The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-25
NAVY SPEEDS UP FOR
OCEAN FLIGHT RACE
Chances to Win Contest In
crease as Bad Weather De-
lays British Filters.
8 U. s. "SHIPS" TO START
NC-3 Passes Another Hard
Test-May Start Before End
Of the Month.

The chances Of the navy to be first
10 make an aerial flight across the At
iantic seems TO grow brighter daily, as
PAD weather continues to prevent Harry
Z. Hawker. pilot of the Sopwith BIZ
plane, and Capt. Frederick P. Raynham,
tne Martinsyde aviator, from taking
or at Newfoundland.
The belief is not confined to tbose
VINO nave watcherd the performance Of
the NC boats at Rockaway. The cable
message sent to the British f1iers yes
terday by the British Air Ministry ask
ing rather pointedly the reason why the
Iisht mas not been made Is thought to
oe an indication of the uneas iness felt in
hngland concerning the navy's chances
OF peing first in making the long flight
navy onicers at Rockaway, who have
oeen studying the transatlantic flight
problem since the armistice drove from
tneir heads such things as aerial cruis-
ers ana submarine chasers, have several
reasons for their belief that the navy
Will win the race. In the first place
the meteorologsts at Newfoundland
hoId out no prospect of good flying
weather before the end of this month.
when the navy will be almost ready to
start. Then there is the matter Of en-
gines and planes.
One Motor on British Planes,
Both Hawker and Raynham are TAX
ms lion hearted rather than a Ieye,
headed chance. Each blplane has one
motor. II anything goes wrong with
'he engine the flyer viii drop into the
water. be out of the contest and have
only slim chance for life. IL one of
the four motors on one of the NC ships
goes wrong the flying boat will keep
moving right along. IL two stop, II will
stu keen moving at n fast clip through
the air while mechanicians tinker with
the stalled motors. If three or four stop
It will alight on the water, repair dam
ages, possibly with the aid of one of the
oestroyers patrolling the route, and con-
tinue. The NC boats have a proportions
ate reserve supply of fuel greater than
that of the British biplanes. There prob
ably will be three navy ships making
the attempt to two British planes
A great advantage is the matter of
route. While the navy, for some reason.
maintains that 1t has not yet decided
whether the route will be from New
fouEdland to the Azores, or from New
foardland to Ireland. It is practically
certain that the shorter trip OF 1880
miles to the Azores will be made.
Hawker and Raynham, however, be-
cause of the condition of the Daily
Mails $4,000 prize offer that the while
flight be made between this continent
and the British isles in seventy two
hours. are Committed to jumping the
1850 riile sap between st. Johns and
Ireland.
Preparations for the flight at Rock
away went ahead yesterday Of the same
unhurried pace. The NC-s, which made
her first flight on Wednesday. had a
lengthy trial on the water yesterday af-
ternoon. With ten men aboard, and
sand ballast and gasolene. bringing the
total weight to 29,500 pounds, consider
ably more than 1t will carry on the
transatlantic flight. It TAXED" about
on the water with the ''joystick" pressed
forward to prevent her from posi-
BILE unexpected hop Off the water. Com
mander II. c. Richardson and Lient.
David Mccullough alternated at the con-
trolls. Lieut.. h. Emerson Byrd. expert
navigator and wireless man, who prob
ably will take charge of the navigating
OF the ocean flight. also was on board.
Although naval secrecy prevented the
giving out of any figures on speed. II
was easy to see that the NC-3 came UP
TO expectations, despite the fact that It's
starboard motor continued to sulk. as Il
had on the trial trip. There Is nothing
serious about that motor, naval men say,
but II simply doesn't work. The trip
was made in the loom of a fog which
came in from sea, but SO eager were the
authorities TO try out the ship" that
the weather was disregarded. After a
number of rushes up and down the bay
rushes in which the curved hull ploughed
up n white spray which nearly con-
cealed the Ship from view---it was
headed down the inlet and disappeared
from view into the ocean. 1t went sew
eral miles to sea before It turned and
SKINNED back over the water. The tests
lasted two hours.
Preparing other "Ships."
Meantime on shore mechanics and
workmen also were busy. The NC-4
is rapidly being prepared for taking the
water. She may slide down the marine
railway early next week. The mel
the old trial horse which established a
reputation for its newer sisters of the
same type, also is being groomed for
the flight. The wings of the NC-2
whose tandem motors did not come UP
TO scratch. are being fitted on her. She
too probably will take to water and air
next week.
Twelve men, who will be placed al
points where the planes may stop along
the route. will leave the station to-day
10 podru navy supply FeSsel winch
will take them TO their destination. On
Saturday another group will leave.
Il is believed the matter or navigation
is solved, although naval officers are not
communicative on this point. The d.
regional wireless device by which q
course may be followed and bearings as.
certained without the aid OF a sextant
will be used and in addition destroyers
at frequent intervals along the course
and buoys giving out pillars of smoke
by day and flame by night will be used