Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-08-06
q CLEMENT SAYA RD

tiQue dc In Champagne nxed for Aug
ust 22 to 20 be u success or fiascof
That question is being hotly debated
In England and other countries by all
who take an interest in aerial loco
motion. 1t Is evident that the success
OF the great event must depend very
on the condition OF the at
Unless another marked i'm.
provement is made in fiying.machines
within the next two months. enabling
them to live In n much stronger breeze
than they can face Mt the present mo-
ment. a windy week would prove dis
astrous to the enterprise. Every pru-
don't aviator would keep his aeroplane
boxed mp In Its shed rather than run
the risk OF having It wrecked. No
doubt the prizes are tempting. For
the Grand Prix do In Champagne ct
dc In Vile de Rheims (the long dis
tance competition) there are six. Of
which tho first is $4,000. the second.
$1,000: the third. $1,000. and the three
others $1,000 each: but to make II
worth while to attempt to gain any
ono Of them by remaining In the air
one. two. three or four hours. the ut.
mosphere must be calm. For this
contest the organizing committee has
left tho competitors the choice. in
tho order established by the drawing
of lots. of the moment for their start
during the three days Sunday.
"Wednesday and Friday. August -.
IS and -. between ? u. IN. nnd 8 y. m.
But II depends on the decision OF tho
committee OF the Aero
club OF France whether more than
ons aeroplane will be permitted in the
air over the tcn.kilometer (six and one
fourth miles) circuit at the same time.
II Is all the more important that, II
they are numerous. several competi.
tors should be permitted to make their
trial together. because. though NOM
inally extended over three whole
days. the time is In reality short.
To start on this enterprise with ren-
sonable chance OF success the wealth
or must not be blustery and the wind
not blowing with a velocity exceeding
IS kilomctcrs ti5i- milesl an hour:
and there Is not more than one chance
in three that such rroritious condi-
tion Of the atmosphere will prevail
during the whole or even half OF any
one OF the three days indicated in
the program for the competition. or. at
any rate. between the hours OF 9
a M. and 5 p. IN. That stipulation.
made with the object OF enabling the
paying public to return to Paris.
Rheims. Chalous. etc. In good time
for dinner. must initiate against the
chances Of the aviators to distinguish
themselves The same remarks apply
with greater force TO the regulations
Of the Prix de Vitesse (the speed con-
tesp over 30 kilomcters ls miies) :.
either between p. M. and p. m.
on Monday. August IS. or between l
y. m. and y. IN. on Sunday. August
-. II is just between those hours
OF the day that there is the least
chance Of the atmosphere being calm
I owever. tie higher the speed OF the
the less effect the wind has
on IT The competition for the special
record OF tho circuit (ten kilometers.
or six and one-fourth miles) Is nom.
tnally open dring the whole week.
:hs competitors being free TO make
their trials at any and every moment
between 3 a. IN and 6 y m. when
the circuit is not otherwise occupied.
It Is probable that It will generally.
II not always, be otherwise occupied
when the atmosphere is calm But
the ayiators are granted the advan.
tase OF their time IN covering the ten
kilometsrs In other competitions be-
Ing counted for this prize. As for the
three other events on the program.
they are down for fixed days and
hours. The passsngerearrying com
petition is 10 come OF on Monday.
August IS, between 4 .. IN and Z
p m. the altitude contest Is fixed
for ?. N on Sunday. August -. and
the Gordon Bennett Aviation cup, an
International speed competition over
20 kilomstsrs us,s rn!lesl. Is to re
main open the whole OF Saturday
Angus; IS. till p. m After what has
been already said It is needless &c
insist on the possibility. II not the
probability. Of the condition Of the
atmosphere interfering with the sue
cess Of these competitions
AISES are N 1ES ENsllsUoHs a rev
other supulAtiocs which are oPen &c
criticism. For instance. IN the pas
senss--cArTying trials each passenger
mus; weight 81 least s. kilosrammss
Gas PCunGsl. which Is no; excessive:
eut the pilo; IS rot 10 es Permitted
70 substitute ballast for IiTias freight
Il seems Unnecessary 70 impose on tht
aviator the necessity % Eiskirs ary
other lie than his owr. especially
As very few % the existing ae-cpIxres
A-S bull; 70 aecouDotAfe Passengers
though capable % carrying consider
able ~stght H properly distributes
over tie machine 80 As &c; % ister
fc1e Nt;A its stability. Then TO Z,