Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-02-21

Prizes to the Amount of S125,000 are
Outstanding.
New York World.
Two great governments and one am
bilious individual actually preparing
for efforts to fly across the Atlantic
such is the present definite status OF
an undertaking dreamed Of and talk
ed about ever since flying became a
reality.
The governments are those Of the
United States and Great Britain. The
individual Is Hugo Sunstedt Swedish
naval captain. who last week reached
the point of actually launching the
seaplane with which he proposes to
make the flight, and persists in declar-
ing he will start before the winter
ends.
There are fairly definite rumors Of
q number Of other candidates for the
honor of reward which will attach to
making the first successful cross-ocean
fight. The difficulty in obtaining ac-
curate information about them arises
from the reticence Of airplane manu-
facturers who fear their models will be
discredited by failure.
It is the understanding Of men pro-
minent in aviation circles in New York
that the company Of Glenn H. Curtiss
Is building q machine for the trip, and
that the Standard aircraft company
also intends to enter the field this year.
Across the water there are half a doz-
en- English companies, among them
that of Graham White according to
the British war ministry, which will be
in the competition.
Navy for America.
The official American trial has been
entrusted by the navy department, to
Commissioner John H. Towers, who
was ordered a week ago to take charge
Of "the development Of plans and as
sembly Of material and personnel for
the proposed transatlantic flight"
Commander Towers, who has had
charge Of the Naval Reserve Flying
Corps, is an expert in his line. No in
formation has been given out as to the
type Of machine he will employ, or
the men to whom the actual flying
will be entrusted. AS regards the for
mer, however, it is worthy to note that
the Navy department has seaplane OF
unusual size and strength which, with
notifications. might prove up to the
task. It Is equipped with three Liberty
motors, developing 1900 horsepower,
and has carried fifty-one persons in
sustained flight.
It is reported that Great Britain has
tested three types OF machines In con-
temptation Of fight across the Atlantic.
There have been hints that the trip
would be undertaken early in the
coming spring.
The three types under experiment
include dirigible which. in theory at
any rate, is capable of the round trip
without stop. Another is flying boat
to be manned by two pilots and two
mechanics. The third is small, very
fast airplane with lifting power enough
to carry the large amount Of fuel
nonstop crossing demands. The con-
templated course the British consider
Is Ireland to Newfoundland.
Sunstedt's Second Attempt.
The present is Capt. Sunstedt's second
serious attempt to start on cross ocean
flight. The first, occurred in 1915.
when, with Lieut.. Kjeil Nyegaard Of
the French Flying Corps, he came to
America for try at the big voyage in
the spring Of 1917. His program was
to use machine made in America and
fly across by way Of Newfoundland. with
the British Isles his objective.
Something happened to spoil his
plan no less momentous an even than
the entry Of the United States into the
world war. During all the time since
then he has been waiting his oppor-
tunity. The armistice Of November IL
brought it. A month later he reached
the United States and took up his pro-
ject again.
His airship is the Sunrise, and il the
United States does not enjoy the sat
isfaction Of claiming an American first
to cross the ocean, it will at any rate
be able to boast, in the event Of Capt.
Sunstedt's success, that an American
built plane turned the trick.
The Sunrise Is a two-winged sea-
plane of Homeric proportions. Its up
per wing has a spread Of 100 feet, its
lower Of 71s. Two six-cylinder Liberty
motors built in San Francisco are ex-
pected to drive her eighty miles an
hour with their combined 440-horse
power. Her tanks have a capacity of
two tons Of gasoline, and Capt Sun
stedt estimates this will take him from
Newfoundland to London without stop
ping for replenishment
While April, May and September are
generally accounted the most favorable
months for the transatlantic effort the
Swedish aviator finds no terrors in the
attempt during such a winter as the
present. Virtually, nothing is known
about north Atlantic weather above l.
900 feet, anyway. so he may be right
Prizes Total S125,oo0.
Unhappily. when the Sunrise was
being launched in Newark Bay, off the
Pavonia Yatch club. Bayonne, last
Tuesday, one Of the guides broke as
she was slipping down the ways and
the plane fell sideways into the wa
ter. A crippled wing was the result
with consequent deferment Of the trial
fight which must precede the big at
tempt.
Something more tangible than fame
contributes to the lure Of cross-ocear
flying, for the first to register success
will be substantially rewarded. There
is standing to-day a total Of s125,OOO
in prizes. about half of it almost un-
hampered by restrictions. These are
offered as follows:
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