The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-24
BELMONT AVIATION FIELD. L.

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BELMONT AVIATION FIELD. l..
J., October 24.-Although perfect
weather conditions prevailed on the
opening OF the third day OF the great
international aviation tournament
radical differences between the avia-
tors themselves. promised TO mar the
sport.
Early to-day the wind which pre-
vented yesterdays flights and wrecked
the machines OF Moisant and
Grahame- White, was absolutely STILL
but quarreis between the foreign avia-
tors and the committee in charge Of
the event, made up in violence what
the wind lacked.
The failure of the aviation commit
tee to lay out a fiye kiiometer course
which would ne over entirely level
country. without houses or trees. had
aroused the fears of the French Air
men. II is over Ave kilometer course
that the Coupe Intcrnationaie ID ANta-
ton, the premier air event OF the meet,
was to bt flown. The foreign flyers
declared that the rules OF the inter
national society called for an UNI
trammeied course on which they could
alight at any point with perfect
safety.
The Ave kiiometer course at Bel
mont Park takes In nearly the mile
and half OF open country covered
with villages and trees ON which 1t
would be impossible to alight In safety.
Leblanc and Latham. members OF
the French team, In the big speed
event, are To compete In almost I'M
tried 1e0-horsepowsr monopianea.
They are not absolutely sure OF the
liability OF their powerful engines.
which they admit have never been
used In long distance flights.
Difference In Distance.
Last year the big race ~gs won at
Rheims. France, by Glenn II. Curiiss,
The course that year was only 2,i2
miles in length This Year To keep
pace with the increased efficiency Of
the aeropiane. the race 10 for lou
kilometers-s2. miles. Latham
and Leblanc are naturally dubious lest
their engines fail them on so long a
race. They have practically deter
mined to remain outsof the big race
unless the course Is changed
IL the Frenehmen do not enter the
contest. the Gordon Bennett trophy
Is likely tn remain in America as the
English team. composed of Grahanae-
White. Alec Dgilvic and James Rad
ley, can hardly hope to lift the cup
from the speedy Americans. The new
flyer Of the Wright brothers IL ex-
pected to develop phenomenal speed,
while Glenn curtiss new monoplane
will probably fy faster than any of
the Rleriot machines used by the Eng
itsh flyers.
Air men predicted this morning that
Ii the early weather conditions pre-
vailed throughout the day new records
would be established before night.
The wind was not blowing sufficiently
to raise the flags from their poles. by
o'clock every hangar WAS open and
machinists and aviators were busiiy
engaged in preparing their flyers for
tho days sport.
Further dissension among the flyers
has resulted from the wreckage OF
Moisant's Bleriot and Grahame-
Whites Farman machines yesterday.
The aviators say the officials notified
them that the velocity of the wind
was but twenty-five miles an hour,
when as a matter OF fact 1t was more
than fifty. The flyers accuse the com
mittee OF attempting to deceive them
10 appcase the waiting crowd in the
grandstand. who were anxious to see
= flight
Three new flyers were scheduled to
make their appearance on the field
to-day. The most interesting was the
new Wright racing machine. 1t Is
exactly one-half the size OF the ord-
nary Wright machines. but carries n
more powerful engine. The propellers
are larger than those used on the
regular Wright aeroplane. 1t was
first expected that the new racer
would be flown by Orville Wright,
who tried It out 1T Dayton. o.. but
he will not attend. his place being
taken either by Wilbur Wright or
young Walter Brookins. The Wrights
confidently expect this machine TO de-
yelop q speed OF So miles an hour.
Another machine which was to APP
pear to-day was Rloan Garros' De-
mciselle. the smallest monoplane in
existence. 1t is significant, however.
that the Wright racing bipiane Is
equally as small as the Santos-Du-
mant machine. A keen contest In
the air Is expected between these
two diminutive aerOplaneg.
The third new flyer was Lieutenant
Latham's Antoinette. a io0-horse-
power monoplane.
Eugene Ely has been selected as
the tentative navigator of the new
CustiHs monoplane.
Mol.amt undaunted.
In the event that Moisant can bor-
row q new pair Of wings to replace
those Of his smashed Bleriot. he
planned to make ni4htS to-day. 9th
erwise he will make no flights until
Tomorrow. when both OF his ma
chimes will have been completed.
arahame-W White also had hopes that
he would be able to complete repairs
on his Farman biplane by this even
ing.
TOD Shriever. injured Saturday, IL
working night and day in An effort
TO repair his black devil biplane to
entsr the elimination races to-day.
ehriever In still on crutches and has
II broken nose IN bandase4.
taaiina11 81 Tourth fPaEs.l