Wilbur Wright to Octave Chanute

Dayton, September 17, 1905

Your letter of 6th inst. has been received. I am sorry that your daughter has been unwell, and hope that she has now recovered.

Prof Langley's account of the trials of the large machine seems to be almost as much of a hard luck story as that he published in the Aeronautical Annual in regard to his 1896 model. It is strange that the matters which gave him the chief trouble have bothered us scarcely at all. Possibly our troubles would seem equally ridiculous to him.

If Prof. Montgomery resumes experiments he ought by all means to make a few flights himself to make sure that the machine acts in all respects as his theories lead him to expect.

We have had no word from the British War Office since the letter informing us that an officer had been instructed to visit us at Dayton; nor have we written to them. We are waiting for them to move.

Our experiments have been progressing quite satisfactorily, and we are rapidly acquiring skill in the new methods of operating the machine. We may soon attempt trips beyond the confines of the field.

Octave Chanute to Wilbur Wright, October 16, 1905