Famous Flyers and Their Famous Flights

“You notice that I always talk of ‘theWrights’ as though they were one person; everybody does. In fact, they almost wereone person. They were always together; lived together, played together, although theydidn’t play much, being a serious pair, andworked together. They never quarreled, nevershowed any jealousy of each other, neverclaimed the lion’s share of praise in the invention.They were just ‘the Wrights,’ quiet, retiring men, who did much and talked little.

“From early childhood it was the same.Wilbur Wright, the elder of the two, wasborn in Milville, Indiana, and lived thereuntil he was three years old with his parents,Milton Wright, bishop of the United BrethrenChurch, and Susan Katherine Wright. In1870 the family moved to Dayton, Ohio, and in 1871 Orville Wright was born. Froma very early age the two were drawn to eachother. Their minds and desires were similar.

“When Wilbur decided that he wouldrather go to work after being graduatedfrom High School, Orville decided that he, too, would give up his formal education, and devote himself to mechanics.

“They were born mechanics, always buildingminiature machines that actually worked.They did not stop studying, but took toreading scientific works that were of morehelp to them than formal education. In thisway they learned printing, and built themselvesa printing press out of odds and endsthat they assembled. On this they beganto publish a little newspaper, but they gavethis up when another opportunity presenteditself.

“Bicycles were coming in at that time, and the Wright brothers set up a little shopto repair them. From the repair shop theydeveloped a factory in which they manufacturedbicycles themselves. Their businesswas very successful, and they were lookedupon as young men who were likely to getalong in the world. This was in 1896.

“That year Otto Lilienthal, a famous Germanexperimenter, was killed in his glider, just at the peak of his career. Wilbur readan account of his death in the newspaper, and discussed it with his brother. The eventrenewed the interest that they had alwayshad in flying, and they set about studyingall of the books that they could find on theproblem of flight. They soon exhausted allthat they could get, and decided that theirgroundwork had been laid. From then ontheir work was practical, and they discoveredprinciples that had never been written, and which resulted in the first flight.

“The first things that they built were kites, and then gliders that were flown as kites.The Wrights were after the secret of thebirds’ flight, and felt that they could applyit to man’s flight. Their next step was theconstruction of a real glider. But the countryaround Dayton was not favorable forflying their craft. They wrote to the UnitedStates government to find a region that hadconditions favorable to their gliding. Thatis how the obscure Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, came to be the famous place that it is.It happened to have just south of it threehills, Kill Devil Hill, Little Hill, and WestHill. Between the hills was soft drifting sand, that would provide a better landing placethan hard earth in case of a spill. The windswere steady and moderate.

“To Kitty Hawk the Wrights went. Herethey glided to their heart’s content, untilthey decided that they had learned to controltheir flights, and were ready to build aplane with power. They went back to Daytonin 1902. They designed and supervisedthe building of the motor themselves, onethat would generate twelve horsepower. Satisfied, they set out once more for KittyHawk, with the motor and parts of theirplane carefully stowed away.

“They got down there in the early autumn, but found so many difficulties toovercome, that they could not make thefirst tests until December. In the first place, they discovered that a storm had blown awaythe building which they had built to workin when they first got to Kitty Hawk. However, everything was at last ready, the weatherfavorable, and the plane was hauled upKill Devil Hill, and guided toward the singletrack of planks that had been laid downthe hill.

“Who was going to get the first chanceto pilot the plane? Who was going to bethe first man to fly? Orville insisted thatWilbur be the one; Wilbur insisted thatOrville should be the first. They decided itby flipping a coin. Wilbur won. He gotinto the plane, unfastened the wire that heldthe plane to the track, and started down. Heended in a heap at the bottom of the hill, uninjured, but with several parts of the planedamaged.

“The Wrights were nothing daunted.They repaired the plane as quickly as possible, and on December 17, they were readyfor the second trial. It was Orville’s turn,of course. He unloosened the wire; the planestarted down the hill; at the end of a forty-footrun it rose into the air. It kept ongoing, in a bumpy, irregular course, nowswooping up, now diving down, for 120feet, then darted to earth. The flight hadtaken in all just twelve seconds, but theWrights had flown.

“I suppose you’ve seen pictures of thatfirst plane. It wasn’t much more than a boxin shape, a biplane, with no cockpit at all, just the wings held together by struts, anda seat in the center for the pilot. A man hadto be tough to fly one of those planes. Thewonder is that any of them escaped withtheir lives. They had to sit up there exposedto all the elements, and pilot the clumsyplanes. And yet they grew into skilfuland expert pilots, and could loop the loopand figure eight in them! The Wrightsthemselves were excellent flyers. This seemsonly natural, with their natural born giftfor mechanics. It was well that they weregood flyers, because it was up to them toprove to the world that their craft was safe, and practical.

