Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-12
Radio Alignment
for u. S. Balloon
in National Race


A. Phone of the government bal
looms which will compete in the Ma
tional Balloon Race for 1922. to start
here May 81. will carry a complete and
new radio alignment which will be
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, but great secrecy appears to sur
round the entry 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. Mckibben of st.
Louis. Mo. Il. L. Dona ldson of Spring
field, ILL.,; Fl. L. Honeywell of Clayton,
Mo-, and Warren Rasor of Brookvillc,
o. The races will be one of the larg-
est IN number of entries held in
America.
During the week of May 20 a series
of plane races will be conducted under
the dir zen of the Aero Club CT Wis
consin, the aeronautical section of
Wisconsin Association of Commerce.
The organization reports promises
from various aero clubs that they will
send planes to the city To give the bal
looms a good send-off. and also prom
Uses from army officials that they will
have a number of planes on hand
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell will fly to
Milwaukee from Washington. D. c., &C
companied by two other planes.
Thirty or more planes are expected to
be available for the demonstration, in
Guiding some from Chicago, Mon
mouth. H., Detroit. Michigan, Mnnea-
polls, Mimi, Dayton. o.. and New York.
The balloon race will be for dis
lance, and the pilots must choose the
best wind currents atsdfferent alu-
tudes and dispose az ballast and gas
to the best advantage in order to land
as far as possible from the starting
point. This is said to involve hun
dreds of different problems. 1T has
been estimo ted that the direction of
has averaged a northwesterly course
during the last 40 years. If this con-
dition should prevail this year it
would take the balloons far into Cana
da. and all the pilots will carry winter
equipment. The races commonly run
from 400 to 1900 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
was lost for days
The Milwaukee program calls for an
inspection and visitors day on May so.
On this day there will he a series of
acroplane races around the city. May
81 the balloons will start.
The Aero Club of Wisconsin has
stipulated that each pilot must carry
as ballast 100000 circulars about Mil
waukee and it's business interests to
be released from time to time. 1t is
announced that except for balloons and
pilots everything in the race will be
Milwaukee made; ihat pilots will use
Mi.w uKc2 clothing and outfits. Mil
waukee food and coffee. Milwaukee
sand as ballast. and Milwaukee gas.
Srokcsmen IF the Aero Club of Wis
consin say that the race will draw on
almost every TALENT the balloonist has:
on his knowledge of navigation and
experience in its applica-
ton, ability TO size up conditions.
judgment in their Interpretation. prac-
tical skill a handling the balloon.
tirmness in adhering to a good plan of
action. but always with eye and mind
open for a better courage combined
with caution, physical endurance and
sportmanship.
In free balloon, ms tcorology is of
prime Importance. To meteorology
and its newest branch. aerology, the
pilots of free balloons turn to solve
the problems CT the l.cation and con-
dition of their curses in the air: tie
racing balloon!s1 seeks the factors of
greatest speed and longest fetch of
the winuS o. the lower levels; the bal
list trying for destination 5
the factors of direction while the re-
balloonist seeks the ele-
lnon; O. quiet and safety In the last
five years the study of upper-air con-
ditions has made such strides that to-
day, without the intelligent use of the !
data thereby acquired, it is said no pi-
lot however daring, lucky or enduring, !
r.