The Detroit times., 1910-01-13
PlU[HlN Goes
UP 4.146 FEET
1sring French Aviator Smashes AL
Records ds--Nskes Flight in
Fsrman Biplane.

LOS ANGELES, Cal. Jan. ls.-
y Louis Paulhan. the French aviator. Is
soceiving congratulations today on his
; lDsing flight yesterday when he as
nonded Alag feet in a Farman biplant
B md descended safely after 80 minutes
4 le IL seconds In the air. The instru
Donf on Paulhan's machine registered
! y HIGHT OF 1900 feet. but after consid
orable figuring, this was reduced 10
1,1t6. This eclipsed any previous rec.
Urds by LAG feet. The time of
\ GeDcent was Z minutes 80 seconds.
The Frenchman. using an engine
that had Just arrived from Paris. had
boou on the course all afternoon. he
lad circled the course again and again,
abiding and dipping and swinging
corners In a daring faE;ion that made
hle wife shiver with fright.
The sun was low toward the sea and
the shadows had begun 10 gather
when Pauhan decided TO go higher In
the air than any man in a heavier
than-air machine ever had flown. The
Wind barely stirred
h A paulhan rose I'm the air he bent
LOW his grap-capped head and smiled
@ he made short circuit circle over
the $4,000 spectators. Curtiss had
previously tried the higher currents
and came down.
Paulhan pointed north, went up q
thousand feet. passed over the center
OF the field again as though TO take
! another last look at a human face.
then turned north and up again. The
crowd grew breathlessly intent as the
Frenchman and his machine rapidly
became a speck in the gathering twi-
light.
At a hight OF 1900 feet Paulhan de-
scribed a great circle TO feel the cur
rents. When word spread that he had
beaten Hubert Latham's record OF l.
500 feet. the vast throng became fran
tic.
Two thousand feet and still climb
ing. No one would have been sur
prised IL the man and his little wings
had been swallowed up In the void.
After the aviator was as near out or
sight as he could be without disap-
.pearing, Paulhan began 10 descend
much to the relief of the suspense felt
ny The spectators.
He came down easily in front OF the
grandstand after having risen to the
plane OF the mountain peaks. As he
'loaped from his machine, cheeks glow
Ing and eyes flashing, he was grabbed
~ his friends and carried to the grand
stand, where he barred his head amid
3 thunder OF cheers.
Curtiss Starts To Work.
Curtiss idled nearby, but turned alb
ruptly as Paulhan went around the
course u second time. and remarked
10 two women who were chatting with
him: We'll. II is time l started TO
work
Then Curtiss stepped from his tent
and the megaphone announced that he
would try for the speed record OF the
course Clad Immediately, with a
x0lfIng cap pulled over his eyes, he
took his seat and gave the signal.
After a short trial flight he increased
his speed to the rate Of 43 1-2 miles an
hour. The time for the course OF
a1ightly more than a mile and half
was 2:13 3-5. No sooner had Curtiss
alighted and strolled away than Paul
hans manager announced that the
rrenchman would seek TO take the
speed honor from the American.
The sporting instinct or the specta-
tors was aroused. The course was
cleared with difficulty and Paulhan
started. His engine had less power
His turns were not so sharp. The re-
suit of the second lap. which was the
one timed, was IA seconds slower than
Curtiss' record. The Frenchman's
made a qualifying flight, but
came down after an erratic flight OF a
Few minutes. Then Curtiss half cir.
cled the field with Harmon as passen-
1er.