Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-16
World Has Attention
Fixed On Great Flight
Set For This Summer

OF surprises. Scarcely anything OF
| Importance accomplished has not been
called impossible beforehand Avia-
tors have done so much that one hesi-
tates to doubt their ability to do any
thing.
Special aeroplanes will be con-
structed for the race. These will
probably be swift, but not built for
the maximum speed. They will
make, say go miles an hour. Reliable
itv will be the object. There will be
accommodations for two men, both
pilots, who will relieve each other at
the tiller. A large supply of fuel
and oil must be carried. 1t will be a
splendid test for the machine build
ers and most of the factories on both
sides of the Atlantic are expected to
be in the field.
In the United States the follow
ing constructors have tentatively sig
nifed their willingness to build a
ground the world" plane: Glenn H.
Curtiss of Hammondsport, N. Y; Or
vile Wright of Dayton, Ohio; w.
Starting Burgess lof Marblehead,
Mass; Thomas Benoist of st. Louis;
Emile Berliner of Washington, d. c.;
the Heinrich Brothers of Baldwin, l..
IS.; John E. Sloane of New York
City; Edison F. Gallaudet of Nor
wich, Conn, and Ingles Uppercu of
New York City.
There are now 1000 licensed avia-
tors in the world Out of this field
there must be several hundred who
would attempt the proposed fight
if the financial backing were forth
coming. The first man in America
to get in his entry was Beckwith
Havens. Captain Mathew A. Batson
+. of Savannah, Ga, former army Of
ficer, who is the inventor of a flying
boat, announces he will enter the race.
Lincoln Beachey will also compete.
From abroad come many expressions
showing enthusiasm for the race.
The time before the start is short,
however. By May l, few could have
their machines in readiness at the
Golden Gate. Claude Grahame
White, the noted English aviator.
thinks the exposition officials should
take off the time limits entirely. He
thinks the trip around the globe can
not be made this summer but might
be accomplished in 1916. He said:
"They (the exposition officials)
might as we'll offer $10,000000. 1t is
as safe as in the Bank of England if
the offer is to be withdrawn at the
end of 1915. | do not believe you
would have time now to get ma
: chine ready even if you worked day
and night.
II think it would need to be a
comparatively slow machine for the
+, race; that is, one doing GO miles an
hour | certainly would not have a
! I Il
. plane construction lends itself to a
big weight lifting machine"
: The London Daily Mail, Lord
, Northclifre's paper doubts that the
I feat can be accomplished. 1t says:
/ "The exhibition committees offer
indicates remarkable confidence in the
; future of aircraft, though there is lit
? tie prospect of the feat being accom-
4 plshed by the proposed date. But it
r is merely question of time before
? an airman puts girdle around the
I world"
Roland Garros said:
"They can count me in, provided
, oceans are eliminated, as in the case
: of an automobile trip, and other con-
ditions are decently fair. | am one avi-
= at0r who will not attempt the impos-
+ sibie ! am positive that - engine
toda could stand the whole journey.
+ / believe ! could accomplish the feat
/. with one eagiHe, provided ] were al
Z lowed % repair lt.
Captain Thomas Baldwin, a vet
eran 81 the balloon field before he
. took mn Aefuniaues. said the grcatest
difficulty would be- 30 cross the At
! lautic ocean and for this trip special
5 machines with arrangements Co carry
/ provisions ard fuel for 20 hours a.
g least must D. constructed
"Extepf far the flight across the
) Atlantic said Captain Baldwin. "the
) race will nof BE- difficult | figure
b. that the ariatars viii have Co travel
2S .0NN miles Of course tt viii he
/ necessary for two pilot to travel in
5 each machine so that they can re-
3 lieve each other
"Mators naN are made ao that they
4 are fairly rettahie aud ths trtps across
! tho water for sffetfhe- uf 1na oF e1o
. miles may b. aeeamRl shoi Mith com
= ipafatiRt ease TIE tHH hF lana over
+, Eurone and Asia WiFi 6f MaaH s6th-
+ out great diMeulty ana arrangement
, for crossing the RfinE strait viii IH-
sure succes Tor chat stage of the
, journey
The exposttioa oil.etsls especi 20
, have at least 100000 o. e8eE n
, prizes The FIRST gFJEr w5a nrut.ahts
/ he St5a.00H. although e mat 81 10
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