Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-16
Champion AviatOrs
Are to Be Selected in
Cross Country Race
Washington to Belmont Park is Route
Chosen for Aero Club Flight
Next Month.

NEW YORK, April ia big intercity
flight may mark the opening of the avia-
ton season in the east. A movement has
been iuaugurated for an aeroplane race
from Washington TO Belmont Park by way
Of Atlantic City, n j.. and may form
part Of the program being arranged for
the meet on May 10, 20 and 81 The tourn-
ament will be held under the auspices OF
the Aero Club OF America for the purpose
Of selecting three aviators to represent
the United States in the race for the in
ternational aviation championship, which
will be held in England during the corona
ton festivities.
The Aero Club Of America has been
sounded by the promoters of the flight
and informally asked to cooperate with
Washington in organizingy this over land
and water flight. IL Is intended to have
the aviators fly over as many big towns aa
possible and induce the commercial or
CARNATIONS to put up money. Prizes will
be given to the aviators making the best
time over the different legs of the course
As the Aero club Is DESTROYS of encouraR-
ing cross country flying. It is probable that
IT will view the proposition in a favorable
light providing Il is conducted along sport
ing lines.
Like the Aero Club of France. the Aero
Cluo OF America discourages flights over
cities. but the fact that a flight from
college Point to the clubs new aerodrome
in Belmont Park would not take the avia-
tors over any big city will influence the
Aero club in favor Of the project After
leaving Washington the course could be
laid across country to Atlantic City and
up the coast past Long Branch. Asbury
Park, Peal. Seabright and Atlantic High
lands. From this point the contestants
could fly across the bay and skirt Brook
lyn and Jamaica to Belmont Park.
George F. Campbell Wood, secretary of
the Aero club, said that the Washington.
idea was to follow a course of two long
legs with the turning point at the ATTAIN
tic City lighthouse This would carry the
aviators over the Chesapeake and Della,
ware bays and the mouth of New York
harbor The total distance would be about
$50 miles
AT the comparatively low speed OF sixty
miles an hour" said Mr. Wood, THE
Tiers would cut at least three hours that
could possibly be made by train from Bel
mont Park to Washington or vice versa.
and the flight would do much to arouse
interest in aviation in this country"
Ihe return to this country Of Erie T.
Orington has increased the number OF con-
testants In the elimination race for the
international aviation championship. Mr.
Wood saia>he thought that ten or twelve
aviators would make nm effort to procure
place on the American team. Henry
Weymann an American who has done all
mis- Tying in France, is anxious to com,
pete He Is DESTROYS OF obtaining permits
sion from the Aero Club of America TO
make his trials in q monoplane in France
Cortlandt Field Bishop the clubs renre.
sentative abroad is now in France and
would be able to arrange for the trial in
france II the Aero club grants weymann
the desired permission. 1t is probable
however, that all competitors will be re-
quired to make their trials at Belmont
Park the latter part of next month.