New-York tribune., 1919-05-01
Five superdreadnoughts to
Leave at Once to Take
Their Stations Along the
Path Of Atlantic Fliers
Next Week to See Start
Route TO Be Announced bv
Commander Towers To-
day; NC-4 To Be Tested

The NC-4, last of the United States
navy's giant transatlantic seaplanes,
was launched at Rockaway yesterday.
The first fight of the huge craft was
postponed until to-day, due to the fact
that the air had not been completely
elected from the gasolene system Of the
power plant.
Oiliclal announcement of the route
across the Atlantic will be made to-day
by Commander John II. Towers, officer
in charge of the NC Seaplane Divi-
sion L.
From the best available information
it is understood the three big scaplanes
will start on the first leg of the trans
atlantic flight early next week.
The naval tender Melville, under
command of Commander John S. Ar
wine, sailed yesterday for her station
in midocean, where she will act as sup
ply ship to the NC boats and also as
mother ship TO the destroyers patrol
ling the mid-Atlantic.
The uperdreadnoughts New York,
Arkansas, Texas, Utah and Florida will
sail to-day to take up the stations on
the Atlantic assigned to the squadron.
Rear Admiral c.. P Plunkett will hoist
his flag on the New York.
Two small flying boats of the M-F
type We're shipped on the base trans
port to Newfoundland. They will be
used to obtain meteorological data and
test air conditions. The transport
Prairie left here for Newfoundland
Tuesday.
