Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-13
BELMONT PARK READY
FOR AVIATION CONTESTS

NEW YORK, Oct. 12-All that is now
necessary at Belmont park to make II
a thoroughly equipped aerodome for
the rival aviators are the thirty hang
ars, which are now in the course of
erection. AS far as the field is con-
cerned, the racetrack is now ready for
the flyers Trees have been felled,
fences and hedges removed, buildings
demolished and bitches filled in. The
track now affords an ideal place for
the starting and alighting of aero
planes.
The hangers will be models of their
kind. They will contain sleeping
rooms for the mechanicians and plenty
of space for tools, and there will be a
telephone and running water in each
of them. A general machine shop In
which the propellers and other spare
parts will be kept will also be erect
ed in the midst OF the little colony of
hangers.
The promoters OF the meet, the Aero
corporation, limited, of which August
Belmont is the president, have done
as much in a few weeks in organizing
the international aviation tournament
as 1t has taken months to accomplish
in the case of meets abroad. The most
prominent officers of the Aero cor
poration are August Belmont, presi-
dent, Allan A. Ryan, chairman of the
committee, and Cortlandt F. Bishop,
who, as a member of the foreign COM
mittee of the Aero club of America, has
been busy in Europe interesting for
eign aviators in the meet
When the Aero Club of America first
began to look about for a general
manager of the meet, it was Gage e.
Tarbell, the owner of Hampstead
plains, who was decided upon as the
best available man for the position.
At that time it was understood that
the meet would be held on Hampstead
Plains, but In August, when the loca-
tion was changed to Belmont Park,
Mr. Tarbell resigned. Allan A. Ryan
took up the reins and Immediately
organized the Aero corporation, limit
ed. Mr.. Ryan knew nothing of avia-
ton, but his business ability, however,
enabled him to soon evolve order out
Of chaos. AS result of his labors the
coming aviation meet (weather per-
mitting) will be the biggest ever held
in any country.
Cortlandt Field Bishop has been
president of the Aero Club Of America
for four years. He Is vice president
of the international Aeronautic fed
Grafton and a member Of the Aero
clubs foreign committee, the other
members being Frank s. Lahm and
the two international trophies for avia-
tion and ballooning could not now be
held by America. Last year the
Wrights refused to fly at Rheims fol-
the speed trophy.
Mr.. Bishop who was in Paris at the
time, heard that Glenn II. Curtiss was
building a fast flyer at Hammonds-
port. AS soon as the speed of the ma
chine was proved Mr.. Bishop cabled
to Curtiss asking HIM to fly at Rheims
and Offering to pay all his expenses
Curtiss accepted the offer and won
the trophy. In the case of the balloon
contest there would have been nc
American entry in Switzerland had il
not been for Mr.. Bishop, who borrowed
in Paris Mr. McCoy's balloon and per.
suaded Edward w. Mix, an American
resident in the French capital, to pilot
it. McCoy's balloon was declared the
winner of the race.
only well-tried aviators will be seen
at Belmont park. All the contests
will be between skilled pilots in high
powered machines and there viii be nc
place for fledglings.