The sun., 1919-09-07
xAJoR G. H. SCOTT, comman.

IN
MI der Of the British dirigible
L R-34 in It's successful round
trip across the Atlantic which recently
ended at Pulham, England, said upon
landing that he was of the opinion
that when air navigation becomes
general an international weather sta
ton would have to be established in
mid-Atlantic, from which the dirigi-
bles and airplanes flying east and
west could receive the latest reports
on the weather conditions ahead OF
them.
One thing is certain. While with
the navigation of ships at sea the
weather always has been an absorbing
topic and a matter of constant study,
with the navigation of airplanes and
dirigibles for some time to come 1t is
bound to be. If anything, of even more
Vital Importance.
Now that the practicability of trans
atlantic flight through the air has been
demonstrated by the R-34. Uncle Sam
Is coming to the conclusion that 1t Is
up to him to get busy In doing his
part toward aiding by accurate
weather reports those undertaking
overocean flights.
As TO an extent the field Is an I'M
charted one, so TO speak, much work
OF course to be done, which may
'aKe considerable time to accomplish
successfully, but Prof. Charles T..
Marvin, chief of the Weather Bureau,
mas pretty clear idea of how to 20
about It.
A helpful and friendly cooperation
also exists with the meteorological
services Of Canada and Great Britain.
Wind Is Important.
wind is the one element of para
mount importance to a successful
transatlantic flight, and the Column
buses OF the air of to-day have found
mat the winds that waited Christie
pner columbus and his three caravals
I492 westward are still blowing in
lne same direction. making it i'm
g. practicable in the present stage of air
Idit development to follow the south
cry route from America to Europe,
even II the great distance were not
mohloitiye. But they find that fur
.ier north, in the latitude of New
ouhoiand and Ireland. the prevailing
ueeuon OF the wind is from west to
e~ ana that under good wind condi-
Hous they may cut three hours or
more from the time that would be re-
sureo to travel from Newfoundland
IN m ireland at airplane speed In the air.
ne same thing appliss in an airplane
journey from Newfoundland to Portu-
Aai oy way Of the Aces.
as part Of its work Ut the immediate
.u'ure our Weather Bureau is per-
..cung arrangements so that when
Me Time comes 1t will be equipped tc
a'prm aviators mot only when no
lSsre approaching. but to Indicate
sle successive direction toward which
arplane or dirigible should be head
~ !" Keep 10 a desired course, and
a'H1 10 calculate the assistance that
WI De furnished by the winds.
A., "hen the NC-4 and the two other
~ navy planes were preparing to
'oss the Atlantic on the first Journey
airplane a weather report service
nus nature was organized. For
sone Time before the flight the Wealth
w eureau used its daily reports from
S stations in the continental United
'aVes TO give indications Of the most
.aIVrable day for the long flight to
.es'hi II also arranged to receive wire
less and cable reports. from observing
ons on the west coast OF. Europe.
I'm spltzbergen and Iceland IN the
-Or'n 70 the Azores In the south: other