The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-05-17
GREAT ANNUAL
BALLOON RACE
Will Start from Milwaukee On
May 31st

Milwaukee. Wis. May 11.-One
of the government balloons which
will compete in the National Bal
loon Race for 1922. to start here
May 81. will carry a complete and
new radio alignment which will Dc
tested here for the first time. For
the third time American army and
navy balloons will compete against
civilians. Most of the government
pilots saw service in the World
War. The army will send three
balloons and the navy two. bet
Srcat secrecy appears to surround
the entr:: of these balloons.
IN addition. entries have come
from Ralph II. Epson, OF New
York. who won the International
Gordon Bennett trophy in 1913: j.
c. McIlibbcn. olSt. Louis, Mo-; K.
+. Donaldson of Springfield. HI. IL.
+. Honeywell Of Clayton. Mo, and
Warren RaSor of Drookville. O..
The races will be n Of the largest
in number Of entries held in Amer
lea.
During the week of May % 4
series Of plane races will be con-
Quoted under the direction of the
zero Club of Wisconsin. the aero
rautical section of the Wisconsin
Association of Commerce. The or
SaniZation reports promises from
various aero clubs that they VIII
send planes - the city TO give the
balloons a good send-off. and also
promises from army officials that
the: Will have q number OF planes
on hand. Brig. Gen. William
Mitchell will fly to milwaukee, from
Washington. ID. c.. accompanied by
two other planes. Thirty or more
Flames are expected TO DC available
for the demonstration, including
some from Chicago, Monmouth,
H., Detroit. Michigan. Minneapolis,
Mimi. DAYTON. O.. and New York.
The balloon race Will be for dis
lance. and the pilots must choose
the best wind currents at different
attitudes and dispose OF the bal
last and gas to the best advantage
in order 20 land as far as possible
from the starting point. This IS
said 10 involve hundreds OF differ
n problems. 1t has been estimated
that the direction OF the wind at
the ti;ue OF year selected has aver
AGED a noTthwesterly purse dur
ing the last 40 years. If this con-
Gition should prevail this year it
would take the balloons far into
Canada. and al the pilots will carry
winter equipment. The races conf
monty run from 400 to Loo miles
and last from eight to 60 hours.
1t is expected some of the balloons
this year will be in the air four or
five days. One balloon party IN the
national race last year Vas lost tor
days.
The Milwaukee program calls for
in inspection and visitors day OF
May 80. On this day there will be
d; series of aeroplane c around
the city. May 81 the balloons Will
start.
The Aero Club OF Wisconsin has
stipulated that each pilot u
carry as ballast 100000 circulars
about Milwaukee and its business
interests to be released from time
to tire. 1t is announced that eX-
ccpt for balloons and pilots every
thing in the race will be Milvau-
kce made: that pilots Will use
Milwaukee cluthinS and outfits
Milwaukee food and coffee. Milwau-
l:ec sand as ballast, and Milwaukee
gas.
Spokesman Of the Aero Club Oh
Wisconsin say that the race VIII
draw on almost every talent the
nallooniSt has: on his knowledge OF
navigation aud m~ctcorology. cNper-
;-nce in its application. ability t"
size up conditions. Judgment i'll
their Interpretation. practical skill
in handling the balloon. ~firn,ncSo
in adhcriug to u good plan OF ac-
ton. but always with eye and mind
cpen for a better, courage COM
bincd with caution. physical endur-
ancc and craftsmanship.
IN frcc-hallooning. neteorolo@E l.
of prime Importance. To meteor
and its newest branch. aero
lo-y. the pilots Of free balloons turn
to solve the problems OF the Local
ton ana condition of their courses
in the air: the racing ha.ooniSt
seeks the factors Of greatest speed
and longest fetch of the winds OF
the lower levels: the balloonlSt try
Ing for Il destination seeks n
factors Of direction while the re-
connaiS<ancc ballooniSt seeks tn"
clements of q"ict and safct,E. In
ihr last five years the study "l
%uppcr-air conditions has made such
strides that today. without the m
trlli=cnt u$e-of the data thereby
acquired. it is said no pilot how
ever daring. lucky or enduring. can
hope to remain in the front rank.
~~~~