The Carlisle independent., 1909-08-05
4 CLENENT- BAYAR

tique de la Champagne fixed for Aug ust p to 29 be a success or fasco? That question Is being hotly debated In England and other countries by all who take an interest in aerial loco motion. It Is evident that the success of the great event must depend very largely on the condition of the at mosphere. Unless another marked i'm provement is made in flying machines within the next two months, enabling them to live in a much stronger breeze than they can face at the present mo- ment, windy week would prove dis astrous to the enterprise Every pru- dent aviator would keep his aeroplane boxed up in its shed rather than run the risk of having 1t wrecked. No doubt the prizes are tempting. For the Grand Prix de la Champagne ct de la Vile de Rheims (the long-dis- tance competition) there are six. of which the first is S10,000, the second, S5,000; the third, s2,000, and the three others s1,000 each; but to make 1t worth while to attempt to gain any one of them by remaining in the air one, two, three or four hours. the at mosphere must be calm. For this contest the organizing committee has left the competitors the choice, in the order established by the drawing of lots, of the moment for their start during the three days Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, August 22, 25 and 27, between a. n. and D. m But 1t depends on the decision of the controlling committee of the Aero club of France whether more than one aeroplane will be permitted in the air over the ten-kilometer (six and one fourth miles, circuit at the same time. It is all the more important that, if 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 a req sonable chance of success the weath- CT must not be blustery and the wind not blowing with a velocity exceeding % kilometers 1515 miles, an hour; and there is not more than one chance in three that such propitious 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 g a. m. and 5 D. m. That stipulation, made with the object of enabling the paying public to return to Paris, Rheims, Chalons, 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- tesD over 30 kilometers (19 miles) for which the start has to be made either between l D. m. and D. m. on Monday, August 23. or between l D. n. and p. m. on Sunday, August 29. It is just between those hours of the day that there is the least chance of the atmosphere being calm. However, the higher the speed of the aeroplane the less effect the wind has
 
 record of the circuit (ten kilometers, or six and one-fourth miles, is nom- inally open dring the whole week, the competitors being free to make their trials at any and every moment between g a. m. and D. n. when the circuit is not otherwise occupied. It is probable that it will generally, zl. when the atmosphere is calm. But the aviators are granted the advan- tage of their time in covering the ten kilometers 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 passenger-carrying con- petition is to come off on Monday. August 23, between 4 p. n. and 6 D. m., the altitude contest is fixed for p. m. on Sunday, August 29 and the Gordon Bennett Aviation cup, an international speed competition over 20 kilometers Q21a miles), is to re- August 2S. till p. m. After what has been already said, it is needless to insist on the possibility, if not the probability, of the condition of the atmosphere interfering with the sue cess of these competitions.
 There are in tbe regulations few other stipulations which are open to criticism. For instance, in the pas senger-carrying trials each passenger must weight at least 63 kilogrammes Q43 pounds), which is not excessive; but the pilot is not to be permitted to substitute ballast for living freight. It seems unnecessary to impose on the aviator the necessity of risking any other life than his own. especially as very few of the existing aeroplanes are built to accommodate passengers. though capable of carrying consider able weight if properly distributed over the machine so as not to inter- fere with its stability Then to fix the altitude competition at exactly a D. n. on Sunday. August 29. is al-