New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-13
Aviator Was Ready to Start
at 6 O'clock, but News
of Mid-Atlantic Tempest
Caused a Postponement
Stop at Azores Dropped
Machine Will Be Kept at
Height of From 5000 to
10000 Feet Throughout

A0ai sv-ooy, PIcVeuteO tH0 0CLeInpC OF
Harry G. Hawker, British airman, to
realize his ambition Of being first to
fly across the Atlantic, thereby win
ming not only fame but the $4,000
prize of "The London Daily Mail"
After a preliminary fight, which
demonstrated that his big Sopwith
plane was perfectly tuned, Hawker de-
cided to chop off" at o'clock if he
could complete his arrangements All
tho adjustments Of the machine had
not been made at that time, however,
and the start was put off until 6
o'clock. BY that hour the high wind
had made il inadvisable to make the at
tempt, for the aviator previously had
been warnod storm WAS raging in
mid.Atlantic.
Hawker refused tonight to discuss
the delay or to indicate when ho hoped
to start, although II had been an
nouneed earlier that hs would try to
get away tomorrow.
Time of Start Now Uncertain
II will go when can" he said.
When asked whether it was likely
he would leave tomorrow morning or
In the afternoon. he replied;
you'll have to wait and see"
From others Interested in the flight
of the man who gained the Micheln
prize few years ago, it was learned
that he probably will try again to-
morrow, notwithstanding the fact that
it will be the thirteenth day since his
arrival here.
The arrival here yesterday Of Major
C. w. H. Morgan and Captain f. P.
Raynham with their Martinsyde BIZ
plane, which they already have started
to assemble at their airdrome, is under
stood to have hurried the plans of
Hawker, who has tested, in a flight of
only forty minutes duration, the ma
chine IN which he is to essay e trans
atlantic crossing of 1900 miles.
The Governor of Newfoundland. in
the expectation that the start would
be made to-day, handed Hawker a let
ter for King George
Start Governed by Wind
The plan to start at o'clock in the
afternoon was decided upon because
D northwest wind Is likely to prevail
at that time. The British Admiralty
has sent q weather expert here. who
has been busy for the last month get
ting from forty to fifty reports daily
from ocean liners and coast stations.
dis forecasts have been reasonably
accurate, but he has no data regarding
conditions at higher attitudes.
The airmen propose to travel at the
most economical height for the engine
OF the machine. This will be some
where between 5000 and 10000 feet.
What conditions prevail at that height
1t Is impossible to say. No stand
erds exist Tor comparison, and although
1T Is understood the steamship Mont
calm made tests with kites during a
recent voyage across the Atlantic, no
information gained thereby has reached
st. Johns.
Flight to Be Direct
Contrary to some reports, the fight
VIII not be made via the Azores, but
direct from st. Johns to the British
Isles. Hawker and his companion hope
to make their landing at the Brook
lands Aerodrome, near Weybridge.
London. They will fly along the steam
ship lane most of the way, but in mid
ocean will deviate therefrom This is
the section Of the route where the
greatest danger is likely to arise. To
guard against this they have light
iron boat fixed to the rear part of the
fuselage OF the machine. which can be
released easily and which carries air
bags at bow and stern to help float il.
The boat lie fitted with a sea anchor
and should keep them af1oat for two
days. 1t has supply of emergency
rations and gallon of water in a
Dramatically sealed cask. In the air
plane itself they carry sandwiches and
other food and black coffee in a Their
mos bottle.
The aviators are clad in heavy WOOL
len garments, with two Jerseys over
their ordinary apparel, and outside this
are incased In rubber combination suits
hitting tightly at the neck They carry
air bags front and back. which can be
infiatcd and will keep them waist hieh
IN the water The boat Is fitted with
parachute lights for night signalling
ana smoke flares for day, and they hope
, sh1etrepy. X mishap occurs, to Be
carry $50 gallons Of oil. also can he
smptied, and they have appliances foy
n,lilng them with air, whereby tho ma
cnlhe it5clf can be kept afost fol-
Fate Depends on Engine
= Their grostest danger, in the opinion
Of experts, lies In tho fact that the
machins has only d single engine and
that X anything happens to this tho
aviasors are helpless. Similarly they
are taking q great risk because they
hsye reserve gasolene supply for onls
four hours beyond the twsnty-fou,
hours required for the flight. They ar.
conhdent themselves that they car
make the voyage succesafully,
The Sopwtth airplane Ia housed In
wooden shed Of D6 feet front, &C
feet deep and 80 feet high. The whole
front 10 composed Of sliding Goor,
between wooden panels. When the ma,
chine 10 to be taken out the doors are
removed and thrown on the ground
At present the whole countryside ia
flooded with rain and melted snow
vshielse OF every kind sink deeply in
ths mud, while frost oozing from the
ground adds TO the difficulty Of move.
msnt.
pavement Of stones has been laid
before the hangar for a distance OF
fifty feet. Usually about twenty men
are required to move the machine when
u - only quarter filled with petrol.
Yesterday and to-day the final touches
were given to the fittings. Yesterday
evening the compasses were tested and
FOUND satisfactory. To-day the final
made.
: A great invisible mountain Of HIGH
atmospherac pressure has doomed up In
mid~Atisntic regions, and stands az a
menace TO any aviator who attempts
the transatlantic fight under present
d weAthsr conditions, officials of the local
Weather Bureau asserted last night
They were unable TO predict when the