Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-10
Curtiss First Today.

tiss would make the first fight today
and would be followed probably by Paul
han and certainly Charles K. Hamilton of
New Britain, Conn, and the two aviators
Paulhan brought with him from France
Miscarol and Maisson. Curtiss said that
his flights today would have an impor-
tant bearing on his patent controversy
with the Wrights and in his opinion
would end the litigation which all but
prevented the holding of the aviation con-
tests.
I'm the arguments of their lawyers the
Wrights proved theoretically to Judge
Hazel in the federal court of New York
that my machines depend on the vertical
rudder to maintain equilibrium said
Curtiss. II will demonstrate by actual
flight that they do not. That will end
the action for injunction. for the Wrights
'warping surface Their machines have
to depend on the vertical rudder to help
them maintain their balance. The warp
ing surface of the planes give the ma
chimes turning tendency which the
rudder has to overcome. The rudders on
the Curtiss machines have no such func-
tion. This meet will prove what l say
We are going to take the decision of the
judges before the courts"
No Set Program.
There is no set program for any day
except Saturday, when the government
dirigible. in charge of Lieut.. Paul Beck
of the Signal Corps, will try night at
tack on the revenue cutter Perry. in San
Pedro harbOr. Any aviator may go up
at any time between l o'clock in the
afternoon and dark, and there is no doubt
that several of them, probably all, are
planning surprises.
For instance, Curtiss looks preoccupied
whenever the subject of flights with a
passenger is broached. He points out the
fact that all the Curtiss machines here
have no accommodations for a passenger.
Yet there is ten-thousand-dollar prize
for the longest flight with a passenger.
Then there are prizes ranging from s.. JOD
to $500 for speed. endurance and alti-
tude records. Paulhan is certain to try
at least for the height record, and the
four big fiiers he brought with him from
France look as If they were built for
speed. and have unusual fuel capacity for
sustained flights.
All aviators maintain the utmost
secrecy regarding their plans. Apparent
| ly this is to keep competitors in the
dark as to their movements
Thursday. however, is practically GER
tain to see some records shattered.
! Harmon May Try Again.
Another enthusiast who may make a
| flight before the day is over is Clifford
| Harmon, millionaire sportsman of New
York. whose machine Curtiss tried out In
| the flights yesterday. Harmon holds the
| American balloon record of forty-eigh1
hours In the air. but has never ridden in
| an aeroplane.
French Woman's Challenge.
| one feature will be flights by Nine.
Pauhan with one Of the Frenchmen who
came with her husband. Like her hus-
band. she speaks no English, but through
an interpreter today she announced her
intention of flying She met Mrs. Curtiss
wife of the chief American rival of Paul
han. and through the same interpreter
| tried to induce her to enter an unsched-
| uled competition for woman aviators
| Mrs. Curtiss has never yet essayed to
manipulate one of the dangerous fliers.
and it Is doubtful IL she will attempt any
flights.
Mrs Paulhan. however. declared that
she would positively make at least one
flight. and, she is no stranger at the
wheel of one of the big Farman biplanes,
she probably will carry out her inten-
tion. She says she intends duplicating,
| and, II possible, surprising severa
flights she made in France.
| Harmon is planning another feature. but
> ~ 10 apart IL ON deropidHeS he mas SEM
| invitations to Gov. Spry of Utah and Gov
| Sloan of Arizona to come here during the
week and take a sail i'm his big balloon
New York. Gov. G.llett of California will
be here for the entire meeting and viii
| ascend II the others WILL The basket o,
the balloon is large enough to accommo.
date party Of six or eight and the Other
| guests will be. according to the plan
| Commodore Benedict of New York anc
Prof. Thaddeus c. F. Lowe of Pasadena
who sailed a balloon from Cincinnati tt
the coast of South Carolina, a distance
| of more than 80 miles, I'm twenty-foul
hours. This record was made in 1861 ane
has not yet been surpassed.