San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-24

with weather conditions over the
country. Stations along the route
taken by the contestants will broad
cast United States weather reports
for their benefit.
Tests of air currents will be made
from time to time by the pilots of
the balloons. They carried small
balloons to release. BY watching the
ascent of these balloons they will be
able to determine the location of any
favorable current at higher attitudes.
BY dropping bits of paper they can
test lower currents. BY releasing
ballast or valying gas, the pilots may
ascend or descend as they WISH.
Besides the privilege Of representing
tic United States in the international
balloon races, the winner of the na-
tional race will win a prize of $1,000
offered by the San Antonio Aeronan-
tic Association. Winner Of second
place gets $500: third. 5000; fourth,
$500: fifth. 5000 q I'd .ixth. 500. A
bonus of 500 was given to the pilot
of each balloon that started in the
race, and additional bonus of $50 has
been offered to each pilot who breaks
the American record AMI each one thu
breaks the international record. The
first three will represent his country
III the international race in Belgium
this summer.
Honeywell First to Leave.
Silently and majestically the seven
balloons entered in the national clim'
nation balloon race rose from their
mornings at Kelly Field late Wednes'
day afternoon. headed toward the
northwest under the gentle propulsion
of a balmy Texas breeze. became as
specks against leaden sky and then
faded from view in the thickening twi.
light as they floated onward in their
quest for a new worlds record for
free balloon flights and the honor OF
representing the United States in the
international races next summer.
IL was nineteen minutes after D
o'clock when Capt. H. Il. Honeywell,
representing the Cooperative Club OF
Kansas City. Mo-, weighed off from
his station at the east end of the bal
loon field after receiving farewell
kiss from Miss Nell Nolte of Seguin.
sponsor for his balloon. Capt. I. Il.
Boudlnot, aide to Captain Honeywell,
poured out sack Of ballast as the bal.
loon left the ground to enable it to lift
over the heads of hundreds of specta-
tors who were lined along the edge OF
the field.
Preparations Most Complete.
you can say for me-" said Captain
Honeywell before starting. that l
have taken part in many balloon races
in this country and in foreign coun-
tries, but never before have ! seen 4
race where everything was fixed up in
good shape as for this race. The race
has been handled in faultless style.
and If we don't break the worlds rec
ord. 1t will not be due to anything that
has been left undone ut this end.
Il expect to be in the air at least
two days but you never can tell what
is going to happen. The weather APP
pears to be ideal right now.
II wish you would also say for me
that / have visited Brooks Field and
know exactly what they are doing
there. l know that the Brooks Fled
authorities are doing everything that
can be done to keep the cadets from
flying over San Antonio. They cant
send a plane to watch every cadet
that takes off from the field. II
people who see airplanes flying low
over the city would take their num-
Der and give that information to the
officers at Brooks Field. I'm sure
such practices would soon stop"
Captain Honeywell assembled about
500 feet and floated toward the north.
west in the wake of the pilot balloon
from Brooks Field, which has secured
a start of almost 20 minutes ahead
Of him.
Il. II. Fournier in his $4,000 ca
pacity balloon, San Antonio" was
second of the contestants to start. He