Orville Wright

“ October 8 The wind blew all day from the north and northeast, reaching 9 meters per second about 10 o’clock, and then gradually dying during the rest of the day. We took both our own and the mult.-wing machines to the north slope of the large hill, where Mr. Herring attempted to glide on a slope of 13o but could not get sufficient speed to sustain and glide on that angle. We then began gliding, with Messrs. Chanute, Spratt, and Herring taking records. In the afternoon we sent Dan and Lorin to Kitty Hawk to get our provisions and the Lamson machine which had just come in on the Lou Willis. ”

“ Chanute’s multiple-wing machine which Will and Dan Tate carried from the Sound to camp.
The day was very warm, especially as we had no wind, the anemometer often registering less than one meter per second. The mosquitoes became a little troublesome in evening, and we built a fire and smoked them out.
September 25 We passed the night without any trouble from mosquitoes. The wind has changed to southeast, and blows about 9 meters per second. We finished repairs to upper & lower surfaces and have begun work on new skids to prevent machine from digging into sand in landing. ”

“ By the time of his arrival the wind had died until after several attempts at gliding we gave it up till after dinner. After dinner found the wind weaker still so that after two flights from the top of the Big Hill we brought the machine back to camp. I made a “nigger shooter” and am anxiously awaiting the appearance of a pig.
October 16 Wind very light all day. In afternoon we attempted a few glides on the east slope of Big Hill, but without success. Bill Tate called and ate dinner with us. ”

“ Will soon became expert enough in the manipulation of the wing ends that he could make a glide of over 200 feet and keep the ends practically level, though through an excessive twist of the wing tips he caused the machine to sway from side to side, sidling one way and then the other a half dozen times in the distance of the glide. ”

“ Dan Tate spent day in lathing up cracks in building.
September 12 Worked eight hours each on machine. Put on ribs and cloth. Took out upper surface on Big Hill a little before noon. Find that much better results are obtained by walking with machine.
September 13 Finished lower surface at four p.m. Dan Tate came down in morning with gal coal oil and warning of a storm from S.W. We have decided to make a change in upper surface to straighten one end. Wind blowing about 30 miles per hour. ”

“ Began work on machine at 10:30 o’clock. Put in rest of day on front rudder.
September 18 Completed front rudder and end torsional gears, and began work on rear vertical tail.
September 19 Completed the rear vertical tail at 10:30. After dinner took machine to small hill, and after taking two pictures, flying it as kite, began gliding with assistance of Dan Tate. We made no entirely free flights. Made about 25 glides during afternoon.
We are convinced that the trouble with the 1901 machine is overcome by the vertical tail. ”

“ The Weather Bureau anemometer registered 50 miles per hour. We found it exceedingly cold before morning, abut what we could call a five-blanket night, and as we only had four we were compelled to suffer some. ”

“ We cannot see that they are able to glide or soar on less than 8o. We watched them many times gliding down the west slope of the large hill, and whenever they maintained their altitude above the ground slope of hill they always seemed to lose speed, and were compelled to begin flapping. ”

“ September September 1 Spent day raising building with assistance of Dan Tate. Sawed lumber for addition. Made up bed for 6 months.
September 2 Continued raising of house & sawing of lumber.
September 3 Did nothing in morning but measure height of Big Hill. Angle 10 1⁄2o : 545 ft. = 99.32 ft. high. In the afternoon laid foundation & floor to addition to building. Dan Tate not present (wife sick) ; Tom brought milk, nails, etc., and mail.
September 4 Continued erection of addition to building. Erected frame, put on roof slates and siding. Work interfered with by rain. ”