Evening star., 1936-04-25
KING WILL SEEK
NEW SPEED MARK
Sportsman Flyer Will Try
to Better 500-KiIometer
Mark.

Ben King, Washington sportsman
pilot, who apparently established his
seventh world aviation record in less
than a year when he climbed to an
indicated altitude of more than $4,000
feet above Langley Field, Va, yester-
day in a tiny 438-pound landplane, is
expected to establish another world
mark tomorrow in the same plane.
The Associated Press reported that
King today is tuning up the little
Aeronca monoplane for an attempt
at the 500-kilometer (310.68-mile)
speed record for light airplanes OF
class c, fourth category, weighing
empty less than 200 kilograms. or
440 90 pounds. King will fly over the
measured record course between Lang
ley Field and Barrett's Point. Neither
international nor national records
have been established.
Will Put U. S. in Lead.
The National Aeronautic Associa-
ton announced today that II the alti-
tude mark established yesterday by
the 45-year old sportsman flyer proves
to be a new world record. it will put
the United States ahead Of France
by eight records in the race for world
aviation supremacy.
Before Kings flight yesterday the
standing was: United States, A rec
ords: France, SO; Italy, %; Germany
and Poland, 8 each, and Great
Britain, l. Kings flight yesterday
would increase the standing Of the
United States to As and cut Frances
number to 81. If King should estab-
lish another new record tomorrow
the standings will read: United States,
46; France, 81.
Barograph to Be Checked.
The barograph carried by King will
be brought here for celebration by the
Bureau of Standards to determine
whether King exceeded by the neces-
sary margin the existing world record
of 1907 feet established in France OH
September S, 1929, by G. Fauvel. Rules
of the Federation Aeronautique Inter
rationale require that this mark must
be exceeded by 200 meters, or 656, ,l66
feet, before an official new world mark
can be recognized.
The United States record for planes
of this type exceeds the world record
but not by the necessary 200 meters
King telephoned his wife immediate
1y after the flight and told her that, or
the basis of the altimeter reading al
the top of his climb, he believed he
had exceeded the 17,693166 feet re-
quired for new world mark. She
left Washington late yesterday to Join
him at Norfolk.
Climbed Over an Hour.
King reported by telephone that he
took off from Langley Field at 1851
pm. yesterday and climbed for one
hour and % minutes. He took SO
minutes to return to the ground, land
ing at 2:52 pm.
An engineer by profession, King
took up flying as a sport. Last JUNE
he began his sensational assault or
world records for light airplanes anc
put the United States in a position
of world leadership over France on
June 20, when he captured his thirc
world record within a month. France
later in the season regained her lead.
ership despite Kings seaplane altitude
record at Anacostia late in September
The lead was regained for the United
States last December, when King
established two new world records for
small Seaplanes, at Miami
King Is treasurer of the National
Aeronautical Association and is active
In affairs Of the Sportsman Pilots As
sociation, Of which he was elected
treasurer last year. He is local gov
ernor for the association.