The Washington herald., 1918-06-22
BRANcKER, AIR HEAD,
HERE FROM LONDON
Announces Project, and
Baker and Henley
Are for 1t.
10 HOURS NEWFOUNDLAND
VIA AZORES TO FRANCE
Would Garry 4 Men and Fuel s.
900 Feet Up at 95 Miles (
An Hour.

British and American aeronau-
e teal experts believe swarms Of
American made airplanes will be
flown across the Atlantic to the
battle6elds of France next year.
The first of the huge seaplanes
are being prepared for the initial
test flight. 1t is hoped to make
the new record for continuous
overseas flight in September Of
this year. The first official an
nouncement of the undertaking
was made yesterday by Maj. Gen.
William Branckcr, comptroller
general of the equipment division
of the British royal flying forces,
who recently arrived in this coun-
try to consult with the American
aircraft producers.
Secretary Baker has conferred
with Gen. Branckcr on the plan
and yesterday said.
This plan for a transatlantic
flight is a very daring and tempt
ing speculation and anything the
War Department can do to help it
to a successful conclusion will be
done"
kenIey Confirms.
Mai. G-n. William L. Henley.
chicf OF the Aero-:autics Division
Of the Jnit-d .-Lt~s .rmy. con-
1iTmGd the sat .a.lt that the pro-
posed flight will be undertaken. He
said:
Il believe that the psycholsgiRst
effect upon tee c"-E-y and upon
our own psUp'c.- va.rh would fol- |
low a suc-c-S-u. tight by an army ,
or navy plCnr = .~.'s tie Atlantic, J
would be far i5-. atcr If the an
nouncement of t." sUcvessful ac-
complishment ci the undertaking
came as a sU1n ise.
1T Is true .GJ- r-e are planning
such a test. Ii. : J. pc that our eff
forts will TeCCit- -le, ii any. COM
ment until tE- at is an ac-
complishcd f. q ere are many
difficulties in the path. and it is
unfair to the puJac to arouse their
hopes falsely
Mai Gen BIanckcr said:
There are three problems Of par
amount impoI tance in achieving a
flight across the Atlantic. First,
We must have a strong machine
equipped with an engine which oan
be depended upon to run continu-
ously for forty hours. The machine
must be capable of carrying four
men and the necessary fuel. In
the second place. we must have good
weather. In the third place, we
must be able to predict with con-
siderable certainty the kind of
T weather We will meet
Weather Observations.
"After talking with the American
Federal C-.iI,rts, l am convinced that
We viii be able to meet the necessity
of correct weather forecasts. Observa-
tions are being taken and conditions
studied now. So far as the machine
capable of such a feat Is concerned
our estimates lead US to feel confident
that the machine will be produced.
The object of the flight is not
merely to gain an effect. 1t is to be
the forerunner. the proof positive, If
you please. that the idea of flying
our airplanes across the Atlantic is
would be of great value. 1t would
relieve much tonnage.
''It Is no secret that. IL we must de-
pend upon the tonnage in sight for
1913. the American factories will not
be called upon to produce their full
capacity Of aircraft, for the reason
that the aircraft can not be at once
shipped abroad, and by the time it did
reach the front, it would be out Of
date.
"The fact Is, however, that we are
going forward in planning the output
for 1913, with the view of flying the
craft across the Atlantic. II our avia-
tors can not fly the machines over, we
will have wasted much in overproduc-
tion- But we believe we are making
a safe gamble"
Praises Liberty Motor.
Gen. Brancker spoke in glowing
terms OF the performance of the Lib
erty motor on British testing fields. |
He said it was possible that the Lib |
erty motor might be brought to a |
point Of development where Il would
be possible to use one in the trahs- |
Atlantic fight to be tried this fall.
The present plan calls for the use of |
q Rolls-Royce engine, which has al |
ready proved itself one of the most
consistent performers Of the thirty |
or more types of engines produced in |
British factories.
According to indications, a huge sea-
plane, carrying several tons of gaso-
line. one American and one British |
mechanic, and a British and an |
American pilot VIII fly from New
foundland for the Azores.
The landing conditions for a land |
plane are not good in the Azores. |
but the harbors present excellent
places for alighting. 1t Is planned to |
equip the machine with two Rolls
Royce engines each capable of de-
Veloping about s7s horsepower.
II Is believed that with a favorine
wind q speed Of about ninety-fv.
miles an hour could be attained AT /
this rate from thirty to forty hours
would be necessary for the fifgbt
from Newfoundland. via the Azores.
to France. 1t Is assumed that the
machine could fly at an average
height Of 5000 feet while-it Is DOS
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