The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-26
Daring and Sensational Flight
Is Made at Rheims Which
Breaks Records
STRONG WIND MAKES NO
DIFFERENCE TO PAULHAN
Flight Breaks Wilbur Wright's Record
Made at Lemans and Stop is Made
Only Because Oil Tank
is Exhausted.

Bethany Aviation Field, Rheims.
France, August 25.-Another sensational
exploit was added to the marvels of avia-
ton week today when Pauhan. the plucky
French aviator, broke the worlds record
in wonderful fight of two hours. "A
minutes and "a seconds. During 20 min
utes of the time Paulhan had heavy
ram and windstorm to contend with
The previous official record for time in
the air was made by Wilbur Wright at
Lemans, December 81 two hours 20 min
utes, 80 seconds.
Paulhan's new record for distance was
about 1874 kilometres, or SO miles. He
made 10 circuits of the course. As he
was coming down the home stretch for the
last time the dirigible, Colonel Renard.
appeared to the westward blowing its
way majestically through the smoke of
the city of Rheims
When Paulhan finally came down it was
because the SO litres of essence which he
carried in his tank was exhausted He
said Immediately after he landed that
both the machine and the self-coolinR
Gnome motor had stood up perfectly and
that he could have continued indefinitely
if the tank had been replenished.
No one who witnessed the marvelously
| impressive flight now entertalns the
slightest doubt that aerial navigation with
Observation-Disclosures machines has a glorious
| future.
Start of the Flight
| Starting In 12-knot breeze shortly be-
fore o'clock with the avowed inten-
ton of completing the 50 kilometres be-
fore o'clock to bar his less venturesome
rivals who desired to await calmer air.
Paulhan not only accomplished his orig
inal purpose, but continued to circle the
vast plain until his tank was literally
empty.
Thirteen times he made the circuit.
Even when a shower, accompanied by a
high wind. suddenly broke, the intrepid
pilot did not falter. He battled in the
teeth of the rain and wind for ten
minutes up one length of the course and
the thrilled spectators watched the strug-
gle against the elements in spell-bound
admiration. When he succeeded in
rounding the turn the excitement and en-
thusiasm broke into a frenzied roar
Going down on the wings of the wind,
Paulhan made up for the time lost in
fighting against it. Fortunately the storm
was of brief duration. As the time APP
preached when it was evident that he
would beat the Wright record. the ex-
citement was intense, and the crowds
rushed out of the tribunes each time he
passed, cheering and shouting words of
encouragement At one moment there
was an enchanting picture as the areo-
plane f1oated in the limpd blue beneath a
beautiful rainbow, while the approaching
dirigibe, Colonel Renard, was silhouetted
against the back clouds baked up on the
horizon.
Records Broken.
AS Paulhan in turn broke the time and
distance records the jubiation of the
spectators was beyond description. The
Americans joined the French and other
foreigners in paying tribute to the cour-
age of the daring aviator.
Exhibition flights meanwhile were being
given by Sommer, Leblanc, Lathom.
Rougier, Tissander, Bleriot, Gobron and
Bunau-Varilla, and although they offer
ed a wonderfully impressive sight as they
heeled and circled in the gathering dusk,
they were almost forgotten in the in
tensity of interest as to how far Paulhan
would go.
Shortly Pauhan descended near the
back turn and was announced that the
committee nau granted MN PERMISSION
TO replenish his tank on the field and to
permit his return with his own power
Everybody decided to await his appear
ance and 1t is doubtful if 100 persons left
the tribunes, despite the lateness of the
hour While they waited Glenn Fl. Cur
tiss. the American aviator, got out his
machine for an effort to meat Bleriot's
time of yesterday and he made fast
round, lowering his own time for the
6 1-5 miles to minutes, II 80 seconds
only is seconds behind that of Bleriot
Psulhan Returns.
1t dark when a great cheer arose
as Paulhan appeared out of the black
ness of night and descended gracefully
In front of the tribunes. The fence was
torn down in the rush to reach him and
he borne on the shoulders of some of
the most enthusiastic among the spec
tators. the crowds escorting him to the
box of the Marquis de Polignac, president
of the committee on aviation to receive
congratulation and have his health drunk
in champagne.
In the midst of the mad enthusiasm
Paulhan's eye rested on a face In the
crowd below. Instantly he stretched out
his arms and turning broke his way
through the throng in the tribunes. n
moment later throwing himself into the
arms of his wife His mother and father
were there to embrace him and weep and
finally to carry him off in triumph
Paulhan is not an inventor. but simply
an operator, who tonight has taken rank
as the worlds greatest professional The
belief is unanimous that he won the Prix
de Champagne today, although the man
ayers of the Wright machine intimate
that they will have try for II tomorrow.
The anal day for this event is Friday
LEI ebvre, with 30 litres tank went
out this afternoon in an attempt for the