“It was hard at first. People were skepticalas to whether the Wrights really had aship that flew. Some of their tests were unsuccessful, and they were laughed to scorn.However, France, who had been more advancedthan the United States in the matterof experimentation in flying, became interestedin the new flying machine, and sentrepresentatives over to the United States toinspect it. With the French approving ofit, the United States became more interested.The government offered a prize of $25,000, for anyone who would build a plane thatwould travel 40 miles an hour, carry enoughfuel and oil to cruise for 125 miles, andfly continuously for at least an hour, withtwo persons weighing together 350 pounds.The Wrights built such a machine, and thegovernment not only gave them the $25,000, but an additional $5,000 besides.

“In the meanwhile Wilbur Wright hadgone to France, where he participated inmany flights, and won the hearts of theFrench people by staying in the air for anhour and a half. At the end of the year,1908, he stayed in the air over two hours.

“The Wrights were showing what theycould do. Flying became the rage. Societytook it up, and traveled to the Wrights tosee their planes. But the Wrights, no moreimpressed by this than they were by anythingelse, kept right on working. Theywere financed by a group of able financiersin the United States, and founded the WrightAeroplane Company for the manufacture ofplanes, and they were content.

“After 1909, their point proved, theWrights did very little flying. They spenttheir time in engineering problems, makingimprovements on the planes that they weredesigning and manufacturing.

“They did some more experimenting withgliders, but this was in order to perfect theart of soaring.

“In May, 1912, Wilbur Wright died, andbroke up the famous partnership that hadexisted for so many years. Since his deathhis brother has lived quietly. He has notflown, and has acted as advisor to his companyas they turn out more and more modernplanes. He is one man who has lived to seea thing that he started himself grow intoa blessing to mankind. And if the airplaneisn’t that, I’d like to know what is.”

“I think so,” said Bob.

“Who are you to think so?” asked Bill, sitting up very suddenly.

Bob was non-plussed for a moment, butthen saw that his uncle was joking, andlaughed. They were interrupted by the ringingof the doorbell.

“Well,” said the Captain, “who could beout in weather like this?”

They heard the front door open, voices, and then the closing of the door. In a shortwhile the footsteps of Mrs. Martin soundedon the steps, and she entered the library.

“A telegram for you, Bill,” she said, andhanded it to him. “My, you three look cozyup here. I suppose you’ve been yarning, haven’t you?” She gave her brother a playfulpoke.

Captain Bill, who had risen when his sistercame in, offered his chair before he openedthe telegram. “Join us, won’t you, Sis?”

His sister laughed. “I really can’t go beforeI see what is in the telegram,” she said.“Of course, I suppose I should be polite andpretend not to be interested in it, but I am.We all are, aren’t we, boys?”

Bob and Hal grinned.

“Well, then,” said Bill, “I guess I’ll haveto see what’s in it.” He opened the telegram, and glanced hurriedly over it. “Pat’slanding tomorrow,” he said. “He wants usto be out at the airport to see the Mariannecome in.”

“Hurray!” shouted Bob, and went into awar dance.

His mother looked at him tolerantly. Shewas used to Bob’s antics. “What time isPat coming in?” she asked.

“He didn’t say. In fact, that’s all he didn’tsay in this telegram. But I guess he’llstart out about dawn and get here aroundnoon. Anyway, we’ll be going down to theairport tomorrow morning to look around.We’ll stay there until that Irishman rollsin.”

“What will you do about lunch?” askedthe practical Mrs. Martin.

“Why, we’ll eat at the airport restaurant,”said Bill. “Don’t worry about us, Sis.”

Mrs. Martin looked dubious. She glancedat Hal. She knew that Hal’s mother likedto supervise her son’s meals, and did notcare to have him eat at strange places. Mrs.Martin felt that it would be a shame to spoilthe expedition for such a trivial reason, soshe said, “I have an idea. I’ll pack a lunchfor all of you tonight, and you can take itwith you tomorrow. How will that be?You can eat it anyplace around the airport.It’ll be a regular picnic. There are some niceplaces around the port that you can go to.How about that?”

Bob answered for them. “That will begreat. Gee, Bill, do you remember the picnicbaskets that Mom can pack? We’re inluck.”

“Do I remember?” said Bill. “How couldI forget? You fellows had better be up prettyearly tomorrow.”

