Arizona republican., 1919-03-25
NAVAL SEAPLANES
 GETTING READY FOR
 SEA TRIP IN MAY
Four Huge Air Craft Being
 Built to Cross Atlantic Start to Be Made at Long Island or New Foundland
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 WASHINGTON, March 24.-NavaI seaplanes which are to attempt a flight across the Atlantic ocean in May will start from Rockaway Beach Long Island, but the actual jumping off place will be 1huch farther up the coast, possibly at some point in New Foundland Whether the machines will steer a direct course for Ireland or follow the longer route via the Azores, apparently has not been de- termined.
 Acting Secretary Roosevelt an nounced today that the destroyer Bar ney had been ordered to proceed to New Foundland to investigate the harbor facilities along the coast for the purpose of determining the Sbest base from which the planes could put out overseas, and harbors in which landings could be made if it became necessary to descend in the voyage from Rockaway to the flight base.
 Unless difficulties with ice floats are encountered, the Barney is ex- pected to return to the United States within about ten days, when the of ficers will submit their report.
 In disclosing that the planes would leave the naval aviation station on Long Island. MT. Roosevelt said the aidcraft will be re-fueled and given a final tuning up before they actually depart overseas.
 Several machines are being pre- pared for the flight mad two or more very probably will make the start Three planes of the x c 1 type have been completed and a fourth is near ing completion at the Curtiss plant at Garden City. New York. Extensive tests of the \ c 1 type have beer made and. 51 passengers were carried on one of her flights.
 Doubt Fuel Capacity
 Whether it will be possible for the machines to carry sufficient fuel tC drive them across the ocean has not been made known. They could refue at the Azores without difficulty, anC some officers believe it would be en- tirely possible under favorable weather conditions for them to replenish thei gas supply in midAtlantic from ; ship, with which rendezvous could b' arranged before hand. Detailed plan of the flight are being carefully safe guarded and there has been no inti nation as to whether the machine will keep together or follow differen routes. In view of the announcement that destroyers will be stationed aloni the route to safeguard the crews il the event of accidents. most officer believe, however, the flying craft vii follow one course.
 The navy department has not en tered for the $50.000 prize of the Lon don Daily Mail for the first aircraf that completes the trans-Atlanti flight. At the department today it wa said that no inquiries had even bee made as to the conditions under whic | the offer was made. Several Britis 1 firms and one or two individuals ar reported to have entered for this prize but the general belief here is that non of these will be able to make tn start in advance of the naval planes.
 Three Planes Ready
 NEW YORK, March 24-Three C the four seaplanes with which the nav department plans to attempt it's trans Atlantic flight are at the naval ai station at Rockaway Beach fror wnich the flight will start. They ar known as the \ c 1 type of machine. The fourth plane is under constrUctio at Garden City.
 It is expected that trial flights wi be made within a week or ten day and the actual trans Atlantic fligf | started soon after May l.
 Lieut.. Towers in Command
 Lieut.. John Towers is in command ( the preparations being made at Rock away Beach. Each of the three sea planes there is equipped with thre Liberty motors, having 1000 to 1,20 combined horsepower. Experiments ar being made in the arrangement of tn motors, but it is believed that the fins choice will provide for two tractor C pulling" propellers and one pushing ] propeller. There will be four Libert motors in the fourth plane, under cor struction, and these will be arranged the so-called tandem type" that two tractor and two "pusher" motors. The speed of the first three seaplan{ has been estimated by the builders !; 100 miles an hour, and it is said thf at least one of the planes has made ar proximately that speed in trial flights The original gasoline consumptio provided for a sustained flight of hours, but changes in the design of u hull interior have allowed for increase storage space, substantially increasir , the gasoline capacity. Other chang, in the original designe contempla' lowering the pilots station nearer u pontoon, so as to facilitate and rend, !; less dangerous the changing of pilo , in flight. The machines have a wir spread of approximately 126 feet. S , inches, and the wings are F feet wid It is believed that each plane w carry minimum crew of six men, tv of whom will be pilots and the othe