CHAPTER XXL 



MARVELS OF THE YEAR 1909. 



The year 1909 will stand out on the page of histories yet to be written as 

 the "Year of Marvels." Some of its deeds glow with a luster that fairly dims 

 the eye. Records have been broken in many fields of enterprise. Invention has 

 reached its highest level. 



All aviation records were broken at Rheims in August, 1909, although they 

 do not discount Louis Bleriot's achievement in flying across the British Channel 

 and the records of the Wright Brothers in America. Henry Farman, the French 

 aviator, flew the greatest distance ever covered during a continuous flight m 

 an aeroplane. This memorable flight, which is officially recorded as 118.06 

 miles was made August 23 last, in the remarkable time of three hours, four 

 minutes and 56 2-3 seconds. The actual distance of the flight, however, was 

 140 miles. This world-beating record won for Farman the $10,000 prize of- 

 fered by the Champagne district syndicate for the aviator who could cover the 

 greatest distance in the air. 



Glenn H. Curtiss, the sole American contestant, holds the world's record 

 for the fastest flight. He covered 18 3-5 miles in 23 minutes and 29 1-5 seconds, 

 or at a speed of nearly fifty miles an hour. This record won for him the In- 

 ternational Cup and $4,000. 



Louis Bleriot covered the course of 6 1-5 miles in 7 minutes and 47 4-5 

 seconds and Hubert Latham reached the greatest height— 490 feet. 



These records beat the records of Orville and Wilbur Wright but slightly. 

 Orville Wright remained aloft more than an hour on three different occasions 

 at Fort Myer while Wilbur Wright made a hundred miles in two hours and 

 eighteen minutes. Orville has met the United States Government's require- 

 ments by flying five miles and back in his aeroplane, carrying a passenger, at 

 an estimated speed of 42 miles an hour. For this achievement made on July 

 30, he and his brother were paid about $30,000, the Government having of- 

 fered $25,000 for an aeroplane that would carry a passenger at the rate of forty 

 miles an hour and a bonus of 10 per cent for each mile in addition to the 

 forty. 



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