The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-23
WRIGHT FLYER WINS
AMERICAN TYPE AERoPLANEs
 yICTORs AT RHEIMS.
Spectators See Six Air ships Aloft at One Time-Winner Breaks Speed ReeoTd--CurtiRs Net
 Entered.

Rheims. France, Aug. 22.---The spec tacle of six aeroplanes simultaneously winging their flights in huge circles over the plain of Betheny was a re- markable feature of the opening day of aviation week.
 Yesterdays storm spoiled the eiim- tnation trials for the selection of the French representatives for the Gordon Bennett international cup which Is to be contested for next Saturday. Only Lefebvre, who less than two months ago adopted aeroplane piloting as @ profession, with 0 Wright bi-plane; Bleriot. De LaGrange. Esnault-Pelte- rie. and Captain Ferber braved the gusty puffs. Lefebvre alone succeeded in negotiating the complete circuit of the course. He remained In the air for sixteen minutes in twenty-five mile wind. breaking the speed record heretofore held by Tissandier. cover- inK ten Kilometres in eight minutes, 55 4-5 seconds.
 Rain and wind prevented any at tempt in the two other events on to- days programs speed contest of three laps and a lap contest, for which any round counts-until shortly be- fore dark, Then suddenly the rain ceased and the wind fell to a dead calm. The sky pilots soon were busy in getting 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 a height of 150 feet and the ovation which he receiv- ed was all the harder for his plucky though unsuccessful attempt to cross the English channel. Lambert. Som mer, Cockburn, De Lagrange and Four nier followed in quick succession and as Latham was completing the first round. now at a height of 300 feet, six aeroplanes, like huge gulls, were how ering over the field. Fournier was first down, falling head on into a hay stack as Lambert swept around into the second lap, his machine seeming to cut Into a brilliant rainbow which illuminated the sky.
 Round and round the aeroplanes cir- cled,y disappearing into the distance only to reappear along the course. Meanwhile Lefebvre started and was followed by LaBlanc, Bunau-Varilla, Tissandier, Ferber. Bleriot, and Paul. ham, until the air seemed filled with mammoth birds.
 Latham came down after finishing the second round, the others gradually dropping out until only three Wright machines remained aloft Lampert completed four. Lefebvre and Tissan- dier three circles each. Lefebvre con- cluded with a thrilling demonstration of the manoeuvreing capacity of his machine, circling around the starting point. cutting several figure eights and sweeping down over the heads of peo- pie in front of the tribunes; Lambert finishing at the same time.
 The Wright aeroplanes alone conn pleted the required three rounds, the time being as follows:
 TtssandIer, 2s minutes 69 seconds; Lambert 29 minutes seconds; the other machines made records only in the speed contest, Somner covering the distance in II minutes, 24 seconds; Lambert g minutes S2 seconds; Paul ham, 10 minutes, 50 seconds; Tissan- dier, g minutes. 28 seconds; Bunau-Va- rilla, II minutes. 56 seconds; Latham, minutes. 47 seconds. and Cockburn, Ii minutes, 56 seconds.
 There was great disappointment among the Americans at the failure of Glenn H. CurtisS to appear, but he explained that he has only one ma- chine and cannot afford to take chances of a mishap. He is reserving himself. he says, for the Gordon Bennett cup which he wants to take back to Amer lea.
 Not a single accident maTred the day and the crowds returned to Rheims en- thusiastic over the nv sport and the future of the aeroplane.
 Lieutenant Commander F. L. Cha pin. American naval attache. is here. having received cable instructions from the Navy Department to attend the contests and report to the Department.
 President Fallieres and the members of his Cabinet together with many other nota bles are expected to wit ness some of the contests.