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race ever held in the United States was started from
New York City on August 5； and finished in Philadelphia the
same day。 The prize of 5；000 was offered by a commercial
concern with stores in the two cities： Three entrants competed
from the Curtiss Exhibition Company。 The distance
was approximately 83 miles and won by L。 Beachey in a
Curtiss machine in 1h。 50m。 at an average speed of 45 miles
per hour。
Tri…State Race。The tri…state race was the feature event
of the Harvard Aviation Society meet held at Squantum；
Mass。； August 26 to September 6。 It was held Labor Day；
September 4； over a course of 174 miles； from Boston to
Nashua to Worcester to Providence to Boston。 Four competitors
started； of which two finished； the winner； E。 Ovington；
in a Bleriot machine。 Ovington's net flying time； 3h。 6m。
22 1…5s。 Winner's prize； 10；000。
AEROPLANES AND DIRIGIBLE BALLOONS IN WARFARE。
Wonderful progress has been made in the development of
the aeroplane in this country and in Europe since 1903； and
within the last two or three years the leading powers of the
world have entered upon extensive tests and experiments to
determine its availability and usefulness in land and naval
warfare。
At the present time all the great powers are building or
purchasing aeroplanes on an extensive scale。 They have
established government schools for the instruction of their
army and navy officers and for experimental work。 So…called
〃Airship Fleets〃 have been constructed and placed in commission
as auxiliaries to the armies and navies。 The fleets
of France and Germany are about equal and are larger by
far than those of any of the other powers。 The length of the
dirigibles composing these fleets runs from 150 to 500 feet；
they are equipped with engines of from 50 to 500 horse…power；
with a rate of speed ranging from 20 to 30 miles per hour。
Their approximate range is from 200 to 900 miles； the longest
actual run （made by the Zeppelin II； Germany） is 800 miles。
A British naval airship； one of the largest yet built； was
completed last summer。 It has cost over 200；000； and it was
in course of designing and construction two years。 It is 510
feet long； can carry 22 persons； and has a lift of 21 tons。
The relative value of the dirigible balloon and the aeroplane
in actual war is yet to be determined。 The dirigible
is considered to be the safer； yet several large balloons of this
class in Germany and France have met with disaster； involving
loss of lives。 The capacity of the dirigible for longer
flights and its superior facilities for carrying apparatus and
operators for wireless telegraphy are distinct advantages。
There has not yet been much opportunity to test the airship
in actual warfare。 The aeroplane has been used by the
Italians in Tripoli for scouting and reconnoitering and is said
to have justified expectations。 On several occasions the Italian
military aviators followed the movements of the enemy； in
one instance as far as forty miles inland。 At the time of the
attack by the Turks a skillful aeroplane reconnaissance revealed
the approach of a large Turkish force； believed to be at
the time sixty miles away in the mountains。
Aeroplanes and airships； as they exist today； would doubtless
render very valuable service in a time of war； both over
land and water； in scouting； reconnoitering； carrying dispatches；
and as some experts believe； in locating submarines
and mines placed by the enemy in channels of exits from ports。
A 〃coast aeroplane〃 could fly out 30 or 40 miles from land。
and rising to a great height； descry any hostile ships on the
distant horizon； observe their number； strength； formation and
direction； and return within two hours with a report to obtain
which would require several swift torpedo…boat destroyers
and a much greater time。 The question as to whether it
would be practicable to bombard an enemy on land or sea
with explosive bombs dropped or discharged from flying machines
or airships； is one which is much discussed but hardly
yet determined。
Aeroplanes have been constructed with floats in the place
of runners and several attempts have been made； in some
cases successfully； to light with them on and to rise from the
water。 Mr。 Curtiss did this at San Francisco； in January；
1911。 Attempts have also been made with the aeroplane to
alight on and to take flight from the deck of a warship。 Toward
the end of 1910 Aviator Ely flew to land from the
cruiser Birmingham； and in January； 1911； he flew from land
and alighted on the cruiser Pennsylvania。 But in these cases
special arrangements were made which would be hardly practicable
in a time of actual war。
In November； 1911； a test was made at Newport； R。 I。； by
Lieut。 Rodgers； of the navy； of a 〃hydro…areoplane〃 as an
auxiliary to a battleship。 The idea of the test was to alight
alongside of the ship； hoist the machine aboard； put out to sea
and launch the machine again with the use of a crane。 Lieut。
Rodgers came down smoothly alongside the Ohio； his machine
was easily drawn aboard with a crane； and the Ohio steamed
down to the open sea； where it was blowing half a gale。 But；
owing to the misjudgment of the ship's headway； one of the
wings of the machine when it struck the water after being
released from the crane； went under the water and was
snapped off。 Lieut。 Rodgers was convinced that this method
was too risky and that some other must be devised。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
GLOSSARY OF AERONAUTICAL TERMS。
Aerodrome。Literally a machine that runs in the air。
Aerofoil。The advancing transverse section of an aeroplane。
Aeroplane。A flying machine of the glider pattern；
used in contra…distinction to a dirigible balloon。
Aeronaut。A person who travels in the air。
Aerostat。A machine sustaining weight in the air。 A
balloon is an aerostat。
Aerostatic。Pertaining to suspension in the air； the
art of aerial navigation。
Ailerons。Small stabilizing planes attached to the main
planes to assist in preserving equilibrium。
Angle of Incidence。Angle formed by making comparison
with a perpendicular line or body。
Angle of Inclination。Angle at which a flying machine
rises。 This angle； like that of incidence； is obtained
by comparison with an upright； or perpendicular line。
Auxiliary Planes。Minor plane surfaces； used in conjunction
with the main planes for stabilizing purposes。
Biplane。A flying…machine of the glider type with two
surface planes。
Blade Twist。The angle of twist or curvature on a
propeller blade。
Cambered。Curve or arch in plane； or wing from port
to starboard。
Chassis。The under framework of a flying machine； the
framework of the lower plane。
Control。System by which the rudders and stabilizing
planes are manipulated。
Dihedral。Having two sides and set at an angle； like
dihedral planes； or dihedral propeller blades。
Dirigible。Obed