Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-11-08
LIEUT.. BROW MAKES THE
FASTEST SPEED ANY MAN
HAS EVER YET ATTAINED
Navy Aviator Flies 259 Miles Per
Hour Breaking All Records

| Mitchell Field, N. Y.-The fastest
speed ever attained by man was made
today by Lieut.. H. J. Brow, navy av-
iator who flew over three kilome-
ter straight away course at an aver
age speed of 259.15 miles an hour.
On one leg of the course he travel
ed at the phenomenal rate of 265.21
miles an hour.
Brow's record was attained in com
| petition with Lieut.. A. j. Williams
former pitcher on the New York
Giants baseball club and winner of
the Pulitzer race, both men flying
Navy-Curtis planes. Brow was sec
ond in the Pulitzer contest.
Brow went up first and set a pace
of 257 miles an hour and Williams
was soon in the air intent on beating
that record. When his plane reached
ground he found that he had flown
1851 miles an hour. AS he was be-
ing congratulated by army officers
and others who watched the speed
trials Brow ran 20 his plane.
"~ nlrl the propeller, boys" he
shouted to his mechanics, 'I'm going
after it."
The spectators held their breath as
his plane shot through the air and
the thrill of the day came on the Sec
ond leg. when flying with the light
wind that waited over the army post
field, he sent his machine at the
breath-taking clip of nearly five miles
minute.
at was almost unbelievable" said
Major William N. Honsley, command
ing officer at Mitchell field, was in
direct charge of the contests.
"Pretty good, Brow" said Will
liams. as he congratulated his COM
petitor, "but I am going to beat it to-
morrow"
Brow OILY smiled. Today's contest
was viewed by officials of the National
Aeronautic Association and Amer
ican representatives of the Interna-
tional Aeronautic federation. 1t was
declared the record would have Off
cial recognition.
The contestants were prohibited
from starting their speed trial with a
dive increased speed on the take off.
They were required to fly not higher
than approximately 164 feet.
The speed tests had been postponed
several times because of nnfavorable
weather. The wind declined to about
three miles an hour early this after.
noon and there was slight breeze
thus cutting off the glaring sun which
has often bothered the aviators.
Brow's first trial, in which ne flew
at the rate of 257 miles an hour
was approximately 21 miles an houl
faster for three kilometers than the
speed of 236.87 miles an hour which
Lieut.. Russell L. Maughan, of the
army air service, made in an army
Curtiss races at Dayton Ohio or
March last.
Statisticians figured out after the
trials that on Brow's fastest leg hi
engine was turning over at the rate
Of $500 revolutions minute. Th'
propeller hub, going at this speed
sent the propeller through the air Sc
fast that it was describing a sever
foot circle at the rate of 100 feet
second. These were declared the fast
est times either a motor or propeller
ever had turned without flying t.
| pieces.
Both machines, Brow's and Will
liams are biplanes wit hwing SPAN
of 22 feet. The overall length is II
feet and the total heighth three in
ches less than six feet. Fully load
ed each weighs 2100 pounds.