The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-17
MOISANT DISPLAYS
 SKILL IN A|RSH|P
Aviator Glides From a Great
 Height to Earth
TIME IN RAGE
Moisant VIII Use the First Metal Aero plane at New Orleans When the Meet Takes Place at
 Christmas

Memphis, December 16-Barting out of cloudland with hIs motor silenced John B. Moisant today showed his skill in airmanship and accomplished the most spectacular feat of the local aerial tournament.
 Defeated by Rene Simon in a five mile race, Moisant connived his daring attempt for honors while Barrier and Simon were several thousand feet above ground, soaring for an altitude record After a spiral ascent to a height esti- mated al 2500 feet, the Chicago airman pointed his machine skyward and darted between the two French flyers. With clear space ahead he resumed his cir cular climb until he reached an alti- tude announced as 5000 feet. For sev- eral minutes the monoplane, just a spect to the eye, cruised about the clouds Then Moisant began to glide. AS the speck enlarged the propeller blades could be seen barely revolving. Gradually he came to earth, his motor to all purposes dead.
 For the next few moments Moisant held an impromptu reception, receiv- ing the compliments of his fellow avia- tors. His time in the air was in all 16 minutes.
 In their race Moisant and simon made better time than on yesterday when Moisants time was caught at 6 min utes and 22 1-5 seconds. A cross -city flight of eight miles by Simon and ex- hibition flights by the several avia- tors using monoplanes completed the days programme.
 Mechanical troubles again today pre- vented the race between Joe Seymour in his automobile and Moisant
 First Metal AeropIane
 New Orleans, DecembeD D16.-The first metal aeroplane ever flown in public will be operated during the forthcom- ing aviation tournament to be held in New Orleans from December 24 to Jan uary by John B. Moisant.
 MT. Moisants new machine arrived in New York yesterday, having been shipped from Paris on December 8. Barring only tie fabric of the two main or supporting wings, the new aeroplane is of metal throughout. It is of the monoplane type, driven by 50-horsepower Gnome motor. But a lOV horsepower Gnome engine ac companied the new monoplane, so that Moisant will be enabled to use the bigger power plant whenever he desires to do so for cross country and altitude work. I he body of the Moisant metal monoplane is formed of a sheet rolled alloy of steel and aluminium. There are only two pieces in the main construction of the body, which is shaped much like that of fast moving fishes and birds. The two sides are joined at such an angle at the bot tom that there is very little head re- sistance, the body tapering upward from it's front part to the point where the yer tical rudder and the rear elevating planes are joined to it.
 The two supporting wings have double surfaces of three plies of silk impreg mated with rubber. Barring this material there is nothing on the machine which is lot of metal except the wooden steering wheel, and the laminated wood propeller and the tires of the starting and landing wheels. There Is also a marked absence of wires and straps such as all other ae1oplanes now employ to give rigidity erd strength.