Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-06-20
voLUN1 : So
FIRST NONSTOP FLI6AT ACROSS
ATLANTIC,

,re,n since the Wright Brothers
G.si rose from the earth in heavier
Than air machine, was realized the
morning OF the 18th, when two
,nune British officers, Captain John
,Irock and Lieutenant Arthur w.
prown, landed on the Irish coast af-
inr the first nonstop flight across
The Atlantic ocean.
Their voyage was without acci-
dent and without unforeseen Incl
dent. SO far as can be learned. 1t
WAS straightaway clean cut flight
achieved in 16 hours and IL min
ri.,-from New Foundland to Cliff
den. Ireland, a distance of more
than 1900 miles.
Blu. the brief and modest descrip-
lion which comes from the airmen
4, CIifden tells of an adventurous
and amazingly hazardous enter
prise. Fog and mists hung over the
north Atlantic, and the VickerS-
Vimy biplane climbed and dove,
Struggling to eNtricate herself from
Tic folds of the airplane's worst
cucmy.
She rose to 1900 feet, swooped
down almost to the surface of the
sea. and at times the two naviga-
tors found themselves flying upside
down only ten feet above the water.
The landing was made at 9:40
o'clock, British summer time. In
taking the ground the machine
struck heavily and the fuselage
ploughcd into the sand. Neither of
the occupants was injured.
Much of the flight was made
through a fog, with an occasional
Grizzlc. This hampered the airmen
considerably during their journey.
Captain Alcock explained the 81
lencc of his radio instrument during
the trip by Saying,that the wireless
propeller blew off soon after the air.
plane left New Foundland,
we were much jammcd by strong
wireless signals not intended for
US" he added.
When word was received at Lon
don of the accident to the machine
in landing arrangements were made
for mechanics to leave London I'M
mcdiatcly to make repairs.
Alcock and Brown stood the trip
well.
The flight of the -Vimy rbi-
Plane across the Atlantic was one of
three recent notable and daring
achievements by airmen.
TO Captain Alcock and Lieuten-
ant Brown goes the high honor of
having made the first nonstop air
passage of the Atlantic, the achieve
ment going to the credit Of Great
Britain.
The Atlantic had already been
Spanned in an air journey, however,
inc ieat having been performed by
american naval officers in the sea-
plane NC-4, with a stop at, the
azores, enroute from New Found
land to Lisbon, Portugal, the jour
ney beginning May 10th and ending
May 9th.
Less successful, but no less dar-
,,nS Than the achievement of the
NIckers-Vimy pilot and navigators,
vas the recent flight by two other
british airmen, Harry G. Hawker
1ho Lieutenant Commander Mac
hcnzlc Gricvc. On May 10Th, they
covered more than half the distance
ScroSS the Atlantic before being
iofcrd to alight in mid-ocean. For
ncarIy week they were given up
Ior lost, but finally turned up safe
on board small craft.
Inc attempt Of IIawkcv and the
successful flight Of Captain Alcock
anu Lieutenant Brown were made
,pF prize Of $4,000, offered by
"c London Daily Mail The idea
was 10 make contribution of mo-
'ncnt to the practical side of air
naV'Saiion. but the appeal to the
.ohnrhtorS was in no. small meas
u;' u;r 10 their sporting instinct. the
r's running strong chances Of be-
NY 'rrctricvably lost at sea IL any
"''h8 happened 10 their machine.
g.. comparison of the records
W. f'WS That the American Navv's
~ "ra ~ carried five men, 2.150 miles
wv ~ honrs. 81 minutes: while the
mo mnN'rS-vimy plane flew with two
m;n nE", l'65o miles in 16 hours, ~
nn;u,cS. nuu,cS. The achievement of the
d;,'Sh tllerS sets new record for
m'ancc covered i'm single flieht.
b",.: W. :"n8cSt single iumn of the NC-4
milg sling beer Approximately 1000
'tS rom New Foundland TO Hor-
u" IN The Azores.
,r, I,m."cn, ,.n ireland. where The Vick-
rro "nV hinlnne completed its
,nI '.N'rl f'inht from New Found
huo, IS Ak miles northwest Of Gal
hrn. IN" IS situated on The inlet Of
""ar hnrbor, From 81 Jobns IN