The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-18
Daring Flyers Of Several
Nations viii Make Trip
DEATH Turks IN GORGEs
Mountains to Guide the Airships
over the Route Trayersed
BY Napoleon

Brig, Switzerland, September IT,
Everything is in readiness for the great
cross-Alps aeroplane flight from Brig,
at the head of the Rhone valley in
Switzerland, over the Simplon pass and
down into Italy, crossing Lake Mag
giore to Milan.
Under the rules the contestants may
start at any time, beginning tomor-
row, until September 26, but they must
complete the air journey to Milan in
a single day. Many experts here re-
gard the attempt as foolhardy, as the
aviator must rise about 1000 feet i'm
mediately on leaving the ground, and
maintain that altitude for not less than
half an hour to clear Simplon pass.
Descent anywhere In the first four
miles of the rocky precipitous gorges
would mean certain death.
A meteorologist stationed at Simplon
during the past month reports that
the peaks of the mountains are snow
clad and the air currents strong and
gusty. In that time there have been
only two days in which the pass could
be crossed in safety. Pilots have cal
culated that an altitude of 1000 feet
would reduce the power of a motor
35 per cent
George Chavez, the Peruvian aviator,
will start in the monoplane with which
he recently made a height record of
S792 feet at Issy. He is confident of
success. The other starters will be
Cattaneo, Palette, Wincziers and Wey
mann. With the exception of Weymann
all the aviatotrs will use monoplanes.
The start will be made from a large
plateau 900 feet above sea level. The
route follows the road built by. Ma
poleon In 1900 over the Simplon pass,
which is e5s2 feet higher at the sum
nit The country is broken and very
difficult. There are many wide chasms,
notably the gorge of Yzette. 4
If the weather is clear the aviators can
easily follow the road, but as an extra
precaution signal fires will be lighted, and
beyond Domodossola flags will mark the
route and buoys show the way across
Lake Maggiore. Alpine soldiers will send
up photographic signals in the mountains,
while the summit at Monscora will be IL
Illuminated with oxhydrique lights. A cap
tive balloon, at height Of $500 feet.
will mark the aerodrome at Milan which
is about rs miles. as the crow flies, from
the starting point.
Prizes for Aviators
New York, September 1.-THE list of
prizes for the international aviation tour
nament to be held at Belmont park from
October 20 to October 80 was made public
here today. The sum of s55,650 Is avail
able, which the committee in charge
states will be increased by 5000 and pos
sibly more before the official programme
is issued.
or this sum sa3. $50 is offered for the gen.
eral events. including speed. duration.
altitude and cross-country flights. Daily
flight prizes take $500 more. the Michelin
international duration prize, $4,000, and the
mechanics prize $1,000.
The most important contest Of the meet
will be for the international aviation
trophy won last year by Glenn H. Curtiss
at Rheims, which carries with 1t a cash
prize of 5000. In addition $1,000 has
been offered to the Americans making
the best record in the elimination trials for
an American team.
The course is five kilometers and the
race for 20 laps, 100 kilometers, g. 1-10
miles. The elimination trials. which will
be for. the same distance as the race it
self. will be held October 26 and the in
ternational race between American, Brit
ish and French teams October 20.