The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-17
CROWDS THRILLED BY AERIAL CIRCUS
 AT FAIRGROUNDS
Marvellous Exhibition of Aircraft Maneuvers Given by Human Eagles"
 From Taylor Field

While 25O0 people stood on the inside of the fairgrounds yesterday afternoon watching tho aerial maneuvers of nine birdmen from Taylor field, Montgomery, $500 looked skyward from outside the fence, all enjoying immensely the antics Of Uncle Sam's aviators, who contorted and manipulated the big war planes with ease, many of their antics showing an absolute disregard of the possibility of sudden drop in case something happened.
 One was reminded of the negros story of going up to distance of 4o,O0o feet and then getting out and repairing his machine When asked how he did that, in view of the laws of gravitation, he promptly replied that the laws of gravi- tation were frozen stiff that high up, and that you could do what you wanted to. It was almost as miraculous as that-from the laymens standpoint yes- terday at the fairgrounds, but of course with the soldier airInen it was different Lit was training and science.
 A spectacular opening was furnished by the battle between the Hun and American plane, every war maneuver being gone through with in an exciting manner, in fact so real was the staged fight between the two planes that great deal of enthusiasm was aroused The scrap was fast and furious until finally the American bir1nan got in his work and the Hun plane dropped, falling un- til the spectators began to believe that lit was going to finally hit the ground. But at the proper time the big plane lighted itself and went sailing back into the clouds.
 The acrobatic portion of the programme was thrilling. Tho pilots went Into this part of the programme with seemingly ! reckless abandon. They looped the loop, gave barrel loops, ordinary loops, tail spins. falling leaf, side slips, vertical | banks. spiralling down with a dead motor l from a height of a mile, flying upside down and various other aerial cutups l that seemed to be done with great elation | by the flyers. The acrobatic wonders were executed 1 by one covey of the big gas birds, ther ] came another flock who attempted te { outdo them, and it was purely matter I of ones viewpoint as to which excelled The planes then lined up on earth anc ascended in battle formation together They flew over the fairgrounds, and a' 1 they seemed to be ready to disperse they began their acrobatic stunts all anew It was at this point that the crowd for | got the wonders that their eyes had jus beheld and began to see some real tum l bling, looping and spinning. The grant finale was a hair raiser, and the croWt went wild with excitement, cheering th' human eagles as they aHghted and ac cepted the congratulations of the mul titudes for the greatest aerial entertain ment ever offered in Birmingham.
 The proceeds of the meet will go to thu building of swimming pool for avia tors at Taylor field, it was announced Just how much money was raised Wa 'not made public. The birdmen will ra turn to Taylor field at Montgomery to day.
 The Auburn-Vandy football teams wit
 messed the performance, and following the exhibitions the flyers went to Rick
 wood field, where they witnessed tn
 football game.