New-York tribune., 1919-08-26
p Planes Start
From WineOLn Field
Storm Delays Ceta,cay;
Machines Reach Albany
and Syracuse by Night

T~enty-seven airplanes scared into
thunder laden clouds over Long Island
yesterday for The start of the greatest
aerial race IN history. They are the
vanguard Of forty-four American en-
tries - the race from New York to
lororto ana return The remaining
machines will take the air at o'clock
tA-s rioraing
Battling through intermittent rain,
WIND and thunder storms these air
planes had fought their way against
the elements as far as Albany and
syracuse, according TO late reports last
night
For more than Eve hours the start
o. the great race was delayed by
Violent ram and thunder storm which
sTept across Roosevelt Field. L. l..
where he airplanes were assembled
;or the start Of the race, which had
been scheduled for 9 o'clock
Al noon the rain abated. but the
visibility was bad and it looked as
though the start would have TO be
postponed until to-day At l o'clock
the sun pierced the sheet of mist that
aad settled over the field and Major
General Charles T Menoher, official
andiag machine to ascertain the air
conditions.
Start in Three Groups
Immediately upon his return the
pilot OF the machine announced that
weather conditions, although bad, we're
suitable for flying. After a hurried
conference Of the members of the con-
.es- comm. .ttee it was decided to make
the start Immediately and egt off as
many machines as possible.
The original schedule of starting
ehe machines in three groups, with
AVe minute intervals between each ma
cAine, and fifteen minute intervals be-
tween each group was adhered to.
OWING to the unfavorable weather
conditions, it was decided to abandon
the proposed flight over New York City
because OF the possible danger of a
forced landing. The contest committee
oeclded TO take no chance and adopted
rigid safety first" programme.
me nrst machine to start was La
pere fighter, piloted by Lieutenant
r. Il, Logan, with Sergeant W. j. Sha-
A!e1ord as navigator. The speedy bi-
plane was wheeled through the mud
covered field until it's nose pointed
INTO the wind Their it was held by
mechanics while the engine was start
ed. Major General Menoher and Colo
nels Archie Miller and Carnlody shook
hands with the pilot and wished him
good luck
Signal at :55 p. NJ.
Exactly at SO O'Clock General Memo
ner dropped white handke rchi ef-the
agreed signal for the start. The me-
snanics ran from the machine, and
Lieutenant Logan opened up the throt-
te wide. The machine sped across the
heid with increasing speed, and took
the air in fine style.
After clrcling over the field twice ac-
cording to the regulations Of the race,
Lieutenant Logan laid his machine out
on northwest course and was soon
out Of signt
The other forty-four machines were
all lined up ready to take their turn IN
starting. AS soon as the La Pere
tighter got away, the L. w. F. Shark,
equipped with a Liberty motor, was
wheeled into a position for the take
OIL In it was Captain J. F. Foote, the
pilot chosen to carry President Will
sons personal letter of greeting to the
Prince of Wales. The British heir ap-
parent was to wait at the Toronto land
ing field to receive this message from
the pilot personally.
The L. w. F. Shark got away to
good start at o'clock, according to
schedule. The remaining machines
then followed according to schedule