New-York tribune., 1910-11-01
WHAT AVIAToRs HAVE WON.

The precocious baby biplane. hatcEed
only six weeks ago in the Wright in
cubator and still carrying part Of its
shell on its back. went higher above the
earth at Belmont Park yesterday than
any mechanical bird ever before had
been
Ralph Johnstone handled the ribbons
while directing the prodigy on its first
taste Of high life at the rarefied altitude
Of 9,7l4 feet.
once there the ambition of the
fedgling was appeased and Mr. John
stone was in q position tingling with
possibilities The life blood OF the am
bilious beginner stopped flowing. the
wings hung limp, the place where the
beak ought 10 be was pointed upward,
the tail was a thing that Mr.. Johnstone
feared he would he called upon TO seek,
ana the good old earth nearly two miles
straight down.
The previous world record was
achieved Ly Henri Wynmalen. the flying
Dutchman. ON October / at Mourmelon,
France. when he reached 9.1SG feet.
Johnstone's remarkable performance
oosed the ten day tournament Of
wriegatel delights at Belmont Park.
Id broke the only world aviation record
the meet
Earlier III the afternoon John 3.
Nrisant won $1,000 as first in the two
hour distance contest, travelling fifty
Gx laps in MS Bltriot, against Latham's
thirty five laps in his Antionette. Simon,
IN Frenchman. ended third, with twen-
iy-seven laps.
Englishnaar's Fine Showing.
Tie las, day was not wholly an
American triumph. because Of the fine
showing made by Grahame-W White, the
English champion, in the grand speed
contest. lie beat McCurdy in a CuTtiss
birIane badly and Aubrun, another
Frenehman. beat Mars in another Cur
,iss.
i was in a pretty purple haze up
there" said Johnstone after he came
down at > o'clock, and when l was
highest the motor stopped. l had
ocuple OF sweaters on, besides my rub
be- suit and face mask. but, although l
w. in a pretty warm place, fitting
backward that high up, Was some cold,
believe me.
..Several times ! lost complete sight
IF the earth. but when ! shot clear Of
he haze ] could see away down below
buildings and residences which looked
ike toy blocks. have been flying only
since June. but il sure was the most
satisfactory fight ! ever made"
Johnstone was sent aloft by the
Wright brothers with the idea that the
-ival Of Hoxsey would taste the air for
lu hour and come down to report upon
he possibility Of the light roadster being
,lle 10 touch the 10,OW-foot mark for
BE special 5000 prize.
Arch Honsey Disgusted.
lie rose so rapidly. reaching. according
90 Wilbur Wriehts yardstick 1000 feet
d the first ten minutes. that ii was soon
.uparent TO the brothers and especially
% Arch" Hoxsey. VINO champed the
,it behind the tent disgusted at his dis
appearing opportunities, that Johnstone
vas concentrating his mind upon every
aing else bat descending. when the
.5n shone on the baby climber its lines
, ere clear. but after the first ten min
lIes. when the machine could be traced
lakiug widening circles, specks iioated
,,foIc the eyes # all gazers. not one OF
lich was Johnstone in his silver aero
lane.
Johnstone had never flown in the del
cate carrier that had taken him be
ond the view OF thousands.
The world looked like "A bowl he
sid after he had been wildly cheered as
he worlds altitude champion. 1t was
oncaye."
1t is a hollow world" said viii Carie-
IA the poet.
- never decided to come down until
ae engine stopped fat. tombstone con
.nued Il was only twenty-five min
les getting TO $500 feet, ana one hou'
nd half all told. The long pun was
b. las; 1000 feet
when I found myself sitting as ID oii
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