Evening star., 1926-05-12
NAVAL SEAP[ANES
RACE HERE FRIDAY
Nine Craft to Compete Over
Potomac in Four Groups for
Curtiss Trophy.

Nine Navy SeaplaneS and flying
boats, valued at approximately
$3.50, 1000 and manned by some of the
best pilots in Naval aviation. are be
ing groomed today for one OF the most
important aircraft contests in the
United States. the Curtiss Marine
Trophy race, which will he flown on
the Potomac River Friday afternoon.
The award of the trophy race to
Washington marks the first time any
aircraft contest of national nature
has been conducted here, and all mill
tarv. Naval and aeronautical Wash
ington is looking forward to a success
full and thrilling contest among planes
Of different speeds for the coveted
trophy. The success of the race, from
the standpoint of popular appeal, VIII
mean additional contests of this ma
ture for Washington even though
facilities here for high speed races are
not ideal.
The airmen. in addition to compel
ing for the large trophy, also will fly
for gold wrist watches which The
Evening Star will donate to the win
ners in the four classes which VIII
constitute the race. Even though a
hig bomber stands very little chance
of winning the main trophy against
one OF the Navy's speedy pursuit
planes, the big ship pilot nevertheless
will push forward to the utmost TO CD
tain victory in the class he represents
The watches, four in number, Will pc
presented to the winning airmen early
next week with appropriate cere-
monies at either the Navy Depart
ment or the Naval Air Station.
All Are Service Ships.
The plane covering the 80 miles IN
the shortest time will win the trophy
while the others will be paired off ac-
cording to types and arranged III
groups to race in their classes.
The race also will serve TO sho"
1he public the maximum speed per
fornance of the regular service
planes. All of the entries Will pc
taken out of regular routine duty the
dav before the race, and three planes
from the Aircraft SquadronS scout
ing fleet at Hampton Roads Will ny
TO Washington for the race. Ihere
will be no trick stuff entered anu
each plane should be able to carry
on with regular Navy flying OF d Hili'
itary nature after the event. ,.:,s
one eroup will contain two Curtiss
Hawk pursuit planes. bearing the
naval fesie nation FC6-1. These ilt-
tIe single-seaters, each powered WIN
19.cvlinder horsepower Curtlss
no motor. can do better than loo
miles Der hour wide open WIN the
heavy pontoons on for landing gear
The pilots of these planes VIII pe
7 jaut lanes D. Barner of the NaVal
Air Station and Lieut.. Thomas Jetef
of the Bureau Of Aeronaut1cs
Another group will embody Inree
observation planes-two OIL the ~
tvne carried aboard ship ana an oC-o,
for long-distance work. Ihese pianes
I;art r Fl. Conant of the Bureau
of Aeronautics will fly one UO-l.
ni,ot not vet designated from the All
craft Souadron's scouting Meet VIII
a,r +he other and Lieut.. G. Z. Cham
MON of the engine section. Bureau Oh
Aeronautics, viii fly the SC-6.
Huge Bombers to Race.
In the bombing plane class Will De
two H-16s flying boat type, each piaile
being fitted with two Liberty liiotoio
of 400 horsepower each. BoatsWdli,
Walter G.. Fitzpatrick OF the NdNa'
Air Station and a pilot from the An All,
craft Squadrons Scouting flee' VIII
handle these two crafts. .,
In the scouting plane class VIII oe
two F.5-1s, somewhat similar In ap-
oaorance TO the H-16s, and each
CARRYING two motors. These, with the
H-1Gs can fly around 100 miles per
bo1,r. Lieut.. L. w. Curtain OF the
Bureau of Aeronautics ana a piloI
from Hampton Roads will be at tne'
controls. .,+
The contest bears the Endorsement
and cooperation of Secretary or the
NAVY Wilbur and Rear Admlrai VIII
liam A. Moffett, chief of the bureau
of Aeronautics Prior to the actuai
race. a demonstration of maneuVerS
and acrobatic flying will be given.
Laps of Ten Miles.
The course has been laid out lo
miles down the river and ~ mics
hack. and the pilots must make IouI
laps. turning the home pylon IN leo-
degree banks in full view of the spec
tators at Hains Point and the NaVal
Air Station. Each plane Will pe mum
bered, enabling spectators TO keep
track of the pilots during the progress
of the race. The ships will take OH
and cross the starting line on the
wing, the groups to take the ar al
two-minute intervals.
The race will be conducted by the
National Aeronautic Association, the
governing body for aircraft contests
in the United States, in cooperation
with the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps. The Navy's part in the race
and demonstration prior to the compe-
tition is in charge of Lieut.. Comdr.
Homer G. Wick, commanding the
Naval Air Station. The Army's part
is being arranged by Maj. II. B.
Clagett, commanding Boiling Field,
and the Marines part by Lieut.. Col.
n q Turner. commanding Brown