The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-28
FARMAN BREAKS
A|RSH|P RECORD
Aviator Remains In Air for
More Than Three Hours
MOST SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT
Victory of Farman Was a Complete
Surprise Because He Had Kept
His Plans Secret Up to
Time He Appeared.
MOST SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT

Betheny Aviation Field, Rheims, Au-
gust 27.-Henry Farman, the English a-via-
tor hitherto unknown quantity in the
aviation contests, in bi-plane of his own
design broke the worlds record for du-
ration of flight and distance in a heavier
than-air machine today and won the
Grand Prix de La Champagne-the endur-
ance testify a remarkable flight officially
recorded as $50 kilometres Q11.7S miles, IN
hours, 4 minutes, 56 2-5 seconds.
rfapeo-i- -i-yvi(syagents302we ann. ...........
He actually covered an extra 10 kilo-
metres and remained in the air 10 min
utes after 1880 o'clock this afternoon. the
hour that the timekeepers, under the
rules, ceased to keep a record of the
flight.
The other contestants finished in the
order named:
Hubert Latham, in monoplane No. %, 154
kilometres, 500 metres, 9o.94 miles; time,
hours, Is minutes, Q 3-5 seconds)
Louis Paulhan, in Voisin biplane, 1874
kilometres.
Count de Lambert, biplane, 11s kilo-
metres
Hubert Latham, in monoplane No. 13,
Ill kilometres.
M. Tissandier. biplane, Ill kilometres.
Roger Sommer. biplane. 60 kilometres.
M. De La Grange, monoplane, 50 kilo-
metres.
M. Bleriot, monoplane, 40 kilometres.
Glenn H. Curtiss, biplane, 80 kilometres.
M. Lefebvre, biplane, 21 kilometres.
Only One Prize.
Although Hubert Latham, with a differ
ent machine took second and fifth posi-
tions, the aviation committe held he was
ineligible for two prizes, and awarded
the fifth to M. Tissandier and the sixth
to M. Sommer.
Although Farman's brilliant record as
an aeroplanist should have warned the
sharps that he was a dangerous competi-
tor, his victory was a complete surprise.
He had been preparing his machine
secretly and had not appeared upon the
field until today except for a few prac-
tice flights, and had been almost for
gotten.
Indeed, he started about 4:3O D. m.
keeping close to the ground, while La
than and the others were soaring in
spectacular fashion high in the air. Far
man attracted no attention until he had
flown so kilometres. Then suddenly tbs
watchers woke up and began to make
inquiries, only to discover that he had
gone out carrying petrol enough for q
hVe-hour flight and equipped with a
sei-coolins revolving motor, built by the
Gnome company after his own design.
All eyes had been riveted on the beau
tiful graceful monoplane of Latham.
who, after Tissandiers foul Of Paulhan in
the morning ended Paulhans chances.
had become the favorite for the Grand
Prix de Champagne.
They had also watched the enchanting.
changing pictures unfolding above the
sunlit plain of Betheny-white-w winged
men-birds, circling and wheeling.
View Not a Dream.
The thousands of spectators literally
rubbed their eyes to make sure that this
evidence of man having conquered the
air was not a cream.
Trouble with his ignition plug forced
Latham to descend after he had covere
Ill kilometres and Tissandier came down
after accomplishing identicaly the same
distance. The other aviators mad ended
their efforts earlier, a majority of them
in 'aeroplane graveyard" a hollow at
the lower end of the field
Only Farman continued. Round and
round he went as regularly as clockworlx.
always hugging the ground, taking no
chances, and avoiding any attempt at
display. Record after record fell before
his methodical flight. Dusk came dark
ness fell and lanterns were hung on the
towers marking the limits Of the course
The judges no longer could tell whether
the record breaking aeroplanist was still
flying and a dozen automobiles raced to
strategic points to make sure that Far
man was still in the air.
The crowds in the stand waited "a
tiently, content that all records had been
broken. Finally at 7:30 O'Clock the an
nouncement was made that the timing
of the aeroplanist had ended under the
rules. Ten minutes more and su iLenly
out of the darkness, a ghostly thing ap-
peared in front of the tribune and came
to earth on the starting line.
great cheer arose and hundreds cf
spectators vaulted the fence 10 be .he
first to greet the hero of the moment.
Mr. Farman appeared almost overcome
by the long strain he had undergone
He almost tainted as he was helped out
of his seat. Their fcore of persons
lifted him aloft and bore him in triumph
on their should ars 10 the presidential TIL
bune where VI. Mllerand mirisrer of
public works, congratulated him.
Ill luck contlnu TO pursue thc pilots
of the Wright rnacbcies. Count De Lam
bert did not start today and M. Tissal
dier made his attempt too late. Curtiss
just before lark, made the fastest lap
he has yet accomols'led, his time being
minutes, 1-5 seconds.
Time BY Rounds.
Farman's times at the end of the sixth
to the seventeenth rounds, inclusive,
were:
Sixth round, :2S As.
Seventh round, I'll .3o 2-5.
Eighth round, In :3S 80.
Ninth round. 1:S1 :45 S-5.
Tenth round. la: al 1-5.
Eleventh round, 1:52:0S
Twelfth round. 2:02:31 2-5
Thirteenth round 2:12:51: 1-5.
Fourteenth round 2:22:51 To-
Fifteenth round, 2:33:10.
Sixteenth round, 2:43 :35 Us.
Seventeenth round, 2:H:04 Is.
Latham's Record Gone.
At the completion of the fourteenth
hot ,, 20 ltcto