The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-25
Frenchman Performs Thrilling
Foat With AsropIane
DRI ING AGAINST WIND
Aviator Brings His Machine Out Be-
fore President FaIIeres and Ac-
complishes What Was Thought
To Be Impossible.

Bethany Aviation Field, Rheims, Au-
gust PA, marvellous prolonged high
fight of 30 kilometres Qs1h miles) in a
20-knot breeze by Paulham and the es-
tablshment of new worlds record for
| 10 kilometres at the rate of .318 metres
(46 miles) an hour by Bleriot were the
features of the aerial race meeting to-
I day.
Owing to the high wind there would
have been no flights except for the visit
this afternoon of President Fallieres and
his cabinet. The President was accom-
panied also by distinguished officers of
the French and British armies. His pres
ence stimulated the sky pilots and a
dozen machines were brought out on the
field, but a majority of them were un-
able to battle against the wind
Young Bunau-Varilla, however, with his
machine plunging like ship in a stormy
sea, managed to navigate the turbulent
air currents for one round. Then Paul
ham, who already had won a reputation
for courage and endurance, began his
| thrilling flight. He made the first two
rounds at an altitude of $50 feet, but as
cending In front of the tribunes as he
entered the third circuit, he reached a
height of between 400 and 500 feet The
spectators gazed aloft in admiration, min
gled with horror, and as they watched the
biplane struck what seemed dangerous
angle. The machine swayed in the wind
and each time righted itself
Paulham completed his exploit with a
! W0n6arfIl af mn, ari, a..
achievement has made him the unriv-
aled hero of the meeting.
In his shed after the fight the aviator
! appeared calm and described the sensa-
tions which he experienced as magnifi-
cent.
Why did you venture out in such a
wind?' he was asked.
The president of the republic was
there responded Paulham. 1T was
necessary to fly"
why did you go so high?"
Because" said the aviator, "in height
lay security. The higher | went the safer
/ was, as the wind, though strong, was
more regular at high altitude than
close to the earth, where there are break
ers like waves near shore during a
storm"
Paulham had nothing to gain by the
risks he took, as his flight was not count
ed In the endurance test and 1t is prob
able that much higher rate of speed
will be reached by the contestants in the
Prix de La Vitesse.
Bleriots record-making trip was accom-
plished with his S0-horsepower machine at
low level. He made the circuit of els
miles in minutes, 42-5 seconds The
best previous record was made yesteday
by Glenn H Curtiss, the American avi<-
tor, in minutes IS 2-6 seconds.
Latham put two machines out of COM
mission In an attempt to start. Finally,
just at dusk, he got away and made a
superb fight of three rounds at an aver
age of 100 feet.
This was Latham's second try for the
Prix de La Vitesse, and to the actual
time of 30 minutes. 2 seconds, one twen-
tieth must be added as psnalization
The management of the Wright ma
chimes declined to take any chances
explaining that they had nothing at
stake as tn ese machines are at present
classified as first, second and third in
the Prix de La Vitesse.