noon
They repaired to the Giddings home , and there , in true business form , a contract was drawn up and duly signed by all interested parties , with a notary 's seal attached . With a copy in their possession , the Ross boys hurried home , after having dinner with the Giddings family , to acquaint Mrs. Ross with the good news . As planned , the much-talked-of Air Derby around the world took place from Mineola Field , New York , on the 4th of July . A great crowd had been attracted , owing to the extensive accounts of the affair in the big newspapers for the past several months , and a thrilling hush fell over the assemblage as , at high noon , one after another of the famous flyers took off in various types of aircraft . There were four big dirigibles , two of which started to cross the Atlantic at once , while the others took a northerly course with the intention of making the final hop from St. John 's , Newfoundland , in accordance with several previous attempts of other aircraft . Besides these , seven heavier-than-air machines started , all making for Newfoundland also . Four of these were flying-boats , two were seaplanes , and the other was a double-propellered biplane .