Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11
CURT|SS TO SEE
AIR TROPHY RACES
Donor to Occupy Seat OF
Honor at SeapIane Classic
Here May ~.

The stiffest competition for the Cur
tiss marine trophy in the Is years his
tory of this annual seaplane classic will
be witnessed on Saturday, May "a, at
the Anacostia Naval Air Station by
Glenn H. Curtiss, pioneer flyer and one
of the world leaders in aeronautics
donor of the trophy.
Mr.. Curtiss will occupy a seat OF
honor in the reviewing stand during the
review of more than $50 planes of the
aircraft SquadronS of the Battle Fleet
other special events and the five races
over a 100-mile course which will con-
stitute the competition for the Curtiss
trophy and other prizes.
Since the first competition for the
Curtiss trophy, in 1915, the event has
grown in Importance as an aeronautical
event. and this months race is to be
contested by Is planes, the largest entry
list ever sanctioned. Many of the
Nays most famous pilots will take
part.
Set Record in 1906.
Mr. Curtiss has been interested in
speed competitions since early man.
hood. In 1906 he established the world
record for the fastest mile ever travelled
on a motor cycle, covering the distance
in 26 Us seconds. His aeronautical ca
reer began soon after that Of the
Wright brothers and in 1907 he became
director of the Aerial Experiment As
ISOLATION of America. He won the in
ternational cup in the great aviation
meet at Rheims, France, in 1909.
This month marks the twentieth an
niversary of Mr.. CurtiSs' flight from
Albany to New York. which won him a
$4,000 prize for the first successful
long distance crosS-country airplane
flight. The anniversary is to be ma
tionally celebrated this month, with
governmental and private aviation lead
ers participating.
The Curtiss trophy, said to be the
handsomest and most costly marine fly
ing trophy ever offered in this country,
was donated in perpetuity by Mr.. Cur
tiss In 1911 to the Aero Club of Amer
lea, now the National Aeronautic AS
ISOLATION, to be competed for annually
by seaplanes and flying boats. Rules
for the competition are drawn annually
by the contest committee of the Ma
tional Aeronautic Association.
The first competition for the trophy
was flown in 1915 and it has been COM
peted for every year since except for a
three-year break caused by the World
War. For several years past the race
has been flown in the National Capital.
The course is laid out in an elongated
diamond shape. with one point at the
AnacoStia Naval Air Station, one on the
water front at Alexandria, Va; one 10
miles below Anacostia and one on the
Maryland shore opposite Alexandria.
Trophy Over Three Feet High.
The Curtiss trophy is emblematic OF
the triumph of wings over the sea and
air and is executed in sterling silver
being 3 feet 10 inches high and 2 feet
inches In diameter, resting on a base
OF onyx. flying boat is shown in
flight over the globe, supported on base
representing a storm-toSsed sea. Rising
from the sea on one side is Neptune
ruler Of the waves, who reaches in vain
for the plane, while on the other side
is Boreas, ruler of the winds, who blows
on the aircraft in q vain effort to up
set 1t. Vessels of all the ages are shown
enmeShed in Neptune's net
Though the oflcial handling Of tn,
race is intrusted to the National Aero.
nautic Association, under direction Of
Maj. Luke Christopher, secretary Of tn,
contest committee, arrangements fol
the show, competing planes and pilot,
Department has appointed an executive
committee, under Craftsmanship Of
Comdr. John Towers, assistant chief Of
the Navy Bureau Of Aeronautics, II
make these arrangements.
Comdr. Towers was commander o1
the first transatlantic flight attempt, ir
which four Navy Curtiss flying boats
designed and built by Mr.. 0Irtiss, at.
tempted the flight from Newfoundland
to Portugal by way of the Azores. One
of them, the NC-4, completed the trip
the first crossing Of the ocean by ar
aircraft. 1t Is a plane of this type
which is the crowning feature OF The
Curtiss trophy.