The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-24
AEROPL LANE
PRAC ICAL
Flights at Rheims in a
Wind Proves Much
for Aviation.

Betheny Aviation Field, Rheims.
Aug. IA black flag swapping from
a tall staff over the aeTodrome and
a signal that said: The wind is over
ten meters n second conveyed 10
the thousands Of persons who as
sembled on the Betheny field this
morning for the third day of aviation
that no flights would be possible until
the wind abated.
Owing to the unfavorable weather
conditions the visit OF President Fal-
Heres and tho members OF the cabl-
net to the aerodroIne was postponed
until later in the week
Many interesting questions have
been raised by this new sport of rae
ing in the air, The fact that there
have been no serious breakdownS or
accidents. even when the machines
were flying in a wind of 20 miles an
hour and encounterlng difficult I'd
dies of air, is regarded as ample proof
that the aeroplane already is a prac-
tical machine whose further develop
ment Is only a question of time and
money. The experts differ as TO the
respective merits of b-plane and
Mono-plane and the various types Of
machines in each class. but 1t is unan-
imously held that the future of ayia-
tion depends upon the motor. The
Gnome, revolving, selfcooling motor
developing fifty horsepower and weigh
ing only $50 pounds, employed by NJ.
Bunau-Varilla, has attracted much
favorable attention. The experts
agree that the bi-planes thus far have
demonstrated marked superiority. sta
bility and possibilities of control in a
wind as compared to the mono-plane.
No monoplanes have yentured ont ex-
cept in absolutely calm weather
The brilliant performance last even
ing of Glenn Curtiss. the American
aviator. who covered a lap OF six and
seconds, makes him fayorite for the
big event OF the meeting. the inter
national cup, but there Is little actual
betting
The rules that require the contest
ants in this event, which will take
place Saturday 10 start before five
o'clock in the afternoon gives Curtiss
much concern, as the calm of even
Ing seldom sets in before halfpast
five
An unfortunate misunderstanding
arose yesterday after Curtiss had cont
pleted his flight. The committee de-
cided TO penalze him one-twcnticth
OF his time In the priX De Vitesse for
failure to qualify on Sunday Cur
tiss and Cortlandt Field Bishop. the
representative of the Aero Club of
America protested energetically. They
claimed IL had been distinctly agreed
that Curtiss could qualify any day.
Furthermore. they pointed out that
the rule cited penalized also those
pilots who qualified but failed to com
pletc three rounds and that this pen.
atty had not been applied to Bleriot
aud the other aeronauts. The com
mittee thereupon Te-considered its de-
cislon and after receiving Curtiss
word of honor regarding his under
standing the ruling was withdrawn
Commander Frederick l.. Chapin and
Major T. Bentley Mott. respectively
the American naval and military al
taches. as well as the other foreign
attaches who have come TO Rheims,
are Interested chiefly in the endur-
ancc and wciGht-carrying tests. as
these are the main considerations
from the military standpoint They
all seem TO regard the Wright models
aad the Paul Han biplane as superior
in these respects
NJ Bleriot covered lap in his mon
oplane this afternoon In minutes,
2-5 seconds Tho distance IS 8 l-5
miles. The best record heretofore
was thar made by Curtiss I'm s min
utes So 2.5 seconds.