The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-01
LARGEST EVENT
BARS BALLOONS
The Classy Event of lndianap-
oils Will Be a Great
Drawing Card.
ARMY IS MUCH INTERESTED
OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE
SIGNAL CORPS WILL be DE-
TAILED 6Y THE WAR DEPART
MENT TO WATCH RACES.

Indianapolis. May big balloons
and little balloons are to have show
on the day of the national balloon
race, which starts from the motor
speedway, west of the city, June 8.
The national balloon race will be
watched by aeronauts all over the
world, and they will also be able to
watch another race-a handicap event
for balloons not eligible for the big
race because of their size
Under the rules OF the Aero club ct
America, balloons participating in the
national event must have maximum
capacity of not more than 1900 cubic
feet with five per cent allowance for
oversize. This rule necessarily elm
mates balloons of larger capacity from
the race. 1t might be said that the
balloons much smaller than q 600 Gu
bic feet are also eliminated for the
reason that their small size would
be too great handicap in a race that
is expected to go hundreds Of miles.
Making 4 ciamor.
The owners OF several small bal
looms and the too large balloons are
clamoring for race, and they are to
be accommodated by the Aero Club Of
Indiana, which will arrange for a
handicap race in addition to the ma
tional event. Already there are three
entries for the handicap event and one
of the balloons in this race will be
Coey's Chicago, a gas bag of 100000
cubic feet capacity, which was used
by c. G. Fisher of this city lastfall
in taking an automobile into the
clouds. The Coey balloon will be the
scratch" balloon. as 1t is the largest
one ever constructed. The handicap
race will be started after the racers
in the national event are on their way.
Coey would have such a tremendous
advantage that it is not improbable
that he will be able to go a farther
distance than the filters in the nation
al race.
Army OTfsceTo tnteSOoyeo.
The nation al balloon race lie attract
ing the attention OF the army officials
interested in air navigation and war
balloons. and many of them will be
present to watch the start of the races.
At several army posts about the coun-
try war balloons have been operated
partly for the advantage Of troops SO
that the soldiers would receive all the
knowledge possible about ballooning.
The races here will be the first in
which the soldiers Of Indiana Nation
al Guard will be directly interested.
Members Of Battery A. under the COM
mand of Capt. r. H. Tyndall, will act
as guards at the big races, and at the.
same time they will study the air ma
so they may learn the various features
Of ballooning which may prove bene-
ficial to them later.
All the contestants in the national
race will be eligible to try for the
Lahm trophy in the payment Of a
small fee. The trophy is now held
by Capt Charles D. F. Chandler, U. s.
A. Each certified pilot who starts
in the race will receive a silver trophy
In the nature, of an emblem. The
same trophy in bronze will be given
all the aids who accompany the pilots
in the race.
Word has been received from ]. C.
Mccoy of New York. member Of the
contest committee of the Aero Club
of America who has been in the Philip
pines, that he is on his way home and
will be here to enter in the race with
his balloon. Leo Stevens, of New
York, a balloon enthusiast who owns
five air craft. has announced that he
will enter al. Of them in the Indian
apolis races. At this time It appears
there will be about twelve entries il
the national race.