There have been flying machines without end, but few indeed are such contrivances which have really shown any ability to soar off into the clouds. The accompanying illustration, however, shows Pilcher’s gliding machine, which met with comparative success during experiments carried on before the untimely death of its inventor. The principle of the gliding machine’s flight is that of the aeroplane, the idea being that the wings of the contrivance would keep its body, together with the weight of the operator, suspended by the pressure of the air so long as the wings had a sufficient velocity in a forward direction.

From—The Ottumwa Semi-Weekly Courier. (Ottumwa, Iowa), 28 Dec. 1899 Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.