Just what these flights meant to Mr. Langley can be readily understood. They meant success! For the first time in the history of the world a device produced by man had actually flown through the air, and had preserved its equilibrium without the aid of a guiding human intelligence. Not only had this device flown, but it had been given a second trial and had again flown and had demonstrated that the result obtained in the first test was no mere accident. Shortly after returning to Washington, Mr. Langley left for Europe, but before doing so he gave instructions to the workmen to remedy the small weaknesses and defects which had been found in Aerodrome No. 6, and to have both aerodromes ready for trial before his return in the fall. [Illustration: PL. 19 PATH OF AERODROME FLIGHTS, MAY 6 AND NOVEMBER 28, 1896, NEAR QUANTICO, VA., ON THE POTOMAC RIVER] [Illustration: PL. 20 INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPH OF THE AERODROME AT THE MOMENT AFTER LAUNCHING IN ITS FLIGHT AT QUANTICO ON THE POTOMAC RIVER, MAY 6, 1896. ENLARGED TEN TIMES] [Illustration: PL. 21 INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPH OF THE AERODROME AT A DISTANCE IN THE AIR DURING ITS FLIGHT AT QUANTICO ON THE POTOMAC RIVER, MAY 6, 1896. ENLARGED TEN TIMES] [Illustration: PL. 22 INSTANTANEOUS PHOTOGRAPH OF THE AERODROME AT A DISTANCE IN THE AIR DURING ITS FLIGHT AT QUANTICO ON THE POTOMAC RIVER, MAY 6, 1896. ENLARGED TEN TIMES] [Illustration: PL. 23 OVERHEAD LAUNCHING APPARATUS] [Illustration: PL. 24 OVERHEAD LAUNCHING APPARATUS]