The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-27
FIGHTS FIRE IN PLANE
Schroeder Makes Toronto
Round Trip in SIS Min
utes, Is Report.
MAYNARD MAY TOP ALL
Twenty Machines Expected at
Roosevelt Field To-day
Decision Likely.

American army aviators are again
In the lead in the greatest Of aerial
sweepstakes, with three of them the
first to complete the round trip be-
tween New York and Toronto.
Lieut.. l.. w. Plumb arrived at Min
cola on his return trip at 5:5oh yes
terday afternoon. He was only a min
ute and three quarters earlier than
the home landing made in Toronto by
Major Richard Schroeder, at $3.50, and
! w. Maynard, who got back to Roose-
vel. Field at GAS.
The flying times of neither Plumb
nor Maynard were available last night,
as the intermediate controls had not
reported in full. An unoff,.ial report
| of Schroeder's time gave it as SIS
minutes actual flying for the round
! trip.
An unofficial computation of the time
1t took Plumb's plane-which he calls
affectionately by the name Of Phnbe-to
cover the round trip makes 1t $50 min
utes. Officers were inclined to believe
that Maynard's official tabulation would
be even better than this.
Mondays Leaders Fall Behind.
Last night the leaders in the race
on Monday were we'll behind. Sergeant
| Coombs left Albany before noon, and
though reports had not been received
h ia
( have got to Syracuse. Rohlfs, Barker.
Schiller and Acosta were an hour or
more behind him, with no definite re-
ports after they had left Albany.
Those who should finish at Mineola
, during to-day are Col Hartney, Lieut.
Colt. Capt. Simonln, Lieut.. w. C. Brown,
Major Simons and Lieut.. Midkiff, the
last two squadron mates of Plumb
So far the only civilian fiier to make
a showing is Roland Rohlfs
Plumb was enthusiastically greeted at
Roosevelt Field, Officers and enlisted
men had been straining their eyes for
an hour. knowing that he was on the
way from Albany. AS soon as his plane
was heard hundred strong glasses were
turned upon it. The moment the num-
Der was read q cheer went Up that
could have been heard in Hoboken
Men from all parts OF the camp rushed
TO the field to welcome him.
I And when he had climbed out, shaken
hands with Col. Archie Miller and other
officers. he climbed back in again, posed
q moment for the PHOTOGRAPHERS and
movie men. and rose in the air Once
up he put his plane through some OF
the most thrilling stunts that even
Roosevelt Field has ever seen as II 20
show that even a thousand mile race
= couldn't bother her. Then he hoped
| over to his home station at Hazlehurst
Field and went to bed.
To-day, however, the biggest display
Of all the race will take place at Roose.
welt Field. Between and l this Morn
( ing more than twenty fiiers are due to
arrive and to depart. The scores will
be tabulated and a pretty good idea Of
the winner will be available.
The public is cordinally invited to the
field.
we have made full preparations to
take care of a big crowd" said Col Car
mody, the field commander last night.
1T will be one OF the greatest flying ex-
hibitions the United States has ever seen
and the civilian spectators who come to
the field will be given every opportunity
to see it."
Plumb in Nervy Flight.
Plumb's flight yesterday was nervy
from end to end. Between Buffalo and
Syracuse he was compelled to land to
replenish the water In a leaky radiator.
He made the landing in a cornfield, hor-
ror of all aviators, made II successfully.
filled his tank. tied UP the leaky place
with a bit Of towel and got away again
in perfect form.
Fire was his other peril. Shortly after
leaving Buffalo a piece broke out OF his
exhaust pipe and flames swept up into
his face in the cockpit. He was Obliged
to drive the rest of the way with reduced
gas pressure In order to save his face
from the flames.
He attributes his good luck to two
mascots--a Ave dollar gold piece tied
up in a greasy handkerchief and bit
of goldenrod. He refused with grin
to describe the origin of either.
"They worked, didn't they?" was his
only comment.
So far as getting first home is con-
cerned the race has been all to the De
Haviland bombing planes OF the Army
Air Service. equipped with 400 horse
power Liberty motors. This by no means
establishes supremacy under the peculiar
conditions laid down for the present
contest For the first time the American
Flying Club has worked out a handicap
formula for airplanes. Under 1t victory
depends upon the degree with which
each machine exceeds or falls below the
speed which it's horsepower and carry
ing power should give 1t.
Flying luck. OF course. enters into
these calculations and the machines that
meet the greatest amount of head winds
will suffer for II. Likewise those that
ride favoring gales will gain. But, as
any entrant could choose his starting
,olnt II all goes to prove the airmanship
,rbich will gain the $4,000 of prizes
hung up by the Hotel Commodore for
.he civilians ard the Communications for
he soldiers who are barred from the
money prizes
So far but one serious accident has
r1aIred the race. and, as officials OF the
american Flying Club said, II was the