There had been some injuries to the machines in the trials of the 5th and 6th, and these were repaired. A new float had been made for No. 4, and a new set of larger wings for No. 5. Each of these wings had a length of 76 inches and a breadth of 25 inches, making the total surface of the two 26.4 sq. ft., while that of the tail was 13.2 sq. ft., or about 40 sq. ft. in all. October 22. When No. 5 was finally prepared for another trial, its condition was as follows: Flying weight 22 pounds Area of supporting surfaces (wings and tail) 40 sq. ft. Sq. ft. of surface per pound of weight 1.8[32] Engine power with 115 lbs. steam pressure 1.0 H. P.[33] Power necessary to soar 0.35 H. P. Theoretical soaring speed (plane wings at 20°) 24 ft. per sec. Previous lift on pendulum 40 per cent of flying weight October 25. The aerodromes having been taken to Quantico on October 23, and satisfactory experiments made with dummies in order to test the launching apparatus, the house-boat was carried out into midstream and moored. Aerodrome No. 4 was launched in the face of a wind of about 1100 feet per minute. The midrod was at a very small inclination with the horizontal, about 3°. The angle (α) of the chord of the curved wing measured at the rod, where it was rigidly held, was 15°. The adjustment was such as to bring the ‹CG› immediately under the ‹CP›, without any allowance for the fact that the line of propeller thrust was below the ‹CP›.[34] The aerodrome under these conditions was launched with the head high. It made a real, though brief, flight of about 130 feet in 4-1/2 seconds, when it swung abruptly round through 90°, and, losing headway, sank continuously, finally falling backward into the water. October 27. Aerodrome No. 4, having been repaired and guyed with wires from the wings to vertical guy-posts beneath, was launched again, but one of the [p100] guy-wires caught on the launching car, and threw the aerodrome immediately into the water with but little damage. On the same day No. 5 was launched. The theoretical ‹CP›−‹CG› was nominally 0, but, for the reasons stated in the footnote on p. 99, was really something positive, that is to say, the ‹CP› was really somewhat in advance of the ‹CG›; inclination of midrod less than α (=20°). The aerodrome under these circumstances, while keeping its head up, at first fell rapidly, yet seemed about to rise just as it struck the water, conveying the idea that if the launching had been made with a greater initial velocity it would have risen and cleared the water. The wings visibly pocketed, however, and it was clear that some better disposition must still be made for them. The flight was 3-1/2 seconds.