The Washington times., 1919-06-15
BRITISH FLIERS DUE
IN IRELAND TODAY
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;" Continued from First Page)
~ varying speeds for fifteen minutes
Members Of the mechanical staff cluS-
tered around the plane exchanging
last bits Of repartee. but most of II
was lost on account Of the uproar Of
the engines. Muller handed note 10
Alcock, which he read and then re-
turned Then the pilot waved fare
well and gave the signal to remove
the field blocks which kept the ma
4. chine from starting prematurely.
Started On FatefuI Trip.
Three minutes afterward the en-
gincs were thrown wide open and
The plane started forward at good
sraed against a thirty mile-an-hour
westerly breeze. II took the air in
westerly direction leaving the
ground when $50 yards from the
point OF starting. Alcock flew west
al a low altitude. and soon vanished
against the rather murky horizon.
The spectators remained on the
field. Speculation was rife as to
swhy AIcock had departed IN west
3erly direction. The sky was scanned
again and again for trace Of him.
After fifteen minutes there was
sshout Of There he is and the plane
was seen speeding seaward to the
northwestward of the city. IT quick
tly passed beyond signal call and van
.ished from sight. When last seen. the
= Vickers was flying at an altitude Of
i 900 TO 1900 feet 1t was not known
/. why Alcock made such a long deteur
to the westward before heading for
his goal. but it probably was to give
the motors a last test.
3 Weighs Six Tons.
Z The Vickers biplane carries two
.motors Of $50 horsepower each 1t
sis so constructed that II can keep
sgoing with one disabled. Equipped
sfor the flight. with gasolene tanks
sfull the machines weight was figured
Sat SIX tons. Its wireless has a 25O
Emile radius. The distance from New
s-foundland to Ireland is 1850 miles
Power the route Alcock and Brown
spianned to follow. The Nickers is not
: equipped with poutoOns. and II il
Scomes Gown in the sea it will prob
Sably be wrecked. as was Hawker's
splane. By emptying gas and water
Stanks il can be kept afioat for some
Stime.
2 Captain AIcock was a British navy
faviatoT during the war, and was cap
fIured by the Turks. Lieutenant
Thrown fought with the royal air
sdcwn while acting as observer ana
Captured by the Germans.
= The machine carried 81 gallons OF
sretrol. sufficient for twenty-five
S-hours cruising at a speed Of ninety
SmiIes an hour. Under normal condi-
Stions. il was expected that Ireland
awould be reached in nineteen hours.
EThe altering attachments on the ra-
Ediator are OF the most improved type,
Ill 1g,l
(Which was the direct cause of Hawk
gers failure will be eliminated.
: Filters in Good Spirits.
z Alcock ana Brown wore the usual
gaviator's clothing. with electric heat
ping apparatus. They carried food
Sufficient for three days. They were
Elm the highest spirits when they
sstarted and in fine physical condi-
stion.
; The meteorological officer reported
that exceptionally favorable weather
Swin prevail for twenty-four hours.
: Capt. John AlcOck has been flying
tSfor the past nine years. He was
<born at Manchester. England, in 1892.
tHe has won numerous awards for
,,sbravery during the war; was cap
.1ured by the Turks and repatriated
after signing OF the armistice.
. Lieut. Arthur w. Brown, naviga-
saor OF the Vickers plane. was born OF
sAmerican parentage al Glasgow. Scot !
s]and, in 1856.
.. He enlisted in the British air I
forces IN 1914, was taken prisoner on I
sthe western front and repatrIated in ;
~December. 1917.
/. The British rigid dtrgtDIo R-3f.
(which Is n make the trans Atlantic 1