Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-06-01
CURTISS MAY FLY
TO WASHINGTON
AirShip Route He Suggests
Would Take Him Through
Wilmington

Glenn II. Curtis, who on Sunday morn
ing steered his aeroplane down the Hud-
son from Albany to New York. has sug-
gested than an ideal route in the near
future would be from New York TO Wash
ing a distance Of about 235 miles, or
possibly the journey there and back with
though stops on the line to obtain enough
gasoline and lubricant oils.
Mr.. Curtis has outlined a route through
Philadelphia. Wilmington and Baltimore.
Doubtless Wilmingtonians would like 20
see such a TRIP, as it would give them an
opportunity TO see the man-brd soaring.
Mr.. Curtis says.
such a course would he more diff
cult than the trip from Albany to New
York. in spite Of the fact that the air
currents between here and Washington
would probably be less dangerous than
are the suddenly shifting currents along
the Hudson. There are no mountains be-
tween New York and Washington, but
there are many sections of heavily wood
ed land, also some low lying rivers. whose
banks rise high in the air, high enough
to cause sudden up and down currents
which would try the ekill of a aeronaut,
and make the journey a trying one"
Mr.. Curtiss has no intention now Of at
tempting the flight TO Washington and
back again. unless a sufficiently large
purse should be offered, and unless the
conditions for the flight were Of such a
nature that there would be a reasonable
chance of winning the prize. But that
such a route would be an excellent one
to test the capabilities Of the sky pilots
and furnish an excellent test, for the
aeroplancs Of various makes, he says.
there is no doubt
81 have 10 study the maps before COM
hitting myself to certain route" he
continued "This country is not like
France. There they have many open fields
and many fields without fences. but in
this country the conditions are just the
opposite. For instance. in my flight
down from Albany the only feasible plac,
could find TO alight up the river was
Poughkeepsie, and even there the alight
ing place was far from good.
Without looking deeply into tho sub
Jet, however, should say that trir
from New York to Washington. or per.
haps journey through the air from New
York to the capital and back again il
two days would be an excellent course e
test the capacity OF an aeroplane and It,
driver. Below Baltimore there are man,
fields, and also between New York an'
Philadelphia there are many open fields
They are enclosed BY fences, 20 be SUR
but there are. however. enough LANDING
places
ITO afford a good chance for a rae
we should use the Washington route.
race OF that kind should be over cours
where people could see st lap after la
along the whole course. There is nothin
in the racing line like aeropIane racing
and tho people on the ground could Sc
the machine during the whole course, an
I can say from experience that It is yer
exciting.
I'm considering route between Ne
York and Washington one is struck wit
the many excellent landing places. Thei
= are several race tracks for instance
i, and large athletic fields between hel
and there. AZ Philadelphia there
. Franklin Field. Although It has n
j drawback Of being in the city limits, IL
y a large field"