The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-18
OVER 4 COUNTRIES
Av|ATORS TO SAIL
Greatest Aerial Contest Ever
Held Will Start in France
on Sunday.
(National News Association)

NN0NbOual sNcwo AssOSiattohI
Paris. June 17.-The greatest race
IN the history OF aviation is anticipat.
ed In the European Aviation Circuit,
which starts tomorrow morning. The
foremost airmen OF practically every
nation are entered, and the vast avia-
eion field deliberately groomed for the
event by the Federation Aeronatique
today swarmed with men famed in
che annals OF aeronautics. upon whom
che eyes OF all Europe will be turned
tomorrow. The prizes exceed $780,.
O0e.
France. Belgium, Holland and Eng
land. by way OF the capitals. Paris,
Utrecht, London and back to Paris
again the herculean task laid out for
the worlds greatest flyers to accomp-
lish. While traversing the four coun-
tries the airmen will pass over Rheims.
liege Hanover. Hamburg, Bremen,
wesel. Utrecht, Lille, Calais, Brook
lands. Brighton, Rouen and host OF
smaller towns.
Purse . Great One.
In addition to the grand prize for
the finishing OF the race in the whole
more than half the cities on the route
have offered cash awards to the avia.
tor who makes the best time to that
place from the proceeding city. Alto
gether. II Is calculated that nearly $50.
900 will so to the flyers from these
special prizes alone. The Federation
Aeronautique lnternationaie. the SUI.
preme body In the world of air con-
quest, will declare the winner Of the
race the champion aviator OF the
world.
Purse . Great One.
lie Journal" one Of the leading
dailies OF Paris. deserves much OF the
credit for the importance which tomor.
rows event has assumed. II was the
first to advocate an around-Europe
race and started the prize with its Of
fer OF 10000 francs. The London
standard" next came forward with
$500 pounds, vnd lie Petit Bleu." OF
Brussels subscribed $4,000 francs. as
also did the town OF Vincennes. 9th
or subscriptions to the prize list COM
ing later at 10000 francs from the mu-
nicipality OF Liege; $1,000 from the
Spa. and 10000 francs from the Meth
erlands Aviation Committee. The az.
gregate Of these. over 100000 in
American money, will be divided
among the first three contestants to
finish.
The scene at the aviation concourse
today was one not soon to be forgot
ten. Probably never before In the
history OF mems flying have SO many
heaviey-than-air machines been as
sembled at one time. The great Satur-
day crowd Of enthusiasts who flied out
Of the city to the suburb to witness
the preparations for the big vent did
not experience dull moment. At
times there were as many as half a
and baby voisin types aspiring air.
kings toyed and tinkered with their
monster Antoinettes or Farnhams or
American biplanes Of the Curtiss and
Wright types. The thunder Of ex.
haust from the powerful engines play
ed mimic warfare that could be
heard for more than a mile.
There Is one respect in which the
race that starts tomorrow will differ
from any aerial event ever held. The
contestants. instead OF being limited
In the number Of landings. are requir.
ed to touch earth at twenty different
points along the rectangular course,
This, II Ii believed. will go long way
toward forestalling distrastrous acct
dents. as being compelled to alight,
the aviator will have an opportunity
TO overhaul his craft and repair any.
thing that may have gone wrong with
the machinery.
Naturally the most perilous part OF
the journey will be the crossing Of
the English Channel This feat will
have to be accomplished twice during
the course OF the race. on the way
from Utrecht to London and on the
home stretch from London to Paris,
where the finish will be.