers' aeroplane has two parallel surfaces about thirty feet long and six feet wide and separated from each other by a distance of about five feet. In front of the machine is a rudder about six feet square, which consists of two parallel surfaces supported, like the main structure, by wire trusses.
When information was sought from the Wright brothers they made this statement: "We will make no exhibition test of our flying machine nor will we permit an examination of it. For our purposes neither is necessary, as those with whom we are in negotiation now for its purchase are already satisfied that it does all we claim for it. Our only market must be a powerful government, and publicity would only serve to defeat our purpose to make such a sale."

Post Express Rochester
22 Nov 1906

Military Balloons.
At a recent meeting of the Jamestown Aeronautical congress in New York an organization was formed and committees appointed which will have charge of the balloon contest and exhibition at the Jamestown exposition next summer. Among the members of the committee are General James Allen, chief Signal officer. U.S.A.: Captain Charles de F. Chandler, signal corps: Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm, Sixth calvary: Major Samuel Reber, general staff, U.S.A.: Rear Admiral Colby M. Chester, U.S.N. In some remarks at the meeting Major Reber said: "We do not deny that the most important information may be gained from the skies. I have tried myself, and know what I'm talking about, but the difficulty after securing your information lies in getting back to the place where the information gained is going to do the most good. It is more likely than not that the balloonist who essayad to make a flight over the enemy's lines would land somewhere inside of them and be captured. Only when he could reach a favorable slant of wind would he be able to get back to his own headquarters. All the time he must not lose sight of the fact that it is dangerous to fly too low.  In order to keep out of the range of projectiles thrown by the enemy he must maintain either a distance of 2,400 meters or a heighth of 800 meters. Inside of these ranges the gunners might get him."
The inference is that Major Reber does not put much faith in the gas bag as an adjunct to modern warfare, and this has been the experience of all who have experimented with this cumbersome and dangerous contrivance. During our war with Spain the officers and men of the Signal corps in Cuba, were handicapped by having a bulky observation balloon on their hands. The huge bag was of no practical value, and was soon relegated to the rear.  The Japs also essayed the use of balloons in their war with Russia, but with no better results. Too much depends on meteorological conditions to ensure the success of the balloon for army use and it is the common experience that when weather conditions are favorable for the ascent the balloon is in need of repairs.  The successful airship must be independent of weather conditions and must be absolutely at the command of the aeronaut, instead as is now the case, of the aeronaut being at the mercy of the aerial vehicle. Furthermore, the military airship must be a flying machine. It must sail through space independent of the bulky gas bag. So long as gas is employed to sustain weight in the air, so long will the balloon be worthless for military purposes. This is the opinion of the leading experts of the American and European armies.
Such an organization as has been formed in New York is useful, for their experiments must add to the sum total of the world's knowledge of aeronautics, and every scrap of new information is a step forward to the solution of the great problem of aerial navigation--that of flying through the air without the assistance of the gas bag. When that problem is solved then the system of warfare will be revolutionized.

[?] Wald[?] New York
22 Nov 1906

OHIO AIRSHIP IS BOUGHT BY FRANCE
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Wright Bros. Said to Have Made Contract for Big Aeroplane.
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Dayton, O., Nov. 22.--That the French Government has bought the wonderful aeroplane invented by Wilbur and Orville wright, of this city, and that it is the greatest success of the age, is the firm belief of many prominent men here, though the Wrights will say nothing, either to deny or confirm the reports.
French representatives have recently been here,  it is learned, and have witnessed the flight of the airships which these enterprising and mysterious inventors have built. It is stated that a large sum of money has been paid to bind their contract with the French Government.
The write aeroplane has two parallel surfaces, each made of canvas stretched over light steel frames. The surfaces are thirty to forty feet long and six to ten feet wide, and are about six feet apart, one above the other there is a revolving rudder at each end, the front one being the larger. 1
With these rudders the ship guided in any sort of weather.
Scores of bankers, lawyers, and ministers of this section have the airships flying, and every man has seen them is convinced of their [cut off] fection. The last public flight o [cut off] Wright ships was on October a [cut off] ago, but since that time, it is said, [cut off] have been often taken out of the [cut off] tory at night for trial spins.
Gasoline engines of twenty-five ho [cut off] power are used in each ship, and [cut off] power is sufficient to sail at the [cut off] of thirty-eight miles an hour. [cut off] feat, it is claimed has been a [cut off] plished.
It is said that the newest aer [cut off] which is to be turned over to the Government, has a much greater power, and that it is considerably [cut off] than the old models. It is bell [cut off] will make very fast time.
Men who have seen the Wright plane in motion half a mile above [cut off] heads declare its manoeuvres ar [cut off] vellous. They say the rudders [cut off] pletely govern the direction of th [cut off] and that it comes to the ground [cut off] ease and safety, even when the [cut off] is off. It simply cannot, they [cut off] fall heavily. It is started by swiftly run up a single rail track which it shoots into space under power of its engines.
The Wrights guard carefully [cut off] secret and declare only that it [cut off] they say it is, "a perfect airship"

Sun Post New York
22 Nov 1906
These are days when the aeroplane men are both seeing visions and dreaming dreams. All the optimism and imagination that have been lavished in their time on tar-water, liquid air, and radium, now belong to the flying machine. A few days ago some one declared that this contrivance would be "the poor man's automobile." Yesterday the "expert adviser" of the London Aero Club said that only a question of design defers the achievement of a twenty-four-hour trip between London and New York. Prizes for successful flights are multiplying abroad, though America still claims the honor of the first trip of a passenger-carrying vehicle heavier than air. Automatic balance as the experts seem to agree, must be secured before the use of the aeroplane can be anything ore than the most frantic and nerve-racking of pastimes. Passengers for the London trip will not be over-numerous, however low the fare, while the aeroplane continues to depend entirely on the steersman's skill to keep its equilibrium.