“You bet we will, Captain,” said Bob.

Then Hal said, “I guess I’d better be going.My mother will be wondering if I’mnever coming home. I hope that I can comewith you tomorrow.”

“Hope you can come with us? Why, ofcourse you’re coming with us. We won’t gowithout you,” Captain Bill said explosively.

“I’ll see,” said Hal. “I’ll ask Mother.Maybe she’ll let me go. But anyway, I’lllet you know. I’ll put up the flags in theworkshop window. All right?”

“Sure,” said Bob, and walked out withHal. He saw the boy to the door, andwarned him again to be sure to come.

When the two boys had left the room,Captain Bill turned to his sister. “Say,” hesaid, “do you think that Hal’s mother reallywon’t let him come, or is the boy lookingfor a way out?”

“Why, what do you mean?” asked Mrs.Martin.

“Just this,” said Bill, and puffed vigorouslyon his pipe. “I’ve been watching theboy, and I think that he’s afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Afraid of actually going up in an airplane.I feel that a change has come overhim since there has been an actual chanceof his learning to fly,” explained the Captain.

His sister looked pensive. “But he’s alwaysbeen so interested in flying. That’sall the two of them ever talk about.”

“Perhaps. When there was no immediatechance of his going up in a plane. Now thatthere is, I think he’d like to back out.”

“There is his mother to consider, ofcourse,” said Mrs. Martin. “She would undoubtedlyobject very strenuously if hemerely went to the airport. You must rememberthat he’s all she has. She’s alwaysso careful of him.”

The Captain snorted. “Too careful,” hesaid. “She’s made the boy a bundle of fears.Bob has helped him get over some of them, but I think that they’re cropping out now.It will be very bad for Hal if he funks this.I think that it will hurt him a great deal.If he succeeds in overcoming his fears nowfor once and for all, if he learns to go upin a plane, even if he may never fly onehimself, he will be a new boy. He’ll neverbe afraid again. But one let-down now, andhe will be set way back – even further backthan when Bob first met him.”

“I think you’re right, Bill,” said hissister. “But what are we going to do aboutit?”

The Captain shrugged his shoulders. “Ithink the best thing to do with the boy isnot to let him know that we know he’safraid. Treat him just as if he were thebravest lad in the world. I’ll take careof that. But I can’t take care of his mother.I never was a lady’s man,” smiled CaptainBill. “You’ll have to attend to that.”

Mrs. Martin’s brow wrinkled. “I thinkyou’ve taken the easier task,” she said witha wry smile. “I’d much rather teach a boyto overcome his fears than teach a motherto overcome hers. But I’ll try,” she added, and hoped against hope for success.

Bob burst into the room. “How aboutsomething to eat?” he said. “I’m starved!”

“As usual,” said his mother. “I wouldlike to hear you just once complain aboutbeing not hungry.”

“All right, mother,” said Bob. “If youwant to hear me complain about that, youjust feed me a good dinner now, and I’ll domy best to complain about being not hungry – afterI finish it.”

“You’re an impossible son,” said his mother, but smiled fondly at him. She reallydidn’t believe it.

CHAPTER IV – Some War Heroes

Whether secret springs were put into operationby Mrs. Martin that afternoon ornot, nevertheless Hal was able to join theparty going to the airport early the nextmorning. It was a beautiful morning. Ithad stopped raining, and the sun, comingout strong and bright, had dried everythingso thoroughly that only an occasional puddlehere and there on the road showed thatit had rained at all. The drive to the portwas pleasant, too; the port being about amile out of town, and at least five milesfrom the Martin home.

When they arrived, the day’s program wasin full sway. A huge tri-motored plane wasloading passengers for a cross-country trip.As the three approached the port, they sawthe great plane rise into the air and take offexactly on schedule. Smaller planes wereflying about above the airport, and on theground mechanics were working over severalplanes that needed overhauling. Captain Billwanted to go first to the administrationbuilding, a large white brick structure, modernas any office building in appearance. Hewanted to see the head of the airport, anold friend of his, and make the final arrangementsfor the care of his plane whenit came in.

As they were about to enter the building,a tall, heavy-set man passed them, on hisway out. Captain Bill started, and halfturned. “Well, if that didn’t look like – ”he began, then turned and went on into thebuilding. “Looked like an old flying buddyof mine. But of course, it couldn’t be. OldHank never was that fat. Never had anounce of fat on him. All skin and bone.But you never can tell, eh, boys?”

“You’ll be getting there yourself, someday, be careful,” laughed Bob.

