Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-13
lBy Lincoln Beachey.l

! own sakes, as well as for the sake OF
aviation in general. l hope Lieutenant
Porte and his aid are successful in
crossing the Atlantic in the aeroplane
flight scheduled for the near future
but don't believe they will be. CAN
see no termination to the announced
attempt but tiasco or tragedy.
have hesitated, have refrained, from
making any statement regarding the
Porte venture. So insistent have been
my questioners, however, that l can
not longer dodge an 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 very
short time too-will show whether
am right or wrong.
If wrong, l will be glad of it. If right.
will have no computations. l believe
that very serious mistake will De
| made if the fight is even attempted
but l have my doubts if the actual at
tempt will be made.
This is not reflection on Lieutenant
Porte or anyone concerned in the pro.
posed flight; doubtless he and his aides
have been sincere in their efforts ana
the information they have given to the
public But | believe that the next week
or two will prove to them all that the
trans Atlantic fight is not at present
feasible, that their theories have failed
in execution.
l realize that in making this state
ment l lay myself liable to the charge
of egotism. But SO dread this flight
or this attempt-that l am bound TO
speak my mind freely, if l speak at all.
my self would not attempt this flight
f1y, Jo11a ND haU cnant
five hundred 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 underrated-
the preparations have been entirely in
adequate. This, briefly, is the story.
l do not believe that one aviator can
make the flight. / do not believe that
the present machine, the America, is
capable Of making the fight. l am con-
WINGED that the attempt, If made, will
only result in giving aviation a terrible
"wallop" in this country.
While l do not undervalue Lieuten-
ant Portes ability as an aviator. | am
convinced that no one man can perform
this feat, particularly a man of Lieu
tenant Porte's improved caliber. Even
the assistant on the America" must
he far and away above the average as
an aviator.
II is one thing to drive a machine
for ten hours, fifteen hours, over
stated course over the land. 1t Is an
entirely different thing to drive this
machine over water, over the bound
less ocean, for that length of time.
In the first instance the aviator is
always in sight of good old Mother
faced with the endless expanse OF wa
ter out of sight of land, the loneii-
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 knowl-
edge of navigation. Il understand that
Lieut. Porte is hardly grounded in the
rudiments of this eXacting science,
which must be infallible once land is
/ lost sight of.
believe that the mental tension
will be more wearing than the physlcal
tax of handling the wheel. do not
believe that any man in the world cah'
| without training, stand the terrloie
| strain. Long and constant practice
! alone can fit man for such a feat.
| To be sure. Lieut. Porte will have
+! with him a capable mechanician. out
/ ne should have another seasoned avn
+, ator one who has stood the gan, anu
who should alternate with him In Tour
I or five hour tricks at the wheel. ne
! should have an experienced over
water aviator, like either Charlie WIT
/ mer or Frank Coffyn.
Those on the America" will quickly
become accustomed to the roar OF the
propeller, AID absolute physical Wearl-
ness will nduce-even force>sleeP.
Observing Lieutenant Pore as TEL
/ Il " passenger on the Lulsitania COT
i,g from L,:,ope last Apr. know AIN
| to be susceptible to the wiles O.
Morpheus. to be inclined 20 dfo"slA
ness. Frequently I 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 De-
lieve that speed has been sacrificed too
much to sustaining power. The ma
chine that successfully flies across the
4 Atlantic will, l believe. be one that
will travel lige a blue streak, that VIII
not falter.
The America" has been constructed
In a hurry. Building great automo :
Dlle, bringing IOrtH d SplSi.uiu DiSSO
of dogs even the gentleman of highest
, civilization IS a performance of pro-
gressive destruction" The first types
weak and insufficient must be done
away with Their successors must con-
tain none of these weaknesses. Ihelr
strength is strengthened, their weak
, ness banished wherever real progress
is shown, but it is only by actual tests
and comparisons that these strong and
weak points are determined, and the
l"America" has never been given even
half hearted real tryout.
One does not have to conf1ne him
self to matters of the air to form q
conclusion regarding durability. Take
automobiles, instead. For two years
our leading automobile builders have
; failed to produce car for the Indian
apolis 500-mile race capable of goine
/, the entire distance in close competition
with foreigners. The home produc,
> gives evidence of speed and durability
. for while, but stop at the pits. FOL
even slight repair, is always sooner
or later necessary. And a stop at the
pits in a motor race is vastly different
from a drop into the ocean THOUSAND
!" miles from land. There are no pits
- in mid Atlantic.
What If this trans Atlantic Amer
. lea" has great sustaining power? VIVA
If it is able to lift from Lake keuka
;. All Of that enormous planning surface