The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-15

route to Horta or Punta Del Gado-
There they will refueI, make necessary
repairs and start as soon as possible
for Lisbon. Departing from Lisbon in
the early morning the flyers are or
dered to head for Plymouth. the OBJ
jective point of the long voyage
One of the ''Nancies' " officers de-
clared that a new branch of the sci
ence of navigation was growing up
around the NC planes, thus making
the flight an undertaking expected to
contribute materially to the advance
ment OF the profession of the sea.
Giant strides have been made in de-
velopment of the steering and wealth
err charts to be used on the flight and
the crews expected to accomplish
worth while results in the experiments
above blue water.
Ascend From Water.
The naval aircraft the NC-1 and
NC-3, huge flying boats, which ascend
from a take off, in the water and
land also on the surface of the sea,
are driven by Liberty motors, four to
a plane and aggregating / 500 horse
power. They are of the bipiane type,
with wing span of 126 feet, length
over all So feet ami length of hull, A
feet. The craft weigh 1 400 pounds,
with navigating and wireless equip
ment aboard, but without crew and
fuel The total flying weight is IS, 500
pounds.
The planes have a dual control sys-
tenn, with seats side by side and for
ward of the gasoline tank. for the pi-
lots. each of whom has a complete
set of instruments. including COM
passes. The navigating station. out
fitted with the regular marine instru-
ments. is in the bow. while the engi-
neer and radio operator occupy the
main compartment at the tanks. The
planes are expected to cruise, without
winds, rs 0and) miles an hour and
the gasoline capacity of IL. 400 pounds
Will carry them upwards of 1900
miles, considerably in excess of the
longest lap of the ocean flight-from
Trepassey to the Azores-without re-
fueling.
With Commander Towers in charge
of the expedition, the three planes set
out from the United States in COM
mand of Mr.. Towers, Lieut. Com
mander A. c. Read and Lieut.. Com
mander P. N. L. Bellinger.
The Officers in Charge.
Commander Towers, who is "a years
OF age, was born in Georgia and en-
tered the Naval academy in 1902
After serving on various warships he
was assigned to the aviation section
for instruction three years before the
outbreak of the European war. Mid
winter of 1912 found him in charge
of the aviation camp of the Guam
| tanamo maneuver grounds of Allan
tic fleet. and in September. 1914, as a
lieutenant, he went to London as as
sistant to the American naval at
tache. After a tour of duty on the
staff of the chief of operations at
Washington. during which he partic-
ipated in the selection of aviation sta
tons and won his commission as COM
mander. Mr.. Towers was designated
o rlN this 70 he nj fnr
the transatlantic flight.
Lieutenant Commander Read. 80
years of age, was born in New Hamp-
shire. After leaving Annapolis he
filled varied assignments until 1915
when he reported at the naval air sta
ton at Pensacola Fla, for instruction
Two years later he took command OF
the aviation station at Bay Shore, on
Long Island, later assuming a similar
post at Miami, Fla. While on the staff
of the chief of naval operations at
Washington the following year he was
detached for temporary duty in con-
nection with the camouflaging of sea :
tplanes at Hampton Roads, Va, later
holding changing assignments until he
was named for participation in the
raneatlantic flight
Lieutenant Commander Bellinger
born in South Carolina 33 years ago,
went from the naval academy to sea
duty, which included command of q
submarine. He returned to the Acad-
envy for aviation instruction in 1912
and the following year Joined the
Guantanamo cir squadron. After
service in 1914 on the staff of the
chief of naval aeronautics, he was as
signed to the Pensacola station, where
he won promotion to the command OF
the Hampton Roads aviation camp,
to which he reported later in 1917.
He was on detached navy department
duty when he was selected as one OF
the transa tlantic flyers