The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-03
Giant Bags viii Take to Air
in National Event Late
Saturday.
AVIATION ACES ATTEND
Amelia Earhart Scheduled
to Aid in Christening
Baby BIimp.
BY FRANCIS FITZSNIMONS.
United Press staff Correspondent


PITTSBURGH, Pa, May 3.--Ar-
rangements completed for the ma
tional elimination balloon races to
be held at the University OF Pitts
burgh stadium Saturday afternoon,
weather conditions today became the
principal item Of interest to bal
loonists.
Exhibitions which began yester-
day in conjunction with the balloon
races drew fair-sized crowd to the
stadium, despite inclement wealth
er. But rain continued today and
threatened to interfere with events
OF the program, some Of which were
postponed from yesterday.
Three Goodyear Company "baby
blimps." scheduled to arrive here
yesterday from Akron, are expected
some time today, officials at the
stadium said. Amelia Earhart.
trans Atlantic f1ier, is expected to
pilot one of the blimps.
Later she may take part in the
christenening ceremony of the new
est baby blimp' of the Goodyear
Company, The Volunteer. The other
two blimps are known as The Pill
grim and The Puritan.
Watch Weather Carefully
Remembering the disasters which
befell the ballonists who raced from
Belts Field, McKeesport. last year,
when they we're overtaken By
rain and electrical storm, weather
officials made special arrangements
for last minute information for the
balloonistS before they start at
o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
w. S. Brotzman, Pittsburgh
weather forecaster. has predicted
continued cloudy skies and cooler
weather for this afternoon and
Saturday. E. G. Andrus, special
weather forecaster at Hadley field,
N. j., came to Pittsburgh to CO.
operate with Brotzman in furnish
ing weather reports to the balloon
lists.
Many of the balloonists will carry
radio receiving outfits, and for the
first tWenty-four hours of the race
will receive broadcasts from James
H Kimball of the New York City
weather bureau, through the Ma
tional Broadcasting system.
Carry Safety Devices
When Ward T Van Orman, pilot,
and Alan L. MacCracken. aid, take
to the air tomorrow. in the Good
year VII balloon, they'll have no
fear Of lightning. A simple device
has been developed by Goodyear eX-
perts, after months Of research with
high voltage electricity, which will
protect the balloonists. They suf-
fered in last years race.
The device consists of two metal
rods extended one foot beyond the
balloon basket The rods. fixed at
the load ring" are connected at
the tips by copper wire Four wires,
extending foot below the basket,
are fixed to each side Of the square
formed. The wires allow the cur
rent to pass off the wire gradually.
Complete protection is provided by
the device, Van Orman said. The
race Saturday will be the first in
which precautionary measures have
been used, he said.
Many other pilots, informed Of
the device by the Goodyear man. will
protect their lives in similar man
ner.
Aviation Exhibit Opened
The exhibits at the stadium. op-
ened yesterday. included airplane
motors, propeIlers and parts and
other things concerned with avia-
ton.
Today's program will include the
features Of the aero exhibit, plane
stunting and parachute jumping.
The placing and filling Of the ball
looms with hydrogen will start the
program Saturday. Most Of he aft
ternoon will be required to prepare
the bags for the flight.
W. A. Klikoff, pilot. and Thorn
valid Larsen, aid, flying a Detroit
Balloon Club bag, will start the race
at 5 o'clock eastern daylight saving
time. The other eleven entrants
will FO1TO-rr at