The sun., 1919-05-16

can ride out any reasonable sea and
rise from It after repairs have been
made.
A good stiff breeze will help the
NC planes materially TO get or the
water, ms by heading into 1t they dc
not need to skim over the water with
such speed as Is necessary on a calm
day. The maximum weight carried by
any of the planes during. the tests
mt Rockaway was $4,000 pounds, but
it is understood that the flight waf
made to-day with 2s,So0 pounds total
weight. The weight Of the flying boat
Itself with its navigating instruments
is Is, 100 pounds, so that the usual load
the load available for carrying men
supplies and fuel Is 1900, IL the
planes succeed in getting OF the water
with this much overweight.
The four motors Of the NC ships will
burn approximately $50 gallons OF
gasolene an hour at the start, but by
the time they reach the Azores one OF
two motors will be idling-that is
barely turning over-while the other
two will be consuming only about S6C
pounds of fuel an hour in propelling
the much lighter ships through the air
The weight of gasolene carried at the
start will probably be more than H.
900 pounds, while the weight OF the
crews and provisions will be 1000
pounds. Nine hundred pounds Of lubri-
eating oil will be carried on each plane
The apparent start of the naval sea-
planes aroused almost hysterical
cheers from the Newfoundlanders lined
along the shores Of the bay and from
the men OF the supply ships which
have served the seaplanes. All knew
that despite the destroyers at fifty
mile intervals the twelve men on board
the two ships were playing a risky
game in attempting to fly 1900 nauti-
cal miles, a feat never before accom-
plished.
How the start Was Made.
The NC-1, commanded by Lieut..
Commander p N. L. Bellinger, the
veteran OF the NC fleet, started down
the harbor first, at 6:04. and the NC-3,
flagship Of the NC division, followed
eighteen minutes later, with Com
nander Towers in the forward cock
pit and Commander H. C. Richard
gon and Lieut.. David Mccullough at
the controls. They disappeared from
view as they whizzed over the sur
face. their noses fitting upward. but
their sterns obstinately clinging to the
water. A short time later both re-
turned and stopped near the mother
ships. apparently for the purpose OF
getting rid Of some Of the excess fuel
aboard.
Tho low flying NC-4 then came
roaring into view, reuniting the three
seaplanes and making Il likely thai
a trio instead Of a couple of seaplanei
Will head for the Azores tomorrow. The
two seaplancs then returned to theil
moorings.
A hasty examination OF the NC-4 by
her anxious crew revealed no defects Of
plane or motor which would require
much time to repair, but nevertheless,
mechanics Immediately set to work COINS
over tho tinx plane of the division
literally inch by inch. Commander
Read greeted his chief on board tn,
Aroostook.
she made yesterday from Chatham
when. with favorable breeze on hei
tail. she whizzed through the air a.
ninety-nine land miles an hour.
The seaplane did not leave the side
of the tender Baltimore at Halifax unit
9:&6 A. NJ. and then cruised about tn,
water for a few minutes before actual,
taking the air on the long trip.
Attempt Was n Surprise.
: The attempted start of the two sea
planes was somewhat of a surprise, 70
Commander Towers iIfd announced afte
a conference with his transatlantic voy
ayers shortly after noon that reports o
weather conditions on this end OF tn
course to the Azores were mot highl.
favorable" He at that time made n,
announcement concerning the flight, blu
the inference was that he would no
start. At o'clock, however. signs o
activity were seen aboard the big planes
They were brought to the stern OF tn
Aroostook to permit the heating of the
lubricating mechanism by steam. Thi
was to make the circulation Of the oil
more certain and more rapid at tn
start OF the flight. when the engines
stifr and cold. will be most in need OF oil
New propellers were installed on bot
planes.
: The destroyer Buchanan, whose sta
tion is $50 miles from this end of tn
transatlantic route, steamed into por
to-day to land a sick member OF he
crew. There are several destroyers Il
reserve along the route. and one o
these had taken the Buchanans plac
during her absence.
Beyond the loading aboard the sea
planes OF coffee and sandwiches and
few shouts OF farewell, the start OF tn
NC ships will differ in no way from IN
start Of n trial hop OF ten minutes dura
ton. Absolutely no ceremony will TAX
place, but swarm of motor launche
and a small seaplane will travel a shor
way with them by way Of unofficia
farewell