John Headlund, delighted to see CaptainBill, jumped up from his desk, and pumpedhis hands up and own. “If it isn’t theCaptain! Man, it’s great to see you again!”Headlund and Bill had flown together inFrance, and although they had kept in touchwith each other a few years after they hadreturned to America, the press of businesshad kept them apart, and they had not seeneach other for years. Captain Bill presentedthe boys.

“They’re going to bring new business foryou, Headlund,” said Bill. “Here are twoof America’s future flyers.”

The boys grinned.

Headlund, after wishing them success, turned again to Bill. “Do you see any ofthe old boys?” he asked.

“Pat McDermott’s my partner,” said Bill.“He’s flying the old boat in this afternoonsometime.”

“He is! That’s great! And quite a coincidence, too. Do you know who was here – left just before you came in?”

“Not Hank Brown!” shouted Bill. “Bygolly, I thought I recognized that face! OldHank! What was he doing here?”

“He’s got a ship down here in one of ourhangars. It’s a beauty – a four passengercabin plane, with the pilot’s seat up front – abeautiful job. Listen, Hank’s gone downto the hangar now to look it over. Maybeyou can catch him down there. It’s AvenueB, the last hangar in line.”

“Great. I’d like to see Hank. Last timeI saw him he was in an English hospital, eating porridge and not liking it at all. Whowould have thought that the old skinnymarink would have put on all that poundage?Old Hank fat! And flying in a cabinplane. Come on, fellows, we’ve got to godown there and see him.” He turned to Headlund.“I’m going to be in town all summer,Heady, and I guess you’ll be seeing plentyof me. What street did you say? AvenueB?”

Captain Bill and the boys hurried out, found the right road, and walked along ituntil they came to the last hangar. A beautifulplane, black and aluminum, stood outside.But as they approached, there was nobodyto be seen.

“Ahoy, there!” shouted Bill. “Anybodyhere know Hank Brown?”

Hank himself appeared from the other sideof the plane, where he had been conferringwith a mechanic. “I’m Henry Brown,” hesaid, peering from behind gold-rimmedglasses at Bill and the boys. His face registeredno sign of recognition at first. Thensuddenly it lighted up, he rushed forward, and gripped Captain Bill’s hand in his, slappinghim heartily on the back with the other.“Well, Bill! You old sock! Whereon earth did you come from? What are youdoing here? Where have you been?”

Bill, delighted to see his old buddy, laughedat him, and poked him in his now well-paddedribs. “One question at a time, Hank.What are you doing here? And how comeyou’ve got this grand ship?” asked Bill.

“I asked you first,” laughed Hank.

They spent the next ten minutes tellingeach other just what they had been doingsince their last meeting. They spared thedetails, but each was satisfied with the other’sstory. Hank had done well as the managerand later as president of his father’ssteel plant. Prosperity had ironed out thewrinkles that had always twinkled aroundhis steely grey eyes, and contentment hadadded inches to his waistline, but he wasstill the same generous, fun-loving Hankthat the boys had known in France.

“Listen,” said Hank. “Come on in andtry the plane. See how comfortable it is.Say, this is some different from the old rattletrapswe used to fly, isn’t it?”

“But we had some good thrills in them, didn’t we,” said Bill. This meeting withHank was bringing back memories that hadnot stirred in him for many years.

“Let’s get in here where we can talk incomfort,” said Hank.

They mounted a little step that the mechanicset for them, and entered the side doorof the plane. The inside was amazinglyluxurious. Along both sides were upholsteredseats, covered with multi-colored cushions.There were built-in fixtures, and everythingto make for the greatest ease in traveling.The pilot’s seat could be partitionedoff by a glass sliding door up front.

The three men sat down on the seats atthe side of the cabin. “Gee, they’re soft,”said Bob. “I could ride all day on these.”He jumped up and down a little.

“Remember your manners,” said Bill.

Bob stopped jumping and blushed. “Oh,I forgot,” he said. He had really forgottenthat Hank Brown was an important man,a millionaire. But Hank only laughed.

“How would you people like to take theplane up on its last ride this year?” he asked.

“The last ride?” said Bill. “Why thelast?”

