Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-18
PORTE WILL FAIL,
BEACREY CLAIMS
Too Much Haste in the Expert
ments at Lake Keuka,
Noted Aviator Says.
(By LINCOLN BEAcHEY.1

| l hope they get across. For Their
own sakes, as we'll as for the sake OF
aviation in general, l hope Lieutenan,
Porte and his aide are successful in
crossing the Atlantic in the aeroplane
fight scheduled for the near future
but | don't believe they will be.
can see no termination to the an.
nouced attempt but fiasco or tragedy
have hesitated, have refrained
from making any statement regarding
the Porte venture. So insistent have
been my questioners, however, that
cannot longer dodge ar opinion.
And the opinion l am now going to
express is my absolutely honest belief
founded on my intimate knowledge
of practical aviation. Time-and a
very short time, too-will show wheth-
er am right or wrong.
If wrong, 1 will be glad of it. If
right, l will have no computations. /
believe that a very serious mistake
will be made if the fight Is even at
tempted-but / have my doubts If the
actual attempt will be made.
This is not a reflection on Lieuten-
ant Porte or anyone concerned in the
proposed fight; doubtless he and his
aides have been sincere in their ef-
forts and the information they have
given to the public. But believe that
the next week or two will prove to
them all that the transatlantic fight
is not at present feasible, that their
theories have failed in execution.
/ realize that in making this state
ment l lay myself liable to the charge
of egotism. But so dread this
Fighter this attempt-that 1 am
bound to speak my mind freely, if 1
speak at all. l myself would not at
tempt this flight for $1,000, o00-and
have spent 500 hours in the air where
Lieutenant Porte has spent one hour.
My prediction of failure is summar-
lied in a few words: The enormity
of the proposition has been under
rated-the preparations have been en-
tirely inadequate. This, briefly, is the
story.
/ do not believe that one aviator can
make the flight | do not believe that
the present machine, the America, is
capable of making the flight. l am
convinced that the attempt, IL made,
will only result in giving aviation a
terrible "wallop" in this country.
While l do not undervslue Lieuten-
ant Porte's ability as an aviator, l am
convinced that no man can perform
this feat, particularly a man of Lieuten-
ant Porte's improved caliber. Even
the assistant on the Ame- ca must be
far and away above the average as an
aviator.
1t is one thing to drive a machine
for 10 hours, Is hours, over stated
course over the land. 1t is an entirely
different thing to drive the machine
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 man is
faced with the endless expanse of
water, 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 i'm
portant of all is the necessity of the
pilot possessing an intimate knowledge
of navigation. | understand that Lieu
teLant Porte is hardly grounded in
the rudiments of this eXacting science.
which must be infallible once land is
lost sight of.
1 believe that the mental tension will
be more wearing than the physical
ta- of handling the wheel. / do not
believe that any man in the world can,
without training, stand the terrible
strain. Long and constant practice
alone can fit a man for such feat.
To be sure, Lieutenant Porte will
have with him a capable mechanician,
but he should have another seasoned
aviator, one who has stood the gait,
and who should alternate with him
in four or five hour tricks at the wheel.
He should have an experienced over
Frank Coffyn.
Those on the America will quickly
become accustomed to the roar of the
propeller, and absolute physical weari-
ness will induce-even force-sleep.
Observing Lieutenant Porte as a fell
low passenger on the Lusitania coming
from Europe last April, know him to
be susceptible to the wiles of Nor
pheus, to be inclined to drowsiness.
Frequently had difficulty in arousing
him from his deck chair slumbers to
go in to luncheon
Regarding the machine. there has
not been enough preparation. l be-
lieve that speed has been sacrlrlceo
too much to sustaining power. The
machine that successfully flies across
the Atlantic will, 1 believe. be one that
will travel like a blue Ctreak, that will
not falter.
The America has been constructed
In a hurry. Building a great automo- |
bile, bringing forth a splendid breed OF
dogs, even the gentleman OF highest |
is a performances of PRO |
gressive destruction" The first types, |
weak and insufficient, must be done |
away with.
Their successors must contain none |
Of these weaknesses. Their strength |
OHo11~O