Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-15
AMERICAN FLYERS
AWAIT COMING OF
SEAPLANE NC-4
Commander Towers Ex-
poets to Start With Three
Machines.
READ FLIES FROM CHATHAM
TO HALIFAX IN QUICK TIME
Covers Distance at Rate Of Over
Eighty Miles Per
Hour.
WEATHER MORE FAVORABLE.
Delayed Aviator Expected at ire
passcy Today To Join His
Mates.
WEATHER MORE FAVORABLE.
delayed Aviator Expected at Trc-
passcy Today to Join His
Mates.
ny JOSEPH MuL,A>E,.


TREPhSSi2Y, y r. May !i.-AIi
ihat held the Amcricam scapluncs from
making the hop or on the Atlantic
Hight this afternoon was the announce
'nent that Nc-i was starting from
Chatham TO Join her sister craft here
tonight.
The weather over tho ocean was not
favorable as had been expected,
with the wind blowing from four
points OF the compass At noon. but
Commander Towers said. ~ IL were
not that VIC oApcct the NC-i TO get
here tonight we would star; this after
noon, but the other fellows are awfulIy
ANXIOUS TO come with us
The radio nashcd word early this
morning tina; the NC4 was TO leave
Chatham at sunrise, and Preparations
dlatcly. The prospects OF thc three
planes starting together more than
made up for the disappointment among
the nycra
Read aud stone Daring.
Lieutenant Commander Read and
Pilot stone, of the NC'-i. are rated as
among the most daring men in the
service. and their popularity is proved
by the scnerai express ions OF salts
faction over their coming. The biz
american dtrisibie. c-5. which leN
pcctci TO pass here after midnight.
but she may not be visible on account
OF the high hills surrounding the
Captain Crcnshaw. from the rag
ship Prairie sent out directions that
hcc,, and that flyers he ready TO stand
BY for emergency duty in case the
dirigibic should bc forced to land here.
showed gentle local winds cas-, of south,
and tho sky was clear. The natives have
been amazed AZ the sudden turn for
the better in climatic conditions since
the arrival of the fleet. tirjZzlcd
fishermen made the comment that the
Americans surely must he Gods owu
them.
discourage Briton..
There IS unconcealcd citation among
tho ayers that the huctuating gales
cult for the land planes a, 81. Johns
10 get away than for the seaplanes.
The naval airrnen are certain tina,
the Britons. navigating with sextant
and compass, will never make a sue
ccssful flight in land planes.
Lieutenant-Commander MitcheT. pi-
lot of NC-l. went aloft today in the
.Aroostooks tiny scaplnne, surveying
The ncighbo,ing coast TO ascertain the
wind dsss sna l3Pn5s sens5s fSndi5i0ns
indicates fair westerly winds. but the
NC-+ is not due until the afternoon
so q start OF all three planes tomorrow
is somewhat problematical.
The popularity OF American visitors
Is increasing to such an extent that
the Britons are waiting for the start.
SAYS;
torss Tss q msr,eIns Ne h1,s mad sIsa
foundlandcrs will be glad to sec them
accomplish the greatest feat in avia-
;lon ever witnessed by the world"
Test Trip Waters.
When Commanders Towers and Bel
1inSer IN the afternoon ordered NC-l
and NC-3 brough, around to the sterns
o. the, Aroostook and Prairie. where
n nj tl.a al.
was warmed with steam pipes. the re-
0ori spread that the flight Was abou,
10 be started. as the crews swarmcd
The pilots. however. merely. sped
the craft through tho water to tcs,
proved satisfactory TO all
In expectation Of the arrival of
Nc.t ,his evening. CAPTAIN crenshsw.
rcarchiSh:s should sweep tho sky at
dusk TO assist the plane in making a
landing.
The baseball teams Of thc Aroos,ook
and Prairie played the game in the
fog this evening. The Prairie nine
Americas airmcn believe the gre at
over their British rivals in the At
and correct any drift from the course
instruments Prove Perfect.
EXpcrlence during the cruise from
lnandcrs Towers and Bellinger that in
ton minutes an unsuspcctcd deviation
OF five degrees in the course had been
discovered by means Of tho special in
struments and the planes stecrcd back
TO the line.
IF wind should force tho Sopwitr or
Martinsydc planes five degrees off the
course in Il Newfoundland fog they
would not be able to strike Europe
much less ireland or England. in their
fight unless the drift was corrected al
once and neither of the British planes
carries the delicate Instruments cs-
sential for such work. their navigating
apparatus being confined to Il seXtani
and compass for each machine.
CAKES EIGIIrY- SpE.X,n