Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-29

one OF the dlf1gibies and were informed as
to its workings.
RIeriOt Takes Lap Record.
Later the party Witnessed the starts OF
Bleriot, Lefebvre, Delagrange and Bunau-
Varilla. They saw Bleriot just at dark
clip 52s seconds off Curtiss' fastest round
In the international In a ten~-kilometeter
flight in the lap shed contest, making the
distance in Z minutes an seconds, which is
a new worlds record. and Henry Farman,
who yesterday won the prix de la cham
payne add to his laurels by carrying two
passengers around the course.
The ambassador expressed the opinion
that the achievements of aviation week
will lave an echo around the world.
1T looks as II everybody would soon be
on the wing" he said.
The entire party were the guests Of Cort-
land F. Bishop, president Of the Aero
Club of America at dinner at the tribune
restaurant returning to Paris at midnight.
PassenEer-CarryinE Contest,
Only Lefebvre and Farman appeared in
the passenger-carrying contest late in the
afternoon. The former covered a lap with
one passenger in IL minutes 2OM seconds.
tarman carried one passenger in 8 min
utes 523s seconds and two passengers In
10 minutes 80 seconds.
Tomorrow's program includes the Prix
de L'Altde, Of $500. to be awarded to the
aeroplanist attaining the highest altitude;
the conclusion of the passenger and speed
contests and long distance flights by Paul
han, T~issandier and Lefebvre in efforts to
beat Farman's record for the annual
Michaelen prize. Curtiss intends to try
tomorrow to take the lap record away
from Bleriot.
The committee announced tonight that
In order to encourage mechanicians they
had established a special prize. Every
pilot starting tomorrow between s and 8
will receive 5 francs for each kiometer
covered, the money to go to the mechan-
icians, in addition to three prizes of 2.0Oo
1000 and 500 francs to go to the pilots.
Cup a Work Of Art.
Curttss' round in the international match
In z minutes 5SN seconds does not count
In the speed lap contest, as this event ,s
the only race in which the time for ROUNDS
does not count in the lap competition.
The international Cup of Aviation Is
known otherwise as the James Gordon
Bennett trophy. 1t is an object OF art
valued at $500. which goes to the win
ming club and 5000 to the aviator. The
course is two APPS of the Bethany aero
droms OF 20 kilometers.
Curtiss comes from Hammondsport. N
Y. This Is the first time he has flown
against formidable competitors. His
machine is a biplane.
The French spectators were greatly dis
appointed that this coveted prize was not
won by a Frenchman. but they and thou
sands of other enthusiasts from many
countries crowded around Curtiss ana
showered congratulations upon him FOR
/ his WOndprfnI arhfaxra,,o
CurtIss Decides Quickly.
Curtiss came to his decision to make a
trial suddenly. At lO11 a. m, surrounded
by a group Of enthusiastic Americans, in
GLIDING Cortlandt F.. Bishop. president OF
the American Aero club, Commander F. L.
Chaplin, the American naval attache at
Paris. and 7. Bentley Mott, the military
attache, the machine was run out on the
field. Curtiss made no preparation other
than to change his coat for q leather Jacket.
With no trace OF excitement he climbed
into the seat and gave the order to start
the propeliers. Running along the ground
a short distance for a riying start the ma
chine lifted lightly and circled between the
umekeepers and the tribunes. Then mount
ing gradually until he had reached a height
of forty-five feet Curtiss crossed the line
at a terrific pace.
Tho aeroplRne. small and compact and
with trim lines. looks more like a racer
than any OF the others here and as IL sped
away straight as an arrow exclamatiops
OF admiration arose.
Crosses Line Low.
Clipping the corners closely Curtiss con-
tinued at a uniform height until he had
passed the last pylon. He then descended
sharply. to get the benefit OF gravity, and
crossed the finish line less than a dozen
feet above the ground. A few seconds
afterwnrd the white ball was holsted, in
dlcaung that a record had been broken
and the Americans broke out into wild
cheering. The a~eroplane was towed back
behind the line and Curtiss was showered
With congratulations. He replied modestly
that this speed was only what he antici-
pated and he expressed perfect satisfaction
with the way in which his aeropIane had
behaved. The time for this trial heat was
minutes 65ts seconds,
Curtiss explained. however, that he had
encountered peculiar air currents, es-
pecially over the "aeropIans graveyard"
where he said the air seemed to boil"
The American announced that he would
start Immediately for the International
His gasoline tank was quickly retnied and
he got away in fine style. He rose to a
Lrcatcr height than on his trial In order 70
raua fha rrrbfHIauf aFr V.-ra-a. -