The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
AVIATION Is COMING
INTO OWN IN SPORT
Famous Filler Says Auto Rae
ing Soon Will Have to Take
a Back Seat,
THRILLS APLENTY IN SKY
Spectator and Altman Alike
Can Count on Heart Flut-
tiers Galore.
THRILLS APLENTY IN SKY
ny LIEUT.. J. o. DONALDSON,
d. T. c.. VI. A.. A. 8. A.

G.leut. J. o. Donaldson. y. F. C., M.
A., A. s. a, Is an American flying Of
fcer with ciEht German planes TO his
credit. He was shot down in the fall
OF last year, escaped from the German
prison camp and made his why safely
into Holland)
A new field OF sport has been opened
and as soon as international turmoil
settles flags OF Europe and america will
fly on arplanes contestlng for world
trophies and records.
Automobiles and motor boats must
give way to the demands OF the air
plane for recognition, for there is no
thrill Of the races 10 which we have
become acquainted that would not he
duplicated with embellishments, in
aeronautical contests. Grand stand
crowds Invariably are subject to sharp
breathing when the automobiles round
the sharp corners, but what of the sus-
pense when on airplane spins on a wing
tip around a banner marking the aerial
course?
Motor boating has its charm for
limited few. but tho boat OF the air.
leaving the water and increasing its
speed over that which jumps from wave
to wave, will win thousands OF eports-
men who have found no Joy In the
races OF water craft.
Lightning Speed.
Greatest OF all advantages IT, of
course. the superspeed to be found in
the airplane. No other machine OF
land or water has been able to attain
the speed which has become common
with the airplane. One hundred and
nifty miles an hour--just two and n half
miles a minute--is ordinary Official
Government recoNs show 4 speed of
lea "a miles an hour made in this
country after any friendly wind infiu-
ence has been discounted. This is the
fastest which any mechanical device has
ever travelled. without the assistance of
a breeze. It Is impossible TO estimate
how fast fTrplanes have travelled with
the wind behind them.
Acrobatics in the air is still another
feature which will appeal to the sports
men, who must tire Of seeing in old time
races nothing but the Same thing over
and over again. The air is prolific
with possibilities that could never be
found on land or water. The motorist
must content himself with following q
marked rond. careful lest his machine
upset. But how different with tho
aviator! There Is nothing in the air
quite SO thrilling, quite 60 enjoyable az
turning over and over and speeding
your machine away from the registered
course.
Society folk revel in steeplechase eI-
citement. finding in the obstacle races
a greater enjoyment than Is held In the
motor contests. Can you visualize an
aerial steeplechase? 1t may be out of
the question to place hurdles and OBJ
stacles in the air, but II would be easy
to require certain manBuvres at stated
points along the course. The thrill to
the spectators when a horse comes ~
cropper is as nothing compared 10
seeing a plane fall into tail spin when
coming out from a loop.
The Difference.
The line OF vision for spectators at
aerial entertainments is unlimited, with
no fences or buildings in the way. He
who watches an automobile race catches
n glimpse Of color, almost hidden in 2.
cloud of dust. Behind this comes another
fash. and the race is over.
With aerial races it would be dlf-
ferent. Bieachers would be constructed
around the airdrome TO permit spec
tators viewing the ships taking OF and
landing, and clouds would be the only
interference TO prevent a clear view OF
the ships around any course that would
DC specified.
What I have said before deals with
the spectators. ! cannot begin 70 de-
scribe the additional thrill that will
come to the performer. There is no
game in the world with half the ex-
hlaration OF flying there is nothing that
drives the red blood through your veins
as does the feel of the air---the rcaliza-
ton that YOU ara master I'm new