New-York tribune., 1906-12-28
BALLOON RACE PLANS
st. Louis May Be Chosen as Start of
International Contest.

Only one month now remains for entries to be
made for the next international balloon race for
the Bennett Cup. the trophy won from Europe last
year by Lieutenant Lahm. Of the Aero Club OF
America. The club is considering the choice
for the starting place for the racethe Coupe Inter
rationale des Aeronautes. Two prime factors have
to be considered in the clubs choice-quality and
quantity of gas and distance of the starting point
from the water.
Denver has been suggested but the club will
probably choose St Louis The latter city is the
pest situated in regard to distance tidewater
or any city yet considered and II gas OF a proper
specific gravity be had there and in sufficient
quantity 1t may be the starting place, not only
Tor the race for the Bennett trophy but also for
the Lew 1.ahm cup
For long distance balloon racing St. Louis Is
peculiarly well situated. The nearest tidewater is
the Gulf Of Mexico, about zoo miles or 1,120 kilo-
metres to the south The Atlantic Ocean, toward
which the balloons probably VIII SAIL is about 800
nIies, or LAO kilometres, to the east, and the Pa
C4c IS some 2,3O0 miles, or ESQ kilometres, to the
west 10 the south and north the balloons would
nave the broad sweep OF the Mississippi Valley,
"hie there would be little trouble under ordinary
conditions IN passing over any part OF the Appa-
lachien Range on easterly drift.
4he contest probably will be held in October. after
the September gales have blown themselves out
and there is the greatest likelihood OF strong
steady winds from the west
foreign clubs in the Federation Aeronautique
lnternatonale will have little trouble in getting
thelr balloons through the Custom House. Under
the present tariff laws balloons have an ad valorem
tax OF 40 per cent imposed. but arrangements
being made to bring the balloons into the country
IN bond and to facilitate their passage through
the custom House. By February 1 the list of
entries Will be complete. and the officials Of the
aero Club believe that the number of starters
VIII exceed that in the at Paris last summer.
Besides the James Gordon Bennett Cup there Is
also the Lahm Aeronautio Cup to be contested for.
ms Is challenge cup open to aerostats, aero
nauts and aeronefs for the longest continuous
trip made in the United States. The first winner
must exceed GAS kilometres (402.64 mlles) TO gain
possession of the cup. The distance will be meas
uTed in straight line from point ascent point
OF descent. the latter to be properly certified to
by witnesses
The Aero Club of America-the winner of the
biggest balloon event of the year-started only a
year ago without a balloon. Now It owns two club
balloons. the Orient and lie Centaure the latter be-
ing the one in which the Comte de la Vaulx estab-
lished the present long distance record. Among
the private balloons DR.. Thomas's Nirvana,
Alfred n. Chambers Initial. Lieutenant Iahn's
United States. three balloons belonging to A. Leo
Stevens. You and I. Sky Lark and Grand Air. and
also his Klondike which has the huge capacity Of
SC, 200 cubic feet.
In addition to the gas bags are the aeroplanes
and dirigible balloons owned by A. Leo Stevens,
Edward c. Boyce. Captain Thomas s. Baldwin, Roy
knabeShue, Miss E. L. Todd. Israel Ludlow and
DR.. Thomas. Most OF these were shown at the
clubs exhibit I'm conjunction with the recent auto
mobile show.
Only two accidents Of serious moment marred
the record of the first year OF enthusiastic aero
nautics in this country, and neither of them a
club event. Paul NOcquet made successful trip
out to in LapaZzfs parachute balloon and came
back TO die later from exhaustion in the South
Bay marshes, after a successful landing. Late in
the spring Israel Ludlow dropped to the Ormond
beach with his aeroplane and still goes out in
wheeled chair as the result.
On New Years Day the Aero Club will move to
new quarters in the Flatiron Building. Arrange
ments are being made. however. to procure perma-
nent quarters elsewhere.
In the last few months several new prizes for
various kinds of aeronautical contests have been
offered. Among them are The London Daily
Mails prize of $1,000 to the first aeronaut 10 fly
from London to Manchester in twenty-four hours.
The Car $2.625 for longest distance flown in
by any ef-propeiled machine heavier than air dur
ing any year. beginning January l. 1907 Lowest
mile successfully accomplished up to twenty-five
miles. Prize divided between steersman and de-
SlSner, apart from the engine.
The Brooklands Automobile Racing Club. S125OO
to the owner of any aeroplane which completes the
miles without touching the ground at an altitude
of thirty TO fifty feet. Open until December 81. 1907.
Three weeks notice must be given by competitor.
Machine must cover the course in not less than
eighteen minutes or at minimum speed of ten
Barnum & Bailey offer $1,000 and an engagement
Adams Manufacturing Company, manufacturers
of the Antoinette engine offer a $4,000 aeroplane
P dnS % hs are made OF wh9p ffTpdne tbs ne aaf
two years and that the machine is entirely British
built The competition is not restricted to the use
Ruinart Pere & Fills offer $500 to the first aero
chine heavier than air before January l. 1910
The Paris ''Matin" offers 600 to the winner of
The Observation-Disclosures Grand Prix of s1O-
600 TO the first aerOnaut who flies klometer in a
closed circuit has not yet been won Open to
heavier than air machines.
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