The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-12-27
AVIATION MEET AT
TANFORAN PARK
Especial Correspondence


SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26.--The
coming aeroplane meet at Aviation
Park, Tanforan, from January 6 to Is
is destined to be the most sensational
from the standpoint of the public and
and by far the most important from
the utilitaran point of view ever held
in this or any other rcountry. The
military tests and experiments that
will be completed at Tanforan are said
by experts to be of such Importance
that they will cause the reorganiza-
tion of boards of strategy in every
foreign government, and the spectacu-
lar features are certainly far in ad-
vance of those shown at previous
meets.
Perhaps the most difficult and spec
tacular of all the feats from the stand
point of the public will be the flight
from Aviation Park to San Rafael and
return with lady passenger for a
prize Of $4,000, offered by the Marin
County Improvement League. The DIS
tanee from Tanforan Aviation Park to
San Rafael is "a miles and the sue
eessfu completion of the return jour
uev will establish a record, for the
famous English channel trip of Bierlot
was lust a trifle over 22 miles. The
superior qualities of the biplane as re-
CARDS stability and reliability in the
face of sudden gusts of air currents Is
counted upon to make the journey by
the improved machines, such as are
Ito be shown at the Tanforan meet,
much more safe and certain than the
monoplane trip across the channel by
Bleriot or Latham.
Latham, who fell into the English
channel while attempting the trip
from Calais to Dover, will be com.
petitor at the Tanforan meet, but will
be barred from the San Rafael race
cause it will be impossible for him TO
carry a passenger on the tiny Antol-
nette monoplane which he drives
Mabel Kramer, famous California
beauty, winner of prizes for pulchri-
tude and intimate friend OF Mrs.
Mabel Ely, who is the wife OF Eugene
Ely. the Curtiss star birdman, is the
latest to announce her intention to fly
at the Tanforan meet. She has been
invited by Ely to make the flight 10
: San Rafael and back from Aviation
Park and try for the $4,000 prize
AS at least three other avlators Will
participate in the race, some, at feast,
Iof the dozen San Francisco socfety
girls who have expressed their ambl-
ton of flying will have an opportunity
of being among the first to make a
long distance flight over water as
aeroplane passengers.
Miss Kramer is enthusiastic about
the trip and while she is sensitive to
the regard of her neighbors and VIII
be proud to earn their admiration her
motive for volunteering she declares
to be selfish one. "The sensation OF
flying must be delightful SAID the
, Marin county beauty this morning,
"and / can hardly wait to experience
it, Think of being propelled through
the air at express train speed and see
ing the world laid out like huge map
beneath you 1t must be the keenest
of all sensations and | am proud TO
have been invited to make this thrill.
!, ing Journey with Mr.. Ely. shall
! wear any costume which Mr.. Ely sug
gests. I understand that skirts or 9th
, er flowing garments might interfere
: with the balance of the machine be
cause of their being liable to be caught
by the air current, so it is probable
that will he obliged to don knickers
and leggins, but that is entirely in the
hands of Mr.. Ely.
The machine to be used by Ely in his
trip across the bay is Curtiss biplane
fitted with pontoons, in case OF SUD
den descent into the water. In case OF
, drop the machine and its passengers
! will float comfortably until picked up
This is the machine used by Ely in his
/. historic flight from the deck of the
U s. s. Birmingham at Sheepsheao
bav on November IA last, feat which
will be repeated at Tanforan meet next
month.
In trial of speed it is probable that
Wizards new fast Curtiss biplant
| would best Ely's model, but the long
a Journey across the water will be q
Q more suitable test to show the stable
D qualities of the Ely machine and it'
Y greater usefulness for military pur
poses. 1t is probable that Curtiss him
self and Bud Mars will also enter the
race for the $4,000 San Rafael prize
not only because of the cash value OF
2 il. but because of the test which i
t presents to demonstrate the qualities
of the aeroplane. As the announce
{ ment of the prize was made yesterday
no word has been received from an,
of the Wright aviators, but it is ex
peeted that they will be anxious u
demonstrate their claims for the su
perior stability of the Wright ma
| chine.
I For the second time in thehistory O.
/ aviation an aeroplane will be launch
$ ed from warship and engage in nava
I scouting. The first time this was at
! tempted was Nov. IA, from the U. )
e S. birmingham, when Eugene Ell,
g made successful flight under adverse
s conditions, and was warmly thanke'
/ by Secretary of the Navy G. Won L
! Meyer At the San Francisco NEE
$ there will be a similar demonstration
/ as Lieutenant Paul W. Beck, govern
ment representative detailed for tn
official observations, has requested
Secretary Meyer to send vessel TO
z this purpose. Secretary Meyer is keen
S ly alive to the value of these expert
V ments and both he and Acting Secre
y tary of War Robert Shaw Oliver, ar
j. anxious to take advantage of tn