In flight the apparatus is supported by the two main planes (6, 7) which are forty feet long, six and one feet wide and six feet apart.  Their frames and braces are constructed of wood (spruce, ash, pine) and unbleached muslin is used for the surfaces, which have an area of about 500 feet. The aeroplane weighs about eight hundred pounds; with the two passengers and a supply of fuel and water on board it weighs about 1, 150 pounds. At the beginning of a flight the driver takes his seas (26) just at the left of the twenty five horse power four cylinder water cooled gasoline motor which is fed by the tank, (25). Starting the motor sets in motion by means of chains, sprocket wheels (17) and shafts (16) the two six foot propellers (15) which make over five hundred revolutions per minute and revolve in opposite directions.  The aeroplane then rapidly glides upon its skids (5) down the rails fo the starting platform. At the same moment the driver pulls a lever (8), which causes the bar (4) to draw back the upper part of the forward lever (3), pressing forward the lower part of the flexible supports (2) and so raising the front edge of the forward rudder (1)

The air now strikes the rudder from below, and raises the front of the aeroplane, bringing the two large planes (6 and 7) into commission. The wind presses so strongly against these during the flight, a velocity of not less than forty miles an hours, that they easily support two passengers.  If an alteration in the course is desired the driver moves the lever (11) forward or backwards. This actuates the lever (12) and the wires (13) and controls the movements of the rear rudder (10) which is stationed far behind, between two long braces (14). These perpendicular planes (10) govern the machine like a ship's rudders, veering it to left and right. The same lever (11) has another important function. A short brace (21) is attached to it at the bottom and moves the upright lever (22) to the right or left.  By means of wires it controls the flexible ends of the (19 and 20) of the large planes. This is the feature which the Wrights carefully guarded.  Such is the machine which has enabled man to imitate the flight of birds, which has carried one of its inventors to a height of over 1000 feet and the influence of which on the future of transportation, commerce and war is a universal subject for discussion.