Evening star., 1916-05-07
AVIATION RECORDS
At NEWPORT NEWS
ConcIusiveIy Shown There Is
Aircraft Adequate to Carry
5000 Pounds of Mail.

When world aviation records were es-
tabIished before their ewes for endur-
ance. speed. distance and altitude for
hydroaeroplane carrying pilot and six
passengers. it was an object lesson, in
the unlimited possibilities of aviation,
for members of the interstate and for
eisn commerce committee of the House
of Representatives, who journeyed to
the Curtiss aviation camp at Newport
News last Sunday. Besides these ac-
complishments. they were permitted to
witness-as long as the eye could fol-
low the flight into the zenth--a new
military aeroplane. carrying pilot and
one passenger, climb almost straight up
about three and one-eighth miles, or
exactly 16,500 feet. establishing world
altitude record As If this were not
enough for one day, the aerial stunt
of 'loop-the-loop" was going on as the
visitors gazed skyward. and there were
seven machines in the air at one time
1t was fairly conclusive demonstra-
tion that there is in existence an air
craft big enough and efficient enough
to carry 5000 pounds of mail. the
maximum set by the Post once De-
partment in calling for bids May IL for
the flying mail proposals on seven
aerial mail routes in Alaska and one III
Massa chusetts. 1t was demonstration
lndC tneTe Is Il nyuTCdtTOpldHc Cdpd
of going to sea out of sight of land to
answer calls from vessels in distress.
The members of the committee were
especially interested in the flight of the
big Curtiss hydroaeroplane-one of the
largest ever built and a development
and improvement on the machine built
for the proposed Wanamaker trans
atlantic flight. To this committee has
been referred the Montague bill, pro-
posing the establishment of an aerial
fleet for coast guard activities in saw
ing life and property at sea and as a
measure of preparedness in event. of
war. AT the Curtiss aviation camp have
begun tests of the relations Of the art
of aviation to coast guard activities. to
which Second Lieutenant of Engineers
Norman Il. Hall. coast guard, has been
assigned as coast guard observer.
Officials Present.
Lieut. Hall was on the ground. With
the congressional party were Acting
Secretary Byron r. Newton of the
Treasury Department. and Capt E. p
Bertholf. commandant, and Capt c. A.
McAllister, chief engineer, coast guard.
There Joined the party Capt. Benjamin
H. Chiswell, commanding the coast
guard cutter Onondaga, who is enthu-
siastic for an aeroplane service as an
adjunct of the coast guard: Capt
Thomas. L. S. ". photographer at New
port News, who has shown great inter-
est with Capt. Chiswell in working out
plans: Capt Thomas Scott Baldwin,
veteran aeronaut, in charge of the av-
iation camp, and others.
Capt. Bertholf. piloted by Aviator
Walter Lees, made a een-minute
flight in Curtiss flying boat" rising
J. F. Hotel and First Lieut.. M. n.
Usns, both coast guard officers, were
permitted to take the aerial flights in
the same machine. 1t was Capt Bert
GTa in oir
convinced him that flying is a science
so developed that its dangers are fast
becoming negligible and its possibili
ties beyond the range of immediate
speculation.
The big hydroaeroplane was put into
the water and towed a considerable
distance into Hampton roads to insure
a clear getaway in rising. Lieut.. Hall.
the coast guard observer. was one of
the passengers. Theodore McCauley,
skilled aviator. was pilot
Propelled by Double Engines.
The great double engines were set
going, the seanane moved forward
through the water scattering spray
the rapidly revolving propellers kicS-
ing up gale in their wake. Gaining
speed, the craft rose from the water
floating on air. and gradually ascend.
ed to nearly 1000 feet At that level
the flight was continued until the air
craft was out OF sight, going north up
Hampton roads.
The ease with which the vessel per
formed the duty asked of her made her
return hardly spectacular. She hove in
sight after the elapse OF time, finally
oipping her nose and descending grace
fuliy and easily into the water. She
nad been as far as the York river, more
than forty miles away, without rnishap
or notable incident
The time elapsed-10 minutes-was a
Sorlo duration record: the course
coVered-6S miles-was a worlds dis
tance record; the distance covered in
the time-ss miles in 20 minutes-was
a worlds speed record: the height at
talned-S50 feet in air-was an Ameri-
can altitude record established without
effort.
As an endurance test the trial was
FULLY successful. There was enough
gasoline in the tank to have carried
the seaplane fifteen more minutes
With the surplus load converted into
5,lOo pounds Of gasoline-and the big
craft will carry 300 pounds extra
weight-the voyage from Newfound-
land TO the Azores a distance of / 900
miles. could be made.
Carlstrom's Altitude Record.
The b;plane with which Victor Carl
stro1n. pilot, carrying passenger,
made MS altitude flight and record is