The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-13
SAYS FLIGHT TO
 EUROPE WILL BE A FRISCO

Lincoln Beachey, the veteran aviator says that Lieutenant Portes attempt to cross the Atlantic is a monumental joke He dubs the adventure a fool hardy one and says that neither Porte nor his assistant knows anything about a journey in the air. The nervous strain will kill the aviators if nothing else 'I myself would not attempt this flight for million dollars" Beachey states
 T hope they get across for their own sakes as well as for the sake of avia- ton in general. hope Lieutenant Porte and his aide are successful in crossing the Atlantic in the aeroplane flight scheduled for the near future but don't believe they will be. I can see no termination to the announced attempt but fiasco or tragedy
 T have hesitated, have refraned, from making any statement regarding the Porte venture. So insistent have been my questioners, however, that cannot longer dodge an opnion
 And the opnion I am now going to express is my absolutely honest belief '-founded on my intimate knowledge of practical aviation.
 T believe that a very serious mis- take will be made if the flight is even attempted, but I have my doubts if the actual attempt will be made.
 This Is not reflection on Lieuten- ant Porte or anyone concerned in the proposed flight: doubtless he and his aides have been sincere in their ef- forts and the information they have given n T the next week or two will prove to them all that the transatlantic flight is not at present feasible, that their theories have failed in execution.
 T realize that in making this state ment l lay myself liable to the charge of egotism. But l so dread this flight -or this attempt-that I am bound to speak my mind freely, if speak at all. myself would not attempt this flight for million dollars-and l have spent 300 hours in the air where Lieutenant Porte has spent one hour
 My prediction of failure is sum marized In a few words: The enormity of the proposition has been underrated the preparations have been entirely inadequate. This, briefly, is the story.
 T do not believe that one aviator can make the flight. I do not believe that the present machine, the America" is capable of making the flight am con vinced that the attempt, if made, will only result in giving aviation a ter rible 'wallop' in this country.
 While l do not undervalue Lieuten- ant Porte's ability as an aviator. am convinced that no one man can perform this feat, particularly man of Lieutenant Porte's improved caliber. Even the assistant on the 'America' must be far and away above the aver age as an aviator.
 Tt is one thing to drive a machine for 10 hours Is hours. over a stated course over the land It is an entirely over water, over the boundless ocean, for that length of time
 'In the first instance, the aviator is always in sight of good old mother earth In the other, when d man is faced with the endless expanse of wa ter. out of sight of land. the loneli- ness, the sense of helplessness, will be awful. The very enormity of nature will be overwhelming. And most important of all Is the necessity of the pilot pos sessing an intimate knowledge of nav ieaton. I understand that Lieutenant Porte Is hardly grounded in the rudi- ments of this exacting science which must be infallible once land Is lost sight of.
 .T believe that the mental tension will be more wearing than the physical tax of handling the wheel l do not believe
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