Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-09-21
BALLOON RACE
FOR OCTOBER l,
DRAWS STARS
Ten Gas Bags Already Entered
by Most Noted Pilots in
Country.
National Event Expected to
Bring About Great Revival
in Air Sport.

"A step toward regaining tho rromln-
ence that balloon racing had attained
before the war. is Indicated in the an
nouncement of national balloon race to
start at st. Louis, Mo, October |, 1919.
The first balloon race to be held IN this
country since the close of the war was
the one starting at Akron, Ohio, last
MAY, when seven spherical balloons were
sent up from the Wingfoot Lake naval
air station, formerly the flying field Of
the Goodyear Tire & Rubber company.
since taken over by the L. s. Navy. But
the balloons in this race were all Akron
balloons, piloted by civilians and army
and navy men from that city.
The race 70 be held at St. Louis IS
open to all American pilots. The win
oonist Of the United States and will re-
ceive a prize of $500. Second place will
capture $500 and third 5000.
Noted Pilots Enter.
The coming race will have among its
entries some of the most noted pilots OF
the country, q number of whom have
participated in former national balloon
races Ten balloons have already been
entered. by such noted balloonists as
Capt Elmer G. Marschuetz, Capt. &. W.
Dammann, l.. s. Cole, J. 5. Mck1bbon,
G. l.. Bumbaugh, II. +. Honeywell, Ralph
Upson, Warren Rasor, VIM. Assman and
z. NJ. Mccullough.
The best known Of these American
pilots is Ralph Epson, present holder of
the title Of worlds champion Dalooidst,
won i'll the international race held ut
Paris in November, 1913. in the Balloon
Goodyear, in competition with pilots
from all parts of the world.
In the st. Louis race, Upson, who is
chief aero engineer for the Goodyear Tire
& Rubber company, will pilot the Good
year with which he won the worlds
championship. 1t is Of the same gas
capacity. $4,000 cubic feet as the orig
nal balloon. but is better bag. as con-
siderable progress has been made in the
manufacture Of balloons since the cut
break Of the war. Ipson's aide in this
race will be W. T. Van Orman.
Expect Racing Revival.
Balloon men are expecting a big re-
vival in balloon racing in this country
as a result of the national race ut st.
Louis Thousands of young men have
become balloon pilots since Americas
entry into the war and have seen active
service with our e1peditioa1-y forces
i NeSP men ana tHPlf lEieluS :tfs certain
to take an added interest Iii halloonIng
in this country because of their service
abroad. At the Wingfoot Lake naval
air station alone, 1900 young 1len re-
ceived training in plotting balloons dur
ing the war, in addition to those who re-
ceived their training at other naval air
stations.
There is, of course, no way Of controll
ing the course taken by balloon, ex-
fEaf f5,j|
acquainted with mir currents and at
mospheric conditions, may in measure
control the direction taken by Il baiion.
by ascending or descending from one
strata of air to another. In balloon
race the prime requisite is 70 yesp the
bag in the air and to keep its course as
straight as possible fur the winning bal
loon is the man that travels the greatest
airline distance from the starting point
Aero Club Rules
The big race at st. Louis will he con-
Quoted under the rules of the interna-
tonal aeronautical federation and sane
toned by the Aero club Of America Ar
rangements are in charge Of Major a. g.
Lambert Of the T.. :. army air service
and all prizes will be awarded by the
Missouri Aeronautical society.
AS a preliminary to the big race three
balloons will be sent up On Sept. DC
piloted by crews from the Pensacola
naval air station. the Wingfoot air sta
ton and the navy department at Wash
ington, y. G., September q 1919.