Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-15
ALCOCK AND BROWN
ON OVERSEE FLIGHT
Vickers Vimy Biplane Starts
Across Atlantic From St.
Johns on Nonstop Trip.
AVIATORS PIONEERS OF AIR
British and American Flyers in
Joint Effort to Achieve
Triumph.

ST. JOHNS. y F, June 1.-THE
Vickers-Vimy b!plane started on It's
transatlantic hight at Alb O'Clock this
afternoon Greenwich time).
Six hours after the Vickers-Vimy
biplane had sped out to sea. the Ad-
miTalty wireless station here had re-
ceived no word to Indicate it's progress.
although the machine should be within
range OF the steamships Digby, Mackay
Bennett and Sachem
The machine carried two men. Cap
tain Jack Alcock. a Britisher. as pilot.
and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown,
an American. as navigator
With thousands of enthusiastic New
foundla nders cheering the daring pair
OF ar;ators, their voices drowning the
loud whsr Of her motors. the Vickers-
V!my bombing plano rose gracefully
from the ground after a perfect take
off, and after a few moments of swift
fight disappeared from view over the
broad eSpanse OF the Atlantic ocean.
headed straight for Ireland
Captain John Alcock. the pilot. and
Lieutenant Arthur Brown. the navi-
gator. expressed high hope of success
Just before the bomber took the air
a strong west wind promised to speed
them up on the first stage Of the
said they were confident Of making
the flight within the twenty hours call
and poss IDLY. If the wind held It's
strength. inside Of nineteen hours.
The enthusiasm of the onlookers
started when the plane was taken
crew OF two. dressed In the hideous
garments aviators choose for comfort
rather than for appearance. climbed to
their positions.
Take Four Pounds of Mall.
Immediately before starting mail
pouch containing four pounds Of mail
was tossed aboard
Captain Alcock settled himself down
IN the pilots seat. grasped the wheel,
the motors were started and the nro,
pellers set up a mighty whirrinr.
The airmen waved their hands TO the
great assemblase. the plane was given
her head like race horse chatting TO
be off. and the flight had begun.
Gathering speed on the take-ofr, the
:, great plane, (which weighs 1000
pounds exclusive of it's load. covered
upward. AS # recognizing It's Well
w!shers' right to a demonstration, ea
clusively for their benefit. the plane
circled once over the throng. like a
rect!on, then. still Initiating the bird
OF flight. aimed It's nose straight toward
It's objective and laid It's course for
Ireland. however, is only the ,enta-
tive objective. 1t was learned late to-
day If, after sighting the Emerald
Isle. no untoward accident has upset
his plans. Captain -Acock will direct
land.
Have S65 Gallons of Fuel.
The extension OF the flight will be
possible, so far "a fuel is concerned. II
line tanks have a capacity of SIS gal
!ons-fuel for n flying range OF 2,44o
miles. The distance is only about / $50
miles between Newfoundland and Ire
land, so the big bomber has nearly 500
miles equivalent Of fuel IN excess Of
her requirements.
The thirty-mile breeze at her back
was also calculated to be great helm
in driving the plane on its way and
saving her fuel. Fifty gallons Of oil
IN the oil tank We're expected to prove
more than ample supply.
Captain Alcock can communicate by
wireless with ships which pass within
range of 500 miles of the plane. The
homber is fitted with both receiving
apparatus. but the directional wireless
was omitted tron lis equipment. as the
american naval av!ators were report ed
TO nave found II OF no practical value
on their flight.
transatlantic air flight looks very much
IKE that OF the ordinary family picnic,
consisting OF sandwiches and coffee.
Crowd Cheers the Flyers.
The crowd: which had given the big
plane a royal send with It's cheering
and flags. was loath to dispense even
after the bomber had passed from
sight. The flight and it's possible out
come were the sole topics of discussion.
Many expressed directly adverse views
although all Joined in wishing the
coura geous b!rdmen success
Those chaps are just betting their
lives against an accident" volunteered
an old salt
But the pessim!sm of the ancient
mariner were not shared by men versed
In aeronautical affairs. They expressed
unanimous optimism. The plane which
is making the effort to capture the
credit for the first nonstop crossocean
flight and, incidentally. the $4,000
prize offered therefor, is the last word
thus far in airplane perfection. they
declared. al the same time expressing
their firm belief that by noon tomorrow
word will have been received here by
cable that the flight was completed
ii the fight is successful. the plane
should reach Ireland before o'clock
Sunday morning. New York time
Slight Trouble Experienced.
AS the big Nickers-Vimy sped down
the. field teeth of the wind and rose
1t became apparent that the weight
Of her large gasoline supply, added 10
the planes own 1000 pounds. was &C.
/ casioning her some slight trouble
.
the rise, fears were entertained that
she would crash against the western
! NILS before she could climb high
enough TO top them.
But despite the handicap OF great
weight the plane finally pulled her
self up and scared above the hills
For some ten minutes the crowd waited
eNpectantly for the big bomber's re-
appearance, during which some fears
| were entertained that she had come
10 grief behind the ridge OF hills. But
she came into sight again. having cir
cled over Conception Bay in her reach
for altitude. She continued to climb
slowly and when last seen. passing
over the hills and ST. Johns harbor,
was running at height OF about
1000 feet and making great speed
Meanwhile continuing to climb.
Weather reports were favorable from
all points OF the north Atlantic to-
night, southwest winds and clear skies
being noted for all sections, except the
Azores. where the sky is overcast.
Lieutenant Brown mapped a course