The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-18
Ready for Great
Flight Across Atlantic

Preliminary flights in the Rodman
Wanamaker flying boat, in which
. Lieut.. John Cyril Porte expects to fly
across the Atlantic. have convinced
the Irish aviator that the trip will be
successful. The air craft was built
under the personal direction of Lieut.
Porte and Glenn Curtis for the special
trip from Newfoundland to Ireland.
Its equipment and design throughout
was worked out to meet the needs OF
such a journey.
All doubt as to the attempt being
made has been quoted; now the spe-
culation has turned to the chances for
success. Those who have studied the
flyer, with it's two 100 horsepower mo-
tors, each operating an independent
propeller, admit that there is every
chance of Lieut.. Porte succeeding.
The machine Is provided with every
necessity for a long ocean flight, but
nothing that cannot be Classed as be-
ing necessary to the success of such
an enterprise has been added. Since
his arrival in. America, the retired
British Naval officer has made a very
good impression. His fearleSSneSS
determination and thorough knOWl-
edge of the game has won him many
admirers. He has driven a Curtis
~aeroplane in Europe and has had years
of experience in aviation.
If the trip is successful the aviator
will win the Lord NOrthCliffe prize of
$4,000 for the first aerOplane crossing
the Atlantic, and the S., 200 and silver
cup offered by Mrs. Victoria Woodruff
Martin of the Woman's Aerial League
Of Great Britain. Under the terms Of
the Lord NOrthcliffe prize the flight
must be completed within seventy
two hours. This condition is not WOr-
rying Lieut.. Porte. for he had repeat
eddy declared that the trip can be
made in less than half that time.
Great satisfaction was expressed
when Lieut.. Porte decided to use a
Curtis stock flying boat, equipped
with two motors instead Of one, there
by substituting the regular machine
for the experimental design first sug-
gested. The original desiCn which
called for one motor Of zoo horsepower
was half completed before work on it
was stopped by Mr.. W~anamaker.
Lieut.. Porte made a thorough i%nVesti-
cation of Sikorsky's giant biplane on
his recent trip to Europe, which re-
suited in the plans for the new ma
chine. The fact that the stock flying
boat has had innumerable tests to
demonstrate its efficiency and consist
enCy Influenced the aviator in his de-
cision.
The motors Of the new machine are
balanced between the wings on each
side of the hull. Both engines will be
needed to lift the machine from the
water, Lieut.. Porte states. but if dur
ing the flight one Of them should re-
fuse to work. the craft would maintain
its equilibrium and continue to fly
with one engine and one propeller. The
other engine could be repaired in flight.
Every precautiOn has been taken
against accidents. Neither Mr.. Cur
tbs or Lieut.. Porte believe serious in
jury would result wen if the ma
chine should drop in midocean.
The Wanamaker machine does not
differ greatly from the regular type Of
flying boat. 1t is but little larger and
would pass unnotiCed among the other
flying boats at the Curtis institution
were it not for the little cabin cover-
ing owe the cockpit to prevent the ma
chine from being swamped in the event
of an enforced landing in midocean.
The hull is constructed of light wood
covered with V Painted bright
red, the machine can be seen from a
great distance, both on the water and
when in the air. Lieut.. Porte has ar
ranged for a new type of smoke pot
TO be used for signalling by day and
red fire signals for use at night.
The motors will drive the propeIIers
at a maximum speed Of 1850 revolu-
tions a minute. The biplane wings of
silk have a spread Of seventy-two feet,
or more than twice that of an ordin-
airy two-man machine. The enclosed
pilot house is large enough in which
to move, about.
The total length of the hull is thirty
feet, with a depth of six feet and a
beam Of five feet. The gasoline tanks,