The sun., 1918-06-22
WAR PLANES TO
FLY TO FRANCE
Prediction Of Ocean Flights
Next Summer Made by
Gen. Brancker.
TEST MAY BE MADE SOON
British Expert Believes Trip
Can Be Done in Forty
Hours.
Special Despdtch to The SuN.

WASHINGTON. June 21.-American air
planes. destined for the European battle
areas. Will make the transatlantic flight
from here under their own power next
summer. A test flight across the ocean
may be made within a few months.
This was the prediction made to-day
by Major-Gen. William Brancker, the
British Air Ministry's Controller OF
Equipment and recognized authority
on military aeronnutics.
Gen. Brancker ventured his prediction
In talk on the general subject OF mill
tary aviation here and abroad. II was
made carefully and deliberately as be-
coming an 'oficial whose position in
Great Britain Is similar to the one held
by John .. Ryan for the American Gov
ernment. The experience which this
British General has had in guiding his
country's air programme to practical
results lends ac3ed weight to his pre-
diction.
No Spectacular Plan.
Gen. Brancker made it clear that there
vas no idea OF a spectacular trans
atlantic flight involved The plan Is
based on the practical proposition OF
getting American airplanes of the heav-
ier type to the battle zones without los
ing time and without taking up tine
valuable space required to ship them
overseas
In brief. the plan Is for a four pas
senger high powered machine to make
the flight between the two continents
at approximately eighty five miles an
hour This would mean about forty
hours for the entire trip. The routes
suggested are from Newfoundland direct
to the coaht Of Ireland or to the Azores
and from there to France. 1t Is cal
culated that $50 horsepower. which
could be obtained by combination Of
engines must be developed to assure the
overseas flight.
Gen. Branckers prophecy attracted
immediate attention at the War Depart
mcnt. Secretary Baker characterized
the plan as very daring" and made It
clear that the War Department would
cooperate in every way to facilitate
and stimulate the success Of the en-
terprise.
Must he Carried Out.
AN enterprise which must be carried
out as soon as possible" Major-Gen.
Brancker said In his talk. "is the flight
across the Atlantic. Once this has been
established Americas output of big
bombing machines can proceed to Eu-
rope by air and so save the shipping
that is so invaluable for other purposes.
This may seem like a wild statement,
but we must remember that in 1914 the
flight of the English Channel was con-
sidered a wonderful and dangerous per-
formance. There Is really no reason
why a considerable number of big air
planes and seaplanes should not cross
the Atlantic during next summer and
the earlier that a pioneer proves the
flight not only to be possible but COM
derful resources of America be employed
toward winning the war;
In his general discussion of military
aeronautics here and abroad Gen.
Brancker brought out many points con-
cerning which there has been little au-
thoritative comment. He showed how
manufacturers in England at the begin
ming OF the war shared the same op-
timism OF Americans a few months ago
that they could construct airplane en-
gines as easily as motor engines. and
emphasized the fact that this was an
entirely mistaken theory.
Standardization Question.
On the much discussed question OF
Standardization In airplane construction
the General was inclined to feel that
| quality instead Of quantity should he
given precedence. Quality is better
than quantity" he said. This applies
also to the personnel. Quality instead of
quantity should have precedence"
He indicated clearly that standardized
ton which could not keep pace with
Continued on Third PaGs.