The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-15

ENTHUSIASM UNBOUNDED
The enthusiasm Of the onlookeru
started when the plane was taken
from tn hanger and increased as tho
crew III two. dressed IN the hideeus
garments avfAtors choose for COM
fort rather than for appearance.
climbed to their positions
Immediately before starting man
: pouch. containing four pounds OK
mail was tossed aboard.
Captain Aicock settled himself
down in the pilots seat. grasped the
wheel. the motors we're started and
tho propellers set mp = mighty whir-
ring.
The afrmen waved their hands to
tho great assenlblage. the plane was
given her head like a race horse chat
ing to be OF. and the fight had be-
gun
Gathering speed on the take-ofs. the
great plane, which weighs 1000
pounds exclusive OF its load. covered
$50 yards on tho ground. then scared
upward. A. II recognising its we'll
wiahers right 10 = demonstration az
rlustvew Tor their beneft. the plano
rirc1Nd once aver TIA thfong. like .
mammoth carrier pigeon getting its
direction, then, still initiating tho
bird OF flight, aimed its nose
STRAIGHT toward its objective and laid
It's course for ireland.
Ireland however, Ia only the tentA-
tive objective. II waa learned late to-
day. II, after sighting the Emerald
isle. no untoward accident has upset
his plans, Captain Alcock Will direct
the flight. still without pause to
England.
The extension OF the flight win Be
possible, 20 far n fuel is concerned.
It WAS stated. The vickers- Vimmy's
Easolene tanks have capacity OF
S6S Ealfone--fuel for flying range
OF 3440 miles The distance 10 only
xbout 1850 miles between Newfound-
land and Ireland. 80 the bomber has
nearly 500 miles equivalent OF fuel
In excess Of her requirements The
thirty mile breeze at her back was
also calculated to be a great help In
driving the plane on It's way and
saving her fuel. Fifty gallons OF oil
in the oil tank were expected to prove
more than ample supply.
RANGE OF 500 MILES
Captain Alcock can communicate
By wireless with ships which pass
within = range OF 500 miiea Of the
plane. Tho bomber 10 fitted with both
receiving and sending apparatua but
the dtreetional wireless was omitted
naval aviators were reported to have
found II Of no practical value on their
hight
The acospted food equipment for
. transatlantic AIR hight looks very
much like that Of the ordinary family
picnic constdt1ng Of sandwiches and
coffee And that Wa the body fuel
taken aboard the vickers-vimy for
her crew. whoss Journey was not re-
- -
heartsd1y they set forth.
Tho uUwd which had given the big
plane . royal sand-ofS with Its cheer-
ing and waving Of hands. banker
chiefs and nags, WAS loath to dis
perse even after the bomber had
passed from sight. The flight and
its possible outcome were the sole
topics Of discussion. Many expressed
directly adverse views although all
joined In wishing the courageous bird
mon success
Those chaps are Just betting their
lives against an accident" volunteered
an old salt.
Optimism Rampant.
Hut tho pessimism Of the ancient
mariner were not shared by met,
versed in aeronautical affairs. They
expressed unanimous optimism. Tho
plane which ID making the effort to
capture the credit Tor the first non
stop crossocean hight and, inci-
dentally, the $4,000 prize offered
there for, 10 the last word thus far
In airplane perfection, they declared,
MT the same time expressing their
arm belief that by noon tomorrow
word INtIl have been received here by
cable tllAt the night was completed.
re the flight - successful. the plane
should reach ireland before o'clock
Sunday morning. New York time.
Recollection OF the collapse OF
& Harry Hawker's plans. gave rise to
predictions by many Newfoundlanders
that the vickerS-Vimy would b no
more successful Captain Alcock and
Lieutenant Brown, however. appeared
to ma added cause for belief In their
own ability TO accomplish the flight
because HAwker's failure was caused
BY the clogning Of tho eOpwith planes
Axhau1e pipe BY looeened solder
eainsk whiosh possible accident the
icontinusd on Fass Txo.l