The San Francisco call., 1910-04-04
SkI[LFUlLY GUIDES
CURTISS BIPlANE
Millionaire Clnbman Shows a
Wonderful Control of Gas0-
line Bird
Youthful Gliders Assist in the
Success of Meet at
Alameda

ALAMEDA, April 3.-Colonel Frank
clubman, displayed his prowess this
afternoon at the chamber of commerce
aviation meeting as a handler of the
Curtiss biplane and thrilled thousands
of persons who had gathered in Nep-
tune gardens and along the south side
shore
Twenty separate flights, covering al
most as many miles, were whirled off
by the aviator without any mishap.
AS a sample of the excellent control
he had of his gasoline bird Colonel
Johnson in his last fight alighted on
the same spot from which he started.
FLIES FOR THREE HOURS
johnson flew at intervals for nearly
three hours. His course was over the
stretch of beach extending from the
Neptune gardens, where the starting
point and grandstand were, to the En-
cinal yacht club house at the south end
of Grand street.
The aviator rarely assembled higher
than so feet and for the greater part of
the time that he was In flight averaged
but 80 feet.
At times in landing Johnson skinned
cited spectators, who sought to get as
close as they could to where the BIZ
plane was to alight.
FRIENDS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC
1t required the services of a detail of
patroImen to prevent the more venture
some and enthusiastic admirers of
Johnson from taking him from his ma
chine and carrying him on their shoul-
ders after he had accomplished the feat
of alighting squarely on the spot from
which he started.
While Colonel Johnson was giving
his mile exhibitions a number of anna
teur aviators with gliders were giving
short exhibition flights in front of the
grandstand In several instances glid-
ers attained an altitude of IS feet
Among those who were seen in glider
trials were Fred Hotchner of 1148 Ellis
street, San Francisco; G. Sittman and
G. Johnson of Fitchburg; Norman
Woodside of 1924 Webster street, San
Francisco, and Ernest Ohrt of San
Francisco.
AFTER BALLOON RECORD
P. A. Van Tassell. an old time aero
naut. accompanied by Sidney Vincent, a
Berkeley youth. ascended at 3:40 o'clock
in the big gas bag City of Oakland At
5 o'clock the balloon disappeared in the
direction of Redwood City. Van Tas-
sell and his companion departed with
the determination to beat the record
| made yesterday afternoon by the bal
| loon Queen of the Pacific, carrying Cap
| tain Ivy Baldwin and Robert ". Mart
| land, president of the Oakland aero
| club.
The Queen of the Pacific and passen-
gers travelled from Alameda to a point
| 10 miles from Stockton in two and a
| half hours.
| The chamber of commerce decided
| today to continue the meet tomorrow
| afternoon. Colonel Johnson is sched :
uled to begin flying at 2 o'clock. AT 4
| o'clock all of the public school children
will be admitted free to witness the
| flights.
Tomorrow will be known as army
and navy day. a special invitation hav-
| ing been issued to army and navy Off
| cials to witness the aerial events.
BALLOON MAKES LANDING
The balloon City of Oakland landed
| in the mountains back of Halfmoon bay
this evening after a perilous experience.
At one time it appeared as though the
! balloon would be carried out over the
ocean The valve failed to work and
| the pilot was unable to make a landing.
At height of 5000 feet above the sea,
| however, the cold air caused the gas to
| contract and the balloon came down
| easily.