The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-22

the Flight Is Considered One of the
Important Factors Start from New
foundland.
WASHINGTON, June 22.-Big Amer
lean air and seaplanes should soon be
flying across the Atlantic to reach the
front, Major General w. Brancker of
the British air ministry, said here yes
terday, in a formal statement to the
press. He is in Washington to cooper
ate with American aircraft officials
s'There is really no reason he said
''whv a considerable number of big air
planes and seaplanes should not cross
the Atlantic during next summer
General Brancker disclosed the fact
that the British air council had definite
~ decided upon transatlantic aircraft
flights in order to find a route for the
movement of American-made aircraft
| to the front. His mission in this city
has to do with arrangements for the
| pioneer flights, in which it is hoped the
| United States government will cooper
ate. 1t is expected this flight will be
made this autumn in machine of
British make, probably flying boat
starting from Newfoundland and touch
| ing at the Azores and Portugal before
arriving in Ireland 1t has been esti-
mated the trip can be made in 40 hours
of flying. Plans under consideration
call for crews of four men, composed of
an engineer, relief of pilots, and a
navigating officer.
General Braneker said the flight de-
pended upon three factors: Engine re-
liability, weather and successful wealth
er forecasting. In his conferences with
American officials, it has been deter
mined that very accurate forecasts of
made and the new British high power
Rolls Royce engine has fully demon
strated its reliability.
Either a flying boat or q large air
lplane equipped with two of these 375
Phorsephwer enginnsy he saDd 1weal, hare
ample engine power. for the trip, prob
ably at an average altitude of 5000
feet. Liberty motors are of higher
horsepower, but have not been used in
sufficient quantity as yet, in the opinion
VI DIItiSii oHicidIS. u HINT ttfIdtH VI
their reliability They are convinced
however, that by next year the motor
will have been learned so fully by oper.
ators and manufacturers that it will be
the machine relied upon to carry to
Europe the long grange bombing planes
of American manufacture upon which
the British are very largely relying il
the determinations TO carry bombing
raids to Berlin.
1t was also disclosed that the British
have recently developed new airplan,
engine which marks a greater stride for
ward in the single-seated combat ma
chimes than any previous development
1t is an aircooled "radialn engine
which greatly reduced the horsepowe
weight, and gives very high drivin:
power to combat machines. One o
these engines is expected to reach tn,
United States very soon
The new British fighting engine i
known to have attained a speed of IA
miles an hour and is believed to hav,
exceeded $50 miles an hour at an al
titude of 5000 feet. 1t has climbe,
$4,000 feet.
The sooner. pioneer proves the fiigh
not only is possible but comparativel,
safe, said General Brancker, the bette
can the wonderful resources of Ameri
ca be employed toward winning tn
war Once this has been established
America S output of big bombing ma
chimes can proceed to Europesby air AM
SO save the shipping that is invaluable
for other purposes.
He told of Great Britain struggl
both with production and administra
ton problems of the air forces, result
ing finally in the formation of the al
: ministry, of which he is member. TIL
attack on Germany by air, he said, al
ready had been definitely started. 81
will grow steadily he added, il
volume and efficiency. BY degrees a
the vital points in Germany will com
within our reach.