Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21
WILL FLY TO CUBA
Navy Department Plans cover
Ocean" Flight.
SELECT McCURDY FOR TRIP
Will Be Real Test Of Aeroplane for
Military Use.
OFFER PRIZE OF $4,000
Torpedo Boats and Destroyers Will
Guide Aviator in His

Flying from Key West to Havana is
the next performance in which the Navy
Department is interested in connection
with the development of the aeroplane
for military use. 1t has been settled
that this flight will be attempted. j. A.
d. McCurdy. one of the Curtiss flyers,
has been Professionally selected to make
the attempt and the Navy Department
has issued orders placing the torpedo
squadron at Key West at his disposal
during the flight.
The attempt will be made during, the
coming meet at Havana for which prepa-
rations are now being made. The orders
of the Navy Department to the torpedo
commander are rather open, as it is not
desired to hamper him with very definite
instructions. He was told merely to give
all the assistance he could to the flight.
This means probably that there will be
a line of torpedo boats strung out be-
tween Key West and Havana for the
guidance of the aviator. 1t may not be
generally understood, but flying over the
water is one of the most difficult feats
up to date for an aeroplane. not but
that the air conditions as a rule are
more stable than over land, but it is
impossible to keep a given direction
without water marks to steer by.
When a Compass Is Useless.
1t is possible to fly by compass over
land, but when there is an air currept
over water and the distance is great
enough to make the aviator lose sight
of shore the compass is absolutely use
less. A wind will carry the aviator out
of his course and he may be flying due
south by compass and yet making as
much leeway as headway without Know
ing it. In the Key West to Havana
flight an aviator might start for Cuba
and steering by compass bring UP IN
Honduras.
The distance from Key West to Havana
is only ninety miles. but 1t Will De tne
longest flight yet made over water. Prob
ably three torpedo boats or desaroyerS
will be enough to point the way for the
airman, as he will be able to see hey
West for fifteen or twenty miles II tine
day Is clear, and can pick up torpeoo
boat ten miles ahead and will be in sight
of it during the rest of his flight.
1t was pointed out by the naval om-
Gals today that the passage between
Havana and Key West is particularly dif-
ficult, as there is a strong wind there
from the east most of the time. This will
tend to set the aviator westward On the
Cuban coast. One of the adjunctS of the
compass for q water flight OF this sort 10
the detector. used in wireless telegraphy.
that indicates the direction from which
wireless current is coming. This mas
never been utilized in flights SO far, but
there is a possibility that 1t may be 30
adapted.
Large Prize offered. i
The flight from Key West to Havana
will be worth something to the first man
who makes 1t. az there is a prize OF
$1,000 for the night in connection with
other prizes for the Havana meet.
Naval officers interested In aviation
were well pleased today by the perform
ance Wednesday OF Eugene Ely, also Of
the Curtiss team. who new from San
Francisco to the battleship Pennsylvania.
in the harbor, and back to the aviation
field. trip of twenty-six miles. with
stop Of one hour on the ship. Ely was
the aviator who November 13 few from
the scout cruiser Birmingham to the land
in Hampton roads. He had said he would
make q landing on warship next, ana
succeeded In doing SO.
Capt. w. I. Chambers Of the Navy De-
partment, who Is the expert Of the depart
ment on aeronautics. said of the flight:
I'VE were not so much interested In the
landing on the ship as the getting away
again. OF course we were glad to see 1t
done and 1t was q good fight, but when
ships come to carry aeroplanes as regu-
lar part of their equipment 1t Will al
ways be possible for an aviator to land on
the water in the lee Of a ship, II he has
an aeroplane equipped with pontoons. and
he can be taken aboard and his aeroplane
lifted out OF the water by derrick just
as Is q boat.
Opens Up Possibilities.
"But the flight establishes the posi-
bility of sending a messenger from land
to a ship and getting him back. This Is
important and opens up a wide range OF
possibilities"
The War Department is well satisfied
with the action Of the House in devoting
1925, 600 to the purchase of aeroplanes
This amendment to the military bill was
put through at the last moment by Rep
resentative Charles Mann of Illinois. He
was loaded with facts In relation to aero
nautics and while he was not q member
Of the military committee managed to put
the amendment through in the face OF
some small opposition.
It IL believed that the Senate will agree