New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-23
FLYING IN A HIGH WIND
ONE RECORD BROKEN 1T
RHEIMS.
Wnght Aeroplanes Alone Completed
the Required Three Rounds of the
Course When the Hind Dropped.

Course When the Hind Dropped.
Rheims. France, Aug 22.-The spectacle Of six
aeroplanes simultaneously winging their flight
in huge circles over the plain at Betheny was
remarkable feature OF the opening day OF avia-
tion week At the finish OF the flight there was
a great burst OF cheers over the wonderfully i'm
pressive exhibition.
The storm yesterday left the sky banked with
clouds. with intermittent showers and high
winds. and the eliminating trials for the selec-
ton OF the French representatives for the
Gordon Bennett International Cup. the contest
spoiled. Only I.efebvre. who less than two
months ago adopted aeroplane plotting a pro-
fession. with a Wright bIpane: BIeriot, Della
grange. Esnault-Peterie and Captain Ferber
braved the gusty puffs Lefebvre alone succeed
ed in making the complete circuit OF the course.
He remained I'm the air for sixteen minutes in
twenty-five e-mile wind. breaking the speed rec
ord. heretofore held by Tissandier covering ten
kilometres I'm minutes 55 As seconds.
OF the others entered in the trials. BlerOt
able TO only sufficient distance to qualify,
thus leaving the committee TO select the remain
ing representative from the best achievements
in the subsequent events.
The rain and wind prevented any attempt in
the two other events on to-day's programme
speed contest OF three laps and lap contest. for
which any round counts-unt shortly before
dark. Then suddenly the rain ceased and the
wind fell TO dead calm. The sky pilots soon
were busy in getting their machines out OF the
shed and the air buzzed with the hum of motor
exhausts.
Latham was first away. ascending high from
the start. He passed the cheering tribunes at
height OF one hundred and fifty feet, and the ova-
tion which he received was all the heartier for
his pIucky though unsuccessful attempt TO cross
the English Channel. Lambert Sommer. Cock
burn. Deiagrange and Fournier followed In quick
succession. and Latham was completing the
first round now at a height OF three hundred
feet six aeroplanes like huge gulls. were hover
ing over the held Fourner first down. fall
ing head-on into a haystack as Lambert swept
around into the second lap his machine seeming
20 cut into a brilliant rainbow which Illuminated
the sky
WRIGHT AEROPLANEs SUCCEED.
Round and round the aeroplanes crcied. dis
appearing into the distance. only 10 reappear
along the course. Meanwhile Lefebvre started
arresh and was followed by lie Blanc. Bunau-
VariIla Tissandler. Ferber. Bleriot and Paulham.
until the air seemed filed with mammoth birds
Latham came down after finishing the second
round. the others gradually dropping out until
only three Wright machines remained aloft
Lambert completed four Lefebvre and Tissan-
der three circuits each. Lefebvre concluded with
a thrilling demonstration % the mhnuuvring
capacity of his machine. circins around the
starting point cutting several figures OF eight
and swoopng down over the heads OF the people
I'm front of ;he tribunes. Lambert finishing at
the same time During this exhibition Lambert
and Lefebvre passed each other twice and gave
other evidences Of control over their machines
The Wright aeroplanes alone completed the
required three rounds. the time being as FOL
lows: Tissander. 2s minutes SO seconds; Lam
bert 90 minutes ? seconds
The other machines made records only in the
speed lap contest. Sommer covering the distance
in II minutes % seconds Latham. minutes
30 seconds Paulham, 10 minutes 80 seconds:
Tissandier. minutes 2s seconds: Bunau-Na-
rilla II minutes 56 seconds Latham. min
utes ~ seconds. and Cockburn. IL minutes IS
seconds
There was great disappointment among the
Americans at the failure of Glenn II. Curtiss 20
appear but he explained that he has only one
machine and cannot afford 10 take chances Of "a
mishap He is reserving himself he SAYS. for
the Gordon Bennett Cup. which he wants TO take
To America.
NO ACCIDENT MARS MEETING.
Not n single accident marred the day. and
the crowds returned TO Rheims enthusiastic
over the new sport and the future of the aero
plane.
All the principal automobile manufacturers
have representatives here watching the con-
tests with a view embarking I'm the manu-
facture OF motors.
Lieutenant Commander f. L. Chaplin. APeri-
can Naval Attache. is here having received
cable instructions from the Navy Department
oh tna
department Most of the other foreign military
attaches at Paris also are present. and to-mor-
row a general French and English mission,
which has been attending the manoeuvres at
Chalons will be here.
President FnlliSres and the members Of his
Cabinet. together with many other no,ables.
are expected to witness some Of the contests.
The city of Rheims gave a grand concert and
ball In honor of the visitors tonight