New-York tribune., 1919-03-25
Navy to Start
Overseas y ,'1'l' e. Flight.
At Rockaway
Seaplanes Will Fly North
to Take Real ''Jump Off,
Probably at Some Point
on Newfoundland Coast

I WASHINGTON, March "a. = Naval
seaplanes which are to attempt flight
across the Atlantic Ocean in May will
start from Rockaway Beach, Long
Island, but the actual Jumping off"
place will be much farther up the
coast, possibly at some point in New
foundland. Whether the machines will
steer direct course for Ireland or
Azores apparently has not yet been de-
/ termined.
1t is expected that trial flights wilt
be made within a week or ten DAYS and
the actual transatlantic fight started
soon after May /. At least two of the
three machines at Rockaway already
| have been flown.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt an
nounced to-day the destroyer Barney
had been ordered to proceed to New
foundland to investigate the harbor
facilities along the coast to determine
the best base from which the planes
could put out, and harbors in wkich
landings could be made in the event it.
I became necessary for them to descend
during the voyage from Rockaway to
the fight base.
Ten Days Allowed for Survey
Lieutenant Commander J. L. Kauf
man will command the Barney, which
is ono Of the most modern destroyc~s.
and Commander p. II. l.. Relliryer. Of
the transatlantic section of the office
of the director of naval aviation, and
Lieutenant E. F. Stone, of the Coast
Guard, have been detailed to make the
investigation Unless difficulties with
ice foes are encountered, the Barney
is expected to return to the United
States within about ten days, when
the officers will submit their report
at Washington.
In disclosing that the planes would
leave the naval aviation station on
Long Island, Mr.. Roosevelt said it was
regarded as preferable to fly the ma
chimes to the base to be selected for
the' hight rather than to transport
them by ship. The aircraft will be
refueled and given final tuning up
before they actually depart overseas
Several machines are being prepared
for the flight and two or more very
probably will make the start. Three
planes Of the NC type have ben COM
pleted and fourth is nearing connie
ton at the Curtss plant at Garden
City, N. Y. Extensive tests Of the
NJ nave been made and ffty-onc
flights ~ ~ ''ei'
Fuel Supply Insured
whether it will be possible for tho
machines to carry sufficient fuel fo
arlVe them across the ocean has NOT
peen made known. They could refuoi
az Inc azores without difficulty, and
some officers believe it would be on
tirely possible under favorable weather
conditlons Tor them to replenish their
gas supply in mid-Atlantic from q shin
with which. rendezvous could he~ars
ranged beforehand
detailed plans of the flight are be-
ing carefully safeguarded and there
,ns oeen no lntimation whether the
machines will keep together or follow
different routes. In view Of tho an.
nouncement that destroyers will be
sla'ioned along the route to safcgua rd
sne crews IN the event Of accidents.
most of1cers believe, however. the hv,
ing craft will follow one course.
ne Navy Department has not en-
.,ad 1sred Tor the $4,000 prize offered bv
ne London Daily Mail" to the first
night. At the department it was said
wa shao no inquiries had been made as to
Vhc conditions under which tho Offer
was made Several British firms and
one or TWO individuals are reported 70
nave entered for this prize. but the
general oelief here is that none of
,hese E,e. wlll be able to make the start in
advance of the naval planes.
, Commander John II. Towers is IN
command of the preparations bein"
maze at Rockaway Beach. Each of tho
.hree seapanes there is equipped with
,nree ,noo Liberty motors, having 1000 to
~, 100 combined horsepower. Expert
na,,,' s".,.s now are being made in the ar
ii;angemeht i;a, ZEN, OF the motors. but it is be-
two tractor, or pulling" propeIlcrs
ana one rushing" propeller. There
VIII be four Liberty motors in tho
iouftn plane, now under construction.
ana thcse Will be arranged in the So
.aico tandem type" that is two
tractor and two "pusher" motors.
Speed 100 Miles an Hour
The speed of the first three sea-
planes has been estimated by the build
ers at 100 miles an hour, and it is said
at least one of the planes had made
approximately that speed in trial
The original gasolene consumnt;on
provided for sustained fight of six
teen hours, but changes in the DESIGN
of the hull interior have allowed for
increased storage space, substantially
increasing the gasolene capacity.
Other changes in the original DESIGN
contemplate lowering the pilots sta
tl5n nearer the pontoon 10 render less
dangerous the changing of pilots in
flight. The machines have wing
spread Of approximately 1876 feet 6
inches, and the wings are IL feet wide
II Is believed each plane will carry
minimum crew of six men, two Of
whom will be pilots and the Others
mechanics and observers Quarters for
hull.
1t is expected the machine will f1y
4 at nigh altitude, to take advantage
Of the westerly winds. and the crew