The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-25
FRENCH OFFICERS IN
NEW RECORD FLIGHT
Cross One Hundred Miles of
Country Outside Paris in
$50 Minutes.
TOOK PHOTOS ON WAY
Useful Lessons From a Military
Standpoint Taught by
the Trip.
PARIS. Iune q.


Lieutenant Fequant and Ca2tain Mar
comet. two French army officers from
the Military Flying School at Mourmelon,
created a worlds record yesterday for
cross-couutry passenger carrying flight
by flying from the Chalons Camp to the
military drillground. at vineennes. on
the outskirts of Paris. The total dis
lance covered was leo miles and the time
taken $50 minutes.
Lieutenant Feauani drove the machine.
which was a Farman biplane. while Cap
tain Marconnet, perched up behind him,
took photographs and gave directions
from Il map on rollers fixed on Lieuten-
ant Fequants back. The camera had
been fixed under the lower plane, and NJ
Marconnet held the shutter-release.
while NJ Fequant was able TO change
the plates with his left hand
Fifteen Photographs Taken.
In this way fifteen photographs OF the
country over which the aeroplane flew
were taken. and the ease with which this
was done coupled with the comparative
inexperience of the two officers, renders
this flight extremely important. As II
was officially controlled. II will count to
Lieutenant Feqtant in the competition
for the London Daily Mail $500 prize for
aggregate cross-country fiight during the
twelve nfcnthS ending on August Is.
AT 10 A. NJ the two officers. wearing
uniform, started off. After one circuit
OF the aerodrome the machine rose 10 q
height of $40 feet and Lieutenant Fe-
quaint headed straight for Montmirail in
the direction Of Paris with the sun at
his back and slight following wind.
There was q light mist.
Passing Montmiraf a. forty miles an
hour. the officers followed the national
road as a gtsde and NJ Marconnee took
his first photograph. The aeroplane srav
eed easily. and its occupants were able
to breakfast on board off biscuits and
chocolates. Rebias was passed then one
Or two chatsauS and the forest OF Cre>&.
Al ViIlars- Marine the EiTel Tower
was sighted, It's base wrapped IN mis-. Its
TOP shining in the morning sun. and then
the goal was reached. After c!rcling twice
round the "PutyFDn-' at Niucennes, the
ae-opiane giided easily to earth at ITO
A Nj, ard NM. Fequank and Marconnet
we're warmly Congratulated by a group of
officers awaiting them.
Useful From Military View.
Fresh and unfatigued. the officers ex-
pressed their delight in accomplishing the
great flight. They declared that from
the military point a. view they thought
the voyage taught some useful lessons,
The thought crossed my mind. said
Lieutenant Fequant ''as we passed over
those chateaux how easy II would have
been TO blow them up. A couple Of bombs
woald have done the work. Had an army
with guns trained upon US been below
would not have feared TO fly over Il. No
shot could have touched us at the height
We were travelling
The two officers weighed conioiutly 10
pounds. and beside this the weight OF
about seventeen gallons OF petrol and
sevea gallons al oil must be reckoned.
The aeropiane was housed In shed on
the 'Polyg5n" and the two. officers In
tend to carry out further series Of in
tegestlng flights,