The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-06-16
Not Till Improvements in Planes
Made Will Overseas Flights
Be Practicable Says u. S.
Bureau.
FORECAST CONDITION
BEFORE N. C. TRIALS
At No Time Since Has Weather
Been So Favorable; Depart
ment Advised Fliers When
Time to Hop Off.

Washington. d. c., June 16.-Re-
calling its part in the historic and
successful transatlantic flight by an
American seaplane. the Weather Bu-
reau of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture reiterates its be-
lief that not until improvements in
aircraft have rendered them more
Independent of weather conditions
than they now are, will trans-ocean-
ic flying be at all practicable any
rate, on anything like a regular sche-
dule The bureau meteorologists,
however, express little doubt that
such improvements will be made. and
that within few years flying across
the seas will no longer be looked up.
on as an adventure but rather as a
necessary feature of the worlds daily
routine
Weather reports. since the trans
Atlantic flight was made, show that
at no time since have conditions been
so favorable as when the NC planes
left New Foundland. In general, ac-
cordng to the meteorologist occa-
sions are rare on which ideal condi-
tions would be experienced over as
long a course as that upon which
the navy fllers set out
The Weather Bureau actively CO
operated with the United States navy
in the successful attempt to cross
the Atlantic ocean in seaplanes. Ar
were made for the re
cipt of meteorological observations
from Europe and the Azores, and, in
addition, regular observations were
made ON ships at sea, under the d-
rectlon al the Naval Meteorological
Service. All of these observations,
together with those regularly taken
IN the United States and Canada
wre reported by radio four times
daily to the central office of the
Weather Bureau at Washington, D
c., and to the base ship Aroostook
at Trepassey, New Foundland. At
the latter place these reports were
charted and studied by a representa-
tive of the Weather Bureau and by
a member of the Naval Meteorological
Service, and statements, based upon
this study and indicating the current
and probable future conditions, were
given to the commanders of the sea
planes
On the historic 18th of May. these
showed that conditions
for the flight from New Fo.nnpand
TO the Azores. although not perfect.
we're the most favorable they had
yet been, and Commander Towers
was accordingly advised to have ev-
erything ready for the start, provid;
ng the forecast from Washington
was favorable About an hour later
his forecast was received. 1t also
advised that the flight be made that
lay but pointed out. as did the state
neat made at Trepassey, that cloudi-
ness would be encountered near the
Azores. The Trepassey statement in
sluded a table showing the wind as
5istance that would probably be re-
'eived at successive points along the
route. AS is well known, the flight
was started on that day and one of
the seaplanes. the NC-4, reached the
Azores without mishap and ahead of
schedule time. AS had been predict
ed. weather conditions we're excel
lent over the western part of the
course. but cloudiness interfered
with navigation to some extent near
TIC Azores