San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20

initiation.
Start Filling at 1880.
A pine line has been laid from the
main that enters San Antonio through
South San Antonio TO the site of the
balloon race on Kelly Field and con
ncctions have been attached for each
balloon. The proper number of cylin-
ders of hydrogen gas have also been
distributed at the places assigned to
the several balloons. Preparations for
initiation have been made by Lieut..
Frank Kehoe, gas expert from Scott
Field.
The work of initiating the balloons
will not begin until the morning of the
race. Heretofore it has been neces-
sary to work all night in making prep.
arations for the start of the national
races, but the use of natural and by
drogen gas, coupled with the fact that
the army will provide large crews TO
assist in initiation, makes it possible to
do all the work on the day of the
start of the race.
The balloons will be placed in posi-
ton at o'clock Wednesday morning
and will be ready for initiation by
10 80. While they are being filled,
the aerial demonstration put on by
Kelly Field will be in progress.
Sounding of the upper air currents
with small pilot balloons will be done
at intervals throughout the day.
The Brooks Field balloon, Piloted
by Lieut.. George W. McEntire, will
ascend at 4 80 p. m. from the balloon
field for the purpose of sounding the
air for the benefit of the pilots en-
tered in the race. Lieutenant Nc
Entire will land otter short flight.
Fifteen minutes later the balloons en-
tered in the race will follow at five
minute intervals.
Release Carrier Pigeons.
Each pilot will be provided with
blank kilograms to be filled out and
dropped along the route. These tele-
grams bear a request to the finder to
carry them to the telegraph office and
wire them to the San Antonio Aero
nautic Association. Carrier pigeons
will also be released with messages at
different times.
Arrangements have also been made
with the American Radio Relay
League to have members Of the league
broadcast the location of the balloons
every time they are sighted from "a
dio station. This information will be
relayed to San Antonio from points
along the route taken by the balloons.
The pilots of the balloons in the
race will also carry radio sets and
will be informed as to weather condi-
lions by stations along the route. BY
this means they will be enabled to
anticipate weather changes and take
any steps necessary to meet the
| changes.
They will also be provided with pilot
balloons to release for the purpose OF
| sounding upper air currents. BY
watching the ascent of the pilot bal
| looms they can determine the nature OF
| overhead currents. Currents below
the balloons will be tested by dropping
| bits of paper.
Study Weather Conditions.
Each balloon will be loaded with g
large quantity of sand ballast. Some
of this ballast will be released when
ever the pilot desires to ascend OIL
check a descent. Gas will be Waived
whenever a descent is desirable.
A weather chart has been placed il
the operations office at Kelly Fielt
and meteorological data will be place.
thereon for the information of tn
balloon crews. Weather reports ar
being shown on large map of tn
United States each day. 1t show
the location of low and high pressur
areas, direction Of the wind at VAR
GUS points and the kind of weathe
that prevails. --..-------.------..-..
Maps showing the direction of low
and high pressure areas follow as in
dicated by the charting of thousand
of these areas, are also on displa!
at the operation office. Another char
shows the direction of the winds tina
have prevailed in San Antonio durin,
the month of April in years past.
One of the largest problems con
nected with the holding of the balloon
race will be the handling of the GROVE
that will attend the air races and re
view and the start of the balloon
race. To Mai. III. 5. Burwell of Kelly
Field, has fallen the task Of working
out a solution of the traffic question
in connection with Maj Horace n
Hickam and the city authorities.
The greater part of the traffic vii
go TO Kelly Field by way of the f'riC
City road and the Somerset road
Some traffic will also be diverted b.
way of the Castroville road and Cup
pies lane.
| VIII heguldte ITdIIc.
The Southern Pacific Railroad viii
run shuttle trains to the balloon fielt
for the benefit of people who do no
go in cars.
The Frio City road will be made ;
one-way thoroughfare and the large
part of the automobile traffic is ex
pected to 20 by that way. Ten run
way chutes will be established at on
point on this road and tickets Will b.
sold by 100 men at that place. b!
this means it is hoped that traffic ma,
be handled as fast as it arrives.
Ticket sellers and ticket takers t
the number of 500 will be provided
by the army. Sellers Will be stationet
on all roads and on the trains.
Officials of the San Antonio Aero
nautic Association consider the asso
citation fortunate in securing the ser
vices of Maj. A. B. Lambert as ref
cree of the race. Major Lambert 4
recognized as one of the leading al
thorities on balloon racing in tn
world and has acted as referee of nj
national races in recent years. III
will have absolute control of tn
race.
The men who organized the San An
tonic Aeronautic Association and mad
the race possible for San Antonio are