The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-11
PAULHAN'S FLIGHT
 IS SENSATIONAL Daring Frenchman EIectrifes the Throng of Spectators TRIAL FLIGHTS ARE MADE Glenn curtiss, Willard, Beachy and knabenshue Take Part in the
 Opening Exhibitions at the
 Great Aviation Field.

Aviation Field, Los Angeles, Cal, Janu- ary 10.-Making a sudden and dramatic appearance while the 10000 spectators were watching the slow flight of two dirigible balloons at Aviation park this afternoon Louis Paulhan threw the great throng into frenzy of enthusiasm by spectacular flight in a Farman biplane. This, the first day of the aviation meet, vas given over to preliminary trials and flights to give aeronauts and aviators a chance to shake down their machines.
 Curtiss had given an exhibition in new and untried machine in which later Clifford Harmon made some short flights. Charles E. Willard in the Curtiss No. l had also made a successful flight and several times Roy Knabenshue and Lin coin Beachy had ascended in two small dirigibles and maneuvered their craft, but nothing to thrill the crowd occurred until Paulhan swept into view.
 Beachy and Knabenshue were plotting their drigibles around the course when the daring Frenchman appeared sudden ly out of a gulley hidden from the view of the grandstand, circled the course three times, went out across country, came back over the grandstand, and alighted in the center of the field.
 In two later flights he gave remark able exhibition of control over his ma chine, making sharp turns, and dipping almost to the ground to ascend again He skinned the grandstand only few tI,a tnfa ascending, descending and finally ap- preaching from the rear the tent that houses his aeroplane. just clearing the top and alighting within 100 feet of its entrance.
 Great Demonstration.
 Paulhan was given a demonstration such as is seldom witnessed at a public gathering. Men shouted themselves hoarse. while women cheered and waved handlSerchieks. Paulhan, elated by the furore he had created, danced gayly into his tent
 The day opened with weather condi- tions suspicious for the initial contests. The sun shone brightly and there was but a scmblance of breeze from the east. Before the noon had waned, how ever. the sky became overcast with clouds. and there was suspicion of dampness in the atmospnere.
 The wind finally whipped to the west, blowing strongly, which was considered unfortunate as a condition, aviators said. Promptly at 1 o'clock Glenn H. Curtiss was on the starting stretch to open the international meet with a christening flight for new monoplane that had never been used. Leaving the ground in front of the grandstand the craft rose gen. tly with rise in the ground to the west, made short flight up the course, re- turned. and alighted at the starting tape. The distance, estimated by the judges at five-eighths of mile. was covered in :o3 seconds, the greatest height reached being 50 feet The machine was under perfect control and the American was &C., corded thunder of cheers.
 Willard Takes a Turn.
 Next Charles F. Willard appeared in his Curtiss aeroplane No. 1, and after a short preliminary flight, attempted to cir Gle the official course, which Is a trine more than a mile and a half in length Rising to height of 70 feet he main tained this altitude until half tho dis tance had been traversed, when his mo- tor gave out and he descended He was in the air minute and 9 seconds. After readjustment of the motor Willard arose again and completed the course. Curtiss, using the machine with which he had made the previous flight circled the field at an estimated distance of one and an eighth miles in 51 His max mum altitude was 200 feet. Lincoln Beachy and Roy Knabenshue appeared with their dirigble balloons sailing di- rectly over the grandstand at a height of 200 feet against stiff breeze, and returning at high speed with the wind at their backs.
 The dirigibles frail looking as they were and cigar-shaped affairs, were un- der the complete mastery of the two pilots who directed their course as they willed, and descended to earth without a jar
 Before this time the crowd had begun to inquire for Paulhsn.
 We cannot do anything with that Frenchman' said Richard Ferris, mas- ter of ceremonies. "He pays no atten- ton to rules and regulations, nor to the course laid out for the flights. l would not be surprised to see him appear sud- denly on his air horse coming out of the top of the tent"
 PauIhan Is Sensation.
 That was almost exactly what Paulhan