The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-24
NAVY AVIATORS HERE
TOPLAN SEA FLIGHT
Lieut.. Towers and Lieut.. Porte
TO Confer With Wana-
maker and Curtiss.
PATENT DECISION FACTOR
photographic Office Lays Out
Best Courses for
"The Sum-

Lieut.. John H. Towers. L. :. ~, who
has been mentioned as the American aNia-
tor who probably will fly the Rodman
wanamaker transatlantic flying boat
with Lieut.. John Cyril Porte OF England.
arrived in New York yesterday for a con-
ference with Mr.. Wanamaker and Glenn
II. Curtiss, who is building the fiier.
Lieut.. Porte Is passenger on the Car
mania OF the Cunard Line. which arrived
at Quarantine last night. After the con-
ference with Mr. wanamaker Mr. Curtiss
will take the two aviators to his factory
at Hammondsport, n. T.. where they will
90 over the structural details OF the ma
chine
The Wright patent decision. which prac-
tically gives the Wright Company
monopoly OF the aeroplane industry In the
United states, continues to be source Of
great concern to those interested In avia-
ton An official OF the Aero Club Of
America said yesterday that Il was UNI
likely that the club would sanction any
flying event until after a definite decision
as to royalties was reached by the Wright
Company.
An associate Of Glenn II. Curtiss. who
was one Of the defendants In the recent
litigation. said last night that Mr.. Curtiss
would be willing TO pay almost any roy
atty asked by the Wright Company In Or
der to be allowed to continue the manu-
facture OF the flying boat he has perfected.
Henry Woodhouse. publisher OF Fivin0.
believes the Wrights will grant privileges
to make, sell and ny machines under rea-
sonable royalties.
1.-THE logical policy OF the Wrights from
"a financial point Of view lie said. rs to
do what they can to develop the industry
by making their conditions easy as
possible"
II Is expected that n definite decision
about terms will be reached at a meeting
OF the Wright Company To be held Ia New
York this week.
The trip to New York Of Lieut. Towers.
who heads the navy aviation camp al,
Pensacola, Fla. was taken by members
Of the Aero Club to indicate that the Navy
Department was interested in the event
AMI would not deny permission Tor Lieut.
Towers to make the flight.
The Lieutenant laughed NJ the talk that
overocean flyers would lose their 1ay.
by flying low at an altitude OF not over
1000 feet, lie said. the drift of an aircraft
can be calculated almost AS easily as the
drift: Of an ocean liner. 1t Is done by wha,
the sailors cal dead reckoning" Al
1000 fee. and above the skyline IL lost
IN the mist, according 20 Lieut.. Towers.
| SO that Il Is even impossible TO see the out
| lines OF ships against It.
Thus Il would seem II Lieut.. Towers IL
chosen to navigate the Wanauiaker hier
! In the flight for the Lord Northcliffe prize
ne will favor flying ABOUT 1000 feet above
sea level instead OF 10000 feet as was
at first thought most feasible by Glenn IL
Curt!ss.
At the request OF THE SUN the Hydro
graphic ONCE OF the Navy Department.
has investigated the conditions ~ the
course over which II Is proposed TO ny
the Wanamaker-Cur boat from New
foundland TO the coast OF Ireland The
investigation was made under tile direc-
ton Of Capt. George G. Cooper. United
States navy photographer. His letter to
THE SuN says:
The shortest track Is from Middle Hul.
Cape Free,s. Newfoundland. TO Achill
4 Head. Ireland, 1910 nautical miles or 1854
statute miles. This Is the shortest dis
lance computed along the Great Circle.
The coast at Cape Freels is low and rocky.
and the sea freezes there between January
and February I. the ice remaining until
May and sometimes as late as June.
Foreign vessels enter only between June
and December. There Is no Information
at hand regarding the availability OF
supplies, from Wnlcn II Is iHt"TTeu tndt
none are obtainable.
THE next shortest track Is from Cape
Bonay.sta Newfoundland. to Achill Head,
81 nautical miles or 1855 statute miles
physical conditions similar TO. those at
Cage Frcels.
''rhe third track Is from Cape Spear,
Newfoundland. TO Dunmore Head ireland,
distance 1851 nautical or ISIS statute
miles Although this Is trine Longer,
/, is more 10 be recommended for the
reason that Cape Spear is close 10 the
harbor OF ~. Johns. where the coast has a
moderate height, the harbor IL rarely
frozen over In winter for more than a
week and navigation Is scarcely ever In
;errupted either by Tee or 10y fog and
supplies OF every kind are always obtain
able"
Hugh c. Fuller OF the Royal Fly'rr
Corps OF Great Britain, Who is in this
country on a six months leave. was n
q vIsitnr AT tho Aero Club vsSre rdaN