The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-24
In Bl eriot Monoplane
He Climbs to New AL.
titude Record.
HIS FIGURES
ARE OFFICIAL
For IS Minutes He Remains at
Extreme Height Trying to
Force Machine Further
Above Earth, Then De-
scends With Sicken-
ing Rapidity.

Philadelphia, Pa, November 2S.-J
Armstrong Drexel broke all aeroplane
altitude records here to-day when he
climbed above this city until his
Bleriot monoplane was unable to
make further progress in the rare
fed atmosphere. The ink in the
needle of his barograph ran out at
$3.50 feet. which was accepted as a
new worlds record tonight by Cliff
ford y. Harmon chairman of the ma
tional council Of the Associated Aero
Clubs OF America and King Duffy
secretary of that body The instru-
ment is the same one which Ralph
Johnstone carried when he made the
former record of 9.714 feet at Bel
mont Park on October 81. 1t was
brought to this city to-day under seal
by Mr.. Duffy in order that the record
made would be official.
His Swift Descent.
Mr.. Drexel left the aviation field
at Point Breeze. in the extreme south
ern part of this city. at 3:23 O'Clock
this afternoon. He landed at Oreland.
about twenty miles north Of the spot
where he had started, at 4:46. In
his climb he had travelled at least
thirty miles to the northward, for
when he started to descend. after try
ing for fifteen minutes to force the
machine higher, he glided down for
distance which he estimated tonight
at about six miles. So swiftly did the
monoplane descend that the aviator
was nauseated. However, he reached
an open field and brought his ma
chino to the ground without injury.
He at once notified the officials at the
aviation field of his landing,
Clifford Harmon and Grahame- White
at once left for Oreland in an auto
mobile and brought the aviator and
the barograph, still under seal, TO
this city.
Mr. Drexel announced tonight that
he is going to fy the machine back
to the aviation field tomorrow morn
ing.
He was greatly disappointed when
he found that the barograph had fall
ed TO record an even 10000 feet The
air was so light 1T was impossible to
make the machine ascend another
foot" he said. The engine would not
carry ii any further, and I was up al
the extreme altitude for more than
fifteen minutes jumping the machine
in an effort TO secure greater height
Mr. Drexel said that while 1t was
very cold. he aid not suffer like he had
done when he made his previous re-
cords of $3.50 feet at Lanark, Scotland,
and 1910 feet at Belmont Park. be-.
cause he was more warmly clad.
Spcck In the Sky.
In less than five minutes after DreXel
began his flight the monoplane was
only speck in the heavy sky.
Drexel made circle after circle until
is almost made one dizzy to watch
the fast disappearing craft. When the
monoplane finally disappeared from
view on the northern horizon the
curiosity of the crowd was at fever
pitch and for more than an hour. the
one topic was Drexel. Finally. when
the word reached the track that the
daring aviation had landed safely at
oreland. twenty miles to the north. a
mighty shut went up from the anxious
crowd and later when it was ann ounc-
ed that new worlds altitude record
had proba bly, been made. the cheering
was renewed with more vigor.