The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-19

them. Both are clad in so-called nom
einkable suits, but these admitted some
water at the neck and sleeves during q
short test. Air bags about the chest
and shoulder blades are relied upon to
support the men.
They carry in the fuselage OF their
craft a fiimsy collapsihle boat which they
may or may not be able to launch it
their plane settles In the water. II they
adhere to their intention Of flying north
OF the steamship lane they have very
little chance of rescue even should they
successfully free their little boat In time
to get away from the whirl and suction
of the sinking plane. Their wireless
reaching ESQ miles, may transmit a call
to some steamship out OF sight around
the, curve Of the earth, but unless they
know their position accurately It IL
doubtful whether they would be rescued
in time. Much will depend upon the
length of time that their plane will float,
which in turn 10 dependent upon the
amount OF gasolene still remaining in
the tank when they fall.
Using q Scout Type Mschine.
The plane to which they entrusted
their lives has less than half the wing
spread of the NC naval seaplanes which
~
scout type, with a span OF 46h feet.
From propeller to rudder II Is thirty-one
feet. The motor. Rolls-Royce twelve
cylinder. Ii in the head of the machine,
fed by the gasolene tank, just behind.
Then back OF the tank is the little cock
pit, In which the pilot and navigator sit.
Behind them is the boat. fitting into the
fuselage. The 375 horsepower motor
and plane were both carefully tested by
AZ hA t.
land. He few for nine hours and Ave
minutes. covering approximately 800
miles and using 146 gallons OF gasolene.
In tests here II has displayed equal re-
liability, although no long flights were
undertaken here. That 1t will perform
as well under changing weather condi-
tons. winds and temperatures ia q mat
ter which Hawker is stalking his repu-
tation as an aerial expert and life on.
To win the $4,000 prize offered by
the London Daily MaH Hawker must
cross the coast line of the British Isles
within eeventy-two hours of the time he
left Newfoundland. Thus he has three
times as many hours as he actually
needs for his flight. His race is not
against time % much as against Winds
dwindling gas supply and the waning
vitality Of himself and his plane.
Unlike the almost secret departure OF
Harry Hawker, the effort OF Captain
Frederick Raynham and Captain Nor
gan to take the air was witnessed by
almost the entire city Of St Johns. Both
fiers were without trace of nervousness
and both exchanged pleasantries with
their friends before they climbed into
the machine. 1t was just at the moment
when the cheer rose highest, as the plane
rose perhaps eight feet into the air. that
the crash occurred. The nose of the
plane ploughed through the soft meadow
land as the momentum of the machine
carried 1t forward, and the tail rose al
most straight into the air. Both men
were thrown violently forward in the
cockpit. Raynham had to be assisted
In crawling out and Morgan also was
dazed.
AS realization came that they were
out Of one of the most daring adventures
of modern times the two shook hands
silently. with despair in their faces. and
hurried back by automobile to their
quarters in the city. To friends Rayn-
ham made the following statement after
he recovered from his temporary col
lapse:
II was just beginning to get a lift. II
felt the undercarriage weaken and
pulled back on the control stick in an
attempt to assist the machine clear OF
the ground. but the propeller struck and
we spilled. Another twenty-five yards
and we would have been away"
Some criticism OF Raynham was made
by army air pilots who witnessed the
start. They point out that the machine
tried to take them of with the light and
shifty wind at times either with them or
crossing their line of motion. On the
other hand, had the pilot tried to take
Off in the opposite direction he would
have been compelled to lift his heavy
laden plane over some high hills which
doomed not far ahead. The critics main
tain that he could have done this, and
that he made a serious mistake IN not
taking advantage of the wind, which
would have pressed under the wings OF
his craft and have made 1t possible to
leave the ground at a slower speed than
direction.