The San Francisco call., 1910-01-10
HARMON'S BIPLANF
HAS FIRST FLIGHT
Glen Curtiss Makes Trial Trips
With New York Machine
in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9.-Glenn II.
Curtiss, in the biplane belonging TO
Clifford Harmon of New York, made
three short flights late today at Domin-
guez aviation field. The first time he
remained up half minute; the Sec
ond time 40 seconds and the third time
L minute and 10 seconds.
Each time he took a running start,
the machine running swiftly on its
wheels, over the spongy turf of the
getaway. On the third flight he trav-
eled three-quarters of miIe, on the
hexagon course. This was the first
time the Harmon machine had been in
the air.
FRENCH AVIATOR ARRIVES
Louis Paulhan, the French holder of
the aerial speed record for one mile.
and two members of his syndicate of
flyers, Miscarol and Mason, arrived
here today, wearied by a transconti-
mental trip that was a continual bat
tie with blizzards, but ready to en-
ter tomorrow the first aeroplane con-
tests of the 10 days international
meet,
They brought with them two Bleriot
monoplanes-great black things that
look like gigantic casting fiies-and
two Farman biplanes, painted white.
which, tomorrow, with Mason and
Miscarol handling the complicated sys-
TENS of control, will soar in competi-
tion with Willard, Hamilton and Cur
tiss In the speed and height tests.
The addition of the foreign machines
which arrived in two big express cars,
brings the total OF heavier than air
craft on the grounds up to nine.
PREPARE TO BEAT RECORDS
There are also three dirigibles on the
field-Roy Knabenshue's, Lincoln
Beachy's and that belonging to the
United States government.
Paulhans four aeroplanes were
switched from the Southern Pacific
main line to the electric road running
direct to the aviation camp, 16 miles
five Curtiss type machines in the great
aeroplane shelter tent, they looked gil
gantic.
The Curtiss machines are the small
est successful aeroplanes yet developed,
but the inventor declared today that he
expected to see the speed records low
cred.
Charles K. Hamilton, who came here
fresh from his recent flights in Kan
sas City, is being groomed by Curtiss
to beat Paulhan's official speed rec
ord of a mile in two minutes and one
fifth seconds. He will also go after
the record established by the luckless
De la Grange. who flew a mile and
$50 yards in l minute and AZ seconds.
VARIETIES OF MACHINES
All the American biplanes, including
one built by Captain Mueller, the bal
loonist, which is a modified Wright,
have four cylinder motors-that is, all
except the one in which Curtiss hopes
to make records and take a large por-
tion of $4,000 in prizes. This is an
eight cylinder biplane. and the one in
which he made the remarkable flights
at Rheims.
All the Curtiss machines, including z
that of Harmon, which was the first
belonging to a nonprofessional to ar
rive here. have an exceedingly simple
system of control. The aviator need
not move his hands from the rudder
wheel If he wants to tilt the for
ward controls, which send the ma
chine up or down, he pushes the wheel
bar forward, or draws it back. His
foot controls the motor and the natu-
raj motion of his body against the
back of the seat controls the equilib-
ri,1rc of the machine