When the aerodrome was balanced for flight so as to bring the theoretical “center of pressure in motion” over the center of gravity, it was found that it was not possible to carry the center of gravity in front of this point, although it was known by experience to be necessary. Accordingly in the first trial the outer ends of the tail were pressed down by the guys so that the wind of advance tended to lift the tail and throw the head down more than if the tail had been flat. Furthermore, the float, weighing 200 grammes, instead of being placed in its normal position near the base of the bowsprit, was carried out to its extremity, this change in the position of the float alone being sufficient to carry the center of gravity forward three or four centimetres. The curved wings were set at an angle of nine degrees at the root and eleven degrees at the tip. They were well guyed, and in flight appeared to be not materially twisted or altered. It was anticipated that the pressing down of the outer ends of the tail and the shifting of the center of gravity would cause the aerodrome to point downward in flight, and this anticipation was verified in the test. At 6.15 a. m. the aerodrome was launched at a steam pressure of 120 pounds. A perfect calm prevailed at the time and the machine started straight ahead. There was no perceptible drop at the moment it was released from the launching car, but a smooth and steady descent until it struck the water, nose down, at a point approximately 200 feet from the boat. Dr. Bell noted that the length of time the aerodrome was in the air was 2.8 seconds. One of the propellers was broken and the other one was found to have twisted its shaft one-fourth of a turn.