New Record in Aviation.

Progress, Volume III, Issue 9, 1 July 1908, Page 309

New Record in Aviation.

There is news of capital importance in the science of aviation. A considerable step in advance has been made. On April 12th at Issy les Molineaux, which is becoming the Champs de Mars of the victories of the modern aeroplane, M. Delagrange, the sculptor, beat all up-to-date records of flight in an apparatus heavier than air, by making at least 10 kilometers without a hitch . When he alighted after going round the marked circuit seven times, it was not because of an accident but because he was absolutely exhausted. " The working of my balancer and of my rudder ", he said, "is excessively fatiguing, and I shall have to get up my biceps before dreaming of accomplishing 20 or 30 kilometers." When it is said the flight was made

without a hitch it should, neveitheless be observed, that after some two minutes, at about 12ft. above the soil, M. Delagrauge slightly touched the ground with the left wheel of his machine as he was rounding one ot the posts. A similar thing happened on the third round. vStrictly speaking, the flight ought perhaps, therefore, to be divided into three separate parts. The second part would however, even on this basis suffice to give M. Delagrauge the record. M. Farman made 2,004 meters in Bmin. 31sec, and his rival covered 3,925 meters in 6min. 30sec. These figures, moreover, are measured only from post to post, and do not include the cuives in making the turning. The total flight lasted 9min. 15sec. These figures were officially checked by the representatives ot the French Aero Club. M. Delagrange's machine is piovided with the

same kind of motor as M. Farman employed, a 40-horse power light cylinder Antoinette.

Later. Another feat by the same aeronaut was chronicled by cable on May 31 from Paris : M. Delagrange, in the presence of members of the aeronautical societies of France and Italy, ten times circled the Place d'Armes, Paris, in his airship at a height of from 13 feet to 25 feet, in fifteen minutes twenty-six seconds, covering 12,750 yards, and securing a prize of £1600. This is 7 l-3rd miles, at 30 miles an hour.

Later Still. M. Delagrange flew 9.14 miles at Milan in 16J minutes — about 27 miles an hour. Count Zeppelin has brought out a new airship, 450 ft. long, for Germany. Under date June 10th, the cable records a thrilling experience of tvt o lady parachutists at Lonton, Staffordshire. They got entangled in the cordage of their balloon, one got her parachute clear at a height of 11,000 feet, the other iumped for that parachute, and both came down to earth none the worse.