The daily progressive-miner., 1919-04-25
NAVY OCEAN FLIGHT
 PLANS IN DETAIL

wASH1NGTON.-The Navy's plans for transatlantic flight have pro- gressed to the point where 1t is now possible to give some of the particu- lars of the project in greater detail.
 The preparations call for the use of TWO large naval seaplanes of the N. c type. both Of which will be started at the same time. carrying five men reach. They will fly from the Rocka way (LA Ll Naval Station to the east coast of Newfoundland some time after May 1. but very close to that date. This flight will not be 8 part Of the transatlantic voyage. which will start from the east coast of Newfoundland.
 It is not the plan to fly direct from Newfoundland to Ireland or England. The route will be from Newfoundland to the Azores and from the Azores to the nearest point on the coast of con tinental Europe. somewhere on the 'west coast of Portugal.
 It is not the purpose. as has been previously intimated. to divS1e the leg between Newfoundland and the Azores into two parts. The idea now is to have the two planes continue to those islands for their first stop. A. bout twenty officers of the Navy have been assigned to transatlantic flight duty. and from these ten will be chos, en for the actual flight
 The purpose in using two planes is that if On should fail. the other might succeed. Also through the use of twe lanes. it would be possible if one met with misaap for the other 10 go to it's assistance The four N c planes in use are designed officially as che \ C-1. the N C-2. the N C3, and the N C-4. Two of these will be chos en for the flight
 The N C-1 was the first put in con- mission and some weeks ago made a successful trip from Reckaway to Bol, ing Field and return. Recently it was damaged in storm and put temper 'arily out Of commission. It is hoped to get the N C-1 again before the of. ficial naval ypyage- across the Atlantic : is undertaken. The N C-2 is now in Iiecmmission at Rockaway. IL was to have been tested this afternoon, but ID to a late hour the Navy Depart ment had nat heard from it The oth- . er two planes are being put into shape rapidly,
 Unofficial reports reached Washing. ton from New York saying that the navy would attempt the transatlantic . tlieht from Rckaway Point, flying first Q Newfoundland and thence across rhe A-lartirn. Commander John H. Towers. who is in charge Of plans for the flight, said there was no founda- ton far this report and that none of fhe planes would start from Rockaway tsfre May I. The report was probab- Y based on the fact that test flights were being made at Rockawav Point.
 The spot on the Newfoundland coast rom which the flight will begin has been selected, but it is not the desire cs the department at this time to an-
 -uace its definite location. Lieut.. Commander Belinger Of the navy and Lieutenant E. G. Stone of the Coast Guard who on the destroyer Barney 'unted for landing and starting sites along the Newfoundland coast, have "ompleted their mission, and on their recommendation a point On the east ccasr of Newfoundland. somewhere south of ST Johns has been selected. The Barney also touched at point TT the Nova Scotia coast, where an Intermediate landing site was picked.
 Lieut.. Commander Bellinger, who ar rived here today. reported to the Navy Department that while he had found 2 satisfactory starting point, it had been difficult on account Of the high and rocky character of the east coast.
 Tie purpose in flying the planes from Rockaway to Newfoundland, it was explained, was not only to trans bort them 10 the officially selected starting point, but to test their endur ance and speed qualities. The distance from Rockaway Point to the selected