New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-22
Texas Entry in
Air Classic ON
Way to France
Wildcat Will Be Pilotcd by
Clarence Coombs in Cor
don Bennett Race; u. S.
Has 2 More Competitors
New Types To Be Used
All Machines in Paris Meet
Expected to Beat Average
200 Miles an Hour

The first Of Americas three entries
in the Gordon Bennett international
airplane race departed for France yes
terday. The two others will leave here
this week. All three will attempt to
bring to America permanently the pre-
mier trophy of the aeronautical.wo
The Gordon Bennett races are being
resumed this year for the first time
since 1913. The race this year, accord
ing to aeronautical experts, is the most
important event in the history of avia-
ton. 1t is expected that every ma
chine will exceed an average speed of
200 miles an hour. The American ma
chimes will have to compete against the
best types of twelve other countries.
The course this year is over closed
circuit of 100 kilometers, starting and
finishing at the aerodrome of Etampes,
near Paris. Each of the machines must
cover this course three times without
a stop, the total distance being 500
kilometers, or 1868 miles. The win
ner is expected to cover the distance
Germany to Have Entrants
The European contestants have sue
ceedcd in maintaining secrecy about
their machines and their plans. Re-
Gently, however, it has leaked out that
Germany, although barred from the
race this year, will be represented by
her latest designs through entries
made by Holland, Denmark and Sweden.
One of the interesting features of
the race will be the use of synthetic
fuels by the machines. 1t was said
yesterday by officials of the Manufac-
turers' Aircraft Association that the
Dayton Wright entry would use q
synthetic fuel developed in the labora-
tory of that concern, the nature Of
which is secret.
The three American entries are as
follows: United States Army Air
Service, Verville-P Packard biplanc;
Dayton Wright, RIB monoplane,
Aero Club of Texas, through S. E. ].
Cox, Curtiss "Texas Wildcat mono
plane.
The American pilots are among the
most noted in the world. The entry
which departed yesterday was that of
the Aero Club of Texas. The major
ity of the party left here on the liner
La Lorraine direct for France, blu.
Clarence Coombs sailed on the Caro-
MIA, and will fly over to France from
England. He will report the races
for The New York Tribune.
Coombs was winner of the Statue of
Liberty circuit race, and second in
the New York-Toronto race Roland
Rohlfs, the first pilot of this entry,
has four times assembled over 10000
feet. He holds the worlds speed rec
ord for land and sea planes.
The army entry will be piloted by
Captain Rudolph w. Schroeder, holder
of the worlds altitude record which
feet. Howard Rinehart, one of the
two designers of the Dayton Wright
entry, will pilot that machine.
Curtiss Plane Has Special Wings
The Curtiss monoplane is equipped
with a 400-horsepower motor 1t is
also equipped with newly invented
radiators and will use special wings
in the race.
The Dayton Wright machine is rev.
olutionary in design and construction.
1t has a retractible chassis-or, in
other words, the landing carriage is
completely withdrawn inside the body
of the machine during flight. The
monoplane wing is internally braced
and there are no outside wires or
struts. The wing is also equipped
with levers to change its curve, and
30 increase its speed in the air and
reduce its speed while landing. 1t is
equipped with a $50 Hall-Scott Liberty
motor
The army entry is biplane with
SINGLE struts hatWea0 tho IyiDrc on
either side. 1t is equipped with a
horsepower Packard motor The
machine was designed by army Off
GERS.