New-York tribune., 1919-04-05
Fastest and Greatest Air
craft in the World Being
Prepared for Transatlan-
tic Test in Short Time
Six British Entries
Three Americans, Two
French, One Italian, One
Australian, One Swedish

DeSU announced IOI the SIcdtcSl iliSH
ever planned. These include airplanea
ranging from the fastest to the heavi-
est yet built, and the largest rigid di-
rigible airships in the world. Of the
entries three are American, six British.
two French, one Italian, one Australian
and one Swedish.
So far as can be learned the Amer-
can and British contestants arc the
most advanced in their preparations
and possibly both may begin the flight
within two weeks.
All the contestants, with the excep-
tion of the official American and Brit
Ish government entries, are attempting
the fight for prizes totalling more
than $60,O00-offercd to the first avia-
tor to fly across the Atlantic within
seventy-two hours.
By far the most ambitious is the
flight planned by the United States
Navy, in which four great flying boats
of the N. c. type will make the at
tempt as squadron. These giant ships,
each carrying q crew of five, probably
fight from Rockaway to Newfoundland
the first week in May.
Fuel for 1,sO0-Mile Flight
They will be under command of Lieu
tenant Commander 2. N. L. Bellinger,
one of the navy's veteran airmen From
Newfoundland the planes will carry
sufficient fuel to make the 1900 mile
flight without stop. One is equipped
three have four Liberty engines, giving
them a total horsepower of l 800
The navy boats will be equipped
with every known apparatus that will
aid in making the flight success.
Wireless telephone communication will
be maintained. They will be navigated
by experienced navigators, who will
have the assistance OF wireless drec-
tion finders to help in working out
their positions.
The navy will also string out across
the ocean a line of mother" ships to
carry supplies or aid to any of the
four ships in case they are compelled
to alight upon the water. The navy
will not share in any of the prizes
awarded
The other American entries are at
present unidentified and as far as can
be learned the machines have not yet
been completed.
Army Plan Unsettled
The United States Army plan for
transatlantic flight, using a Glenn
H. Curtiss bomber type, to be under
taken by Captain Roy N. Francis, is
included. No details of the prepara-
tions have been made public.
Captain B. B. Lpsner. former chief
of the aerial mail service, announced
his intention of attempting the fight
N ol h,,;1 ~,
James " Martin. Captain Lipsner will
make the attempt over the Azores
route, along practically the same
course as the transport George Wash
ington took to France.
Two of the British entries probably
will start the transatlantic flight
within the next two weeks. They are
the British Air Ministry's two naval
airships r 33 and 80, each of which
carries a crew of thirty men, and the
Sopwith biplane of Captain Harry G.
Hawker. which is already at st. Johns,
n. F.
Captain Hawker's attempt is the
most thrilling of all He is basing
everything upon a specially designed
Rolls-Royce Eagle engine of 375 horse
power, and is relying upon the tre.
mendous speed Of his machine to carry
him across in nonstop fight of nine
teen hours to Ireland. He expects to
make the attempt next week His
machine will be navigated by Com
nnander Mackenzie Girve Of the British
navy.
Some British Entries
The British naval airships R 33 and
r 81 are the largest and most power
ful In the world. According to aero
nautical experts each is capable OF
making the transatlantic trip and re-
turn without stop, even for fuel. Each
is equipped with five Rolls-Royce Eagle
engines, giving an aggregate of ap-
proximately 1000 horsepower.
Another British entry is huge tri-
plane flying boat designed by Lieuten-
ant Colonel John G. Porte for the
British Air Ministry. No details re-
garding it are available. A supertri-
plane built for Captain Dunno at the
Whitehead factory in England is an.
other British entry. 1t is stated that
this machine will have capacity for
fifty passengers.
made by Major J. c. Wylie, pilot
and Captain c. G. Wylie, navigator
Major Wood Purposes to use specia
plane equipped with 375 horsepowe,
motor, capable Of speed of ninety five
miles an hour when carrying a weigh,
OF Z,53Z pounds.
+. P. Raynham, veteran aviator, 1.
the sixth British entry He will fl,
a machine designed for the transatlan
tic fight by the Martnsyde Airplans
i Company, Of England.
/ sydney Pickles, an Australian avi
Etor, also entered, states he has a ma
&hinc faster than any Of the others.
Captain Hugo Sunstedt, who CAM
here and had a specially designed sea
plane built by the Witteman Levi
Company, is the Swedish entry. Hi
plans received a setback Saturday whel
his machine crashed into Newark Bay
damaging the pontoons and one Of it
wings. 1t will take several weeks T.
make necessary repairs.
Both the French entries contemplate
nying from Cape Dakar, Scnegambia
Africa, 70 Pcrnambuco, Brazil tn.
ahortest distance across the Atlantic
1t can be made in three short flights
/ from Cape Dakar TO Cape Verde Isl
ands, 400 miles; from Cape Verde Isl
snds TO st. Paul Rocks, 300 miles
and from there 10 Pcrnambuco, 45l
miles.
Lieutenant Fontan actually starte,
on this fight March 18, but had Il
postpone IL on account Of cracked
cylinder. The other French entry /,
Captain Coli, who recently crossed tn,
Mediterranean and made the returf
trip within "a hours
Tne Capr1ni AirnIauf, Comn.nv -,