“Well, I’m putting her away,” said Hank.“That’s what I was talking to the mechanicand Headlund about. I was going to spendmy summer up in my log cabin in Canada, fishing, and all that. But my wife wantsto go to Europe instead. She’s going totake the two girls over to France and leavethem there in school. That would meanshe’d have to come back all alone. I’ve beenintending to go back to take a look aroundever since I’ve been back in America, so Ithought I’d take the opportunity of gettingover there now with her. I wouldn’t takethe plane. I won’t need a big ship like this.If I want to fly I can pick up a little Frenchor German bus. So I’m putting old Lizziein the hangar. Seems a shame. But howwould you like to go up now? Would youlike to try her out?” he asked Bill.“Would I?” said Bill. He slid into thepilot’s seat, and looked over the instrumentboard, to familiarize himself with the instrumentswith which the plane was equipped.Then he turned back to the boys. “Wantto go up?”

Bob was almost beside himself with excitement.“Take her up, Bill go on,” hesquealed. “Sure we want to go up. Goahead, Bill.”

Hal said nothing. His face was pale. Billthought that it would be best to ignore him, and just take it for granted that he wantedto go up, too. And Hal, although he wasby this time frightened to death, would notadmit it. He decided to risk the going uprather than say that he was afraid.

The mechanic taxied the plane out intothe open and took away the steps. Billpressed the starter, and the great propellerbegan to move. Slowly the ship rolled overthe ground, gradually gaming momentum.Finally it rose into the air. Bill handledthe huge ship as though it were a toy. Higherand higher it rose. Bob, looking out ofthe window, saw the building of the airportwhizzing by below them, thendisappear into a whirling mass. Were they going?Were they standing still? Bob couldn’ttell.

“How high are we?” he shouted at thetop of his voice to Hank.

“About 5,000 feet,” judged Hank. Hewas looking over at Hal rather anxiously.He thought that maybe the boy was goingto be sick. But Hal manfully hung on, and said nothing.

“We seem to be standing still,” shoutedBob.

“We’re going, all right. Your uncle isa great one for speed!” shouted back Hank.

The plane was banking now for a turn.They were going back. In a short whileBill had brought the plane down once moreinto the airport.

“Well, how did you like it?” he said, turning around in his pilot’s seat.

“Great!” said Bob.

But Hal was just a little sick. He saidnothing, and waited for the world to settledown again.

“You sure handle the ship like you usedto in the old days,” said Hank admiringlyto Bill.

“She’s a great ship,” said Bill, modestly.

Hank had an idea. “Say,” he said impulsively,“how would you like to fly herwhile I’m in Europe?”

“Gee, Hank, I really don’t think” – beganBill. He thought, the same old Hank, alwaysgenerous, always impulsive.

But Hank was going on with his plan.“Listen, I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.You fly my plane. And you can fly it upto the Canadian cabin if you want to. Thena perfectly swell vacation plan won’t be entirelythrown away. How about it? Thecabin is all ready to move into. They’vebeen fixing it up for me. What do you say?Are you game?”

“Game?” said Bill. “Gee, I’m crazy aboutthe idea. But I don’t see why you shoulddo this for me.”

Hank was embarrassed. “You’ve beenpretty decent to me in other times, rememberthat, Bill, old boy,” he said.

“Forget it,” said Bill.

Hank turned to the boys. “Bill here shotdown a Boche when the Boche was all butstepping on my tail. Those were the days,eh, Bill?”

“You bet,” said Bill. “We sure wereglad to get back alive. Remember old Lufbery?Raoul of the Lafayette Escadrille?There was a boy who could shoot themdown. Six out of seven in one day. Notbad flying, that. They used to get prettyclose to Raoul themselves. He’d come inwith his clothes ripped with bullets, butready to go right out again with the nextpatrol. Then one day he got his, and therewasn’t a man there that wouldn’t have giveneverything he had to save him, either.He’d gone up after a German that nobodyseemed able to down. Lufbery climbed upto get above him, and dove. But somethingwent wrong with his plane – God knowswhat, and those who were watching fromthe ground saw it burst into flame. Thenthey saw him stand on the edge of the cockpitand jump. It was horrible. But it wasthe only way for Lufbery to die – with hisplane. He wanted it that way.”

Then Hank said, “And Bill Thaw! Therewas another flying fool. Bill was great fun – alwayslaughing and joking, just as if hisnext flight might not be his last. Rememberwhat he did to those three German planeswhen they got fresh with him, Bill?” Heturned to the boys. “Thaw,” he explained,“was coming back from his regular patrol, when he suddenly came face to face withthree German planes. One of them maneuveredto his left, the second to his right, andthe third dove below him to fire up. Well,Bill had to think fast, and he did. He side-slippeduntil he was directly over the planebelow him, and fired down. One gone.Then he pulled himself out of a steep dive, and went after the second plane. A quickswoop, and a steep bank, a rapid burst offire, and the second German went down in aburning nose dive.