San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-21
PILOTS STUDY
WEATHER MAP
FOR BIC RACE
Speculate on Movement Of
Highs and Lows by
Wednesday.
ALL PLANS RE"0Y
Seven Balloons Will Leave
Kelly Field in Nation
al Classic.
ALL PLANS RE"0Y

What weather conditions and -ind
directions and velocitics will be Wed.
nesday afternoon when seven sa.loon
pilots leave Kelly Field in the ma
tionsl race is still a matter Of specu.
lation The weather map of the
United States Monday morning showed
both favorable and unfavorable pros.
poets.
A low pressure center is located
over the Great Lakes and a smaller
low is located over Colorado. A small
trough extends from this Colorado
low up into Canada north of the
Montana line to where fairly 81. ons
low is situated.
A moderate high is standing OF the
Pacific coast in the Northwest. ii the
Colorado low should intensity. draw
ing from the Canada. low and then
move off to the northeast, as some.
times occurs, il will draw n strong
southerly draft of wind for which pi-
lots are hoping. On the other hand. il
the high in the northwest should move
across the country and get to tn" north
of Texas. it would send n north wind
down which would interfere with the
progress of the balloons.
| Wind Velocities Monda..
This high has been stationary fos
two days and there is chance that
it may stay there until after Nednes.
day and that the Colorado low may
intensity and move out to the north
east, which would be highly favorable
to the pilots.
The Kelly Field observations %
wind velOcities and directions at II
o'clock Monday morning showed the
atmosphere TO be fairly brisk at the
upper attitudes and moving in the
right direction. The following alti-
tubes. directions and velocities were
reported: ground, southwest. 10 miles
per hour: 500, southwest, IL: 1000,
southwest. 10: 1900. southwest. 16:
1000. southwest. IN: 5000, southwest,
20: 1000. west. %: 5000, west. ~:
5000. west. %: 1000, west. Is: 5000.
southwest. 16; 5000, southwest, IA;
balloon lost.
o. X. Balloon Plans.
/ Plans that have been made for the
start of the race have been inspected
r by Mai. a. II. Lambert, referee, and
: pronounced the most complete and ef-
' ficient of any national race he'd in
recent years. Everything is in readi-
ness for the start Wednesday.
The airplane that will lay the
smoke screen at Kelly Field Weines-
day was tried out Monday morning
by Lieuts. X. w. Peck and r. Il.
Walker and pronounced TO be in fine
condition.
Pilots who will participate in the
airplane races have had their ships
stream-lined and are practicing over
the route Of the races TO familiarize
themselves with the course. Rivet
heads and every rough surface pos
sible have been covered and canvas
to diminish wind resistance and gain
speed.
Plenty of Room.
| Balloonists in San Antonio have
said that this is the first time in the
history of balloon racing that they
have had enough space TO use in
preparation for the event, and have
expressed their satisfaction in regard
TO accommodations. facilities and the
location for the race. according TO
Ralph II. Durkee. publicity director
of the national race. who stated Mon
day morning that every pilot in this
city has expressed himself as well
pleased with the advantage that Kelly
Field offers in space and lack II inn
pediment.
Governor Pat NJ. Neff will not at
ltend the national race. according to
word received Monday from the Gov
ernor's secretary. Governor Porfirio
lGonzales of Nueyo Leon. Mexico. also
finds it impossible TO attend the event.
There will be a large general meet
ing of balloon race officials, pilots.
stunt pilots for the aerial show. San
Antonio Aeronautical Association
members and officers from Brooks and
Kelly Fields and from Fort Sam
Houston. at L. o'clock Tuesday noon.
in the St. Anthony Hotel. This will
be the last general meeting before the
race. and it is expected to be one OF
the greatest and most enthusiastic
rallies ever staged before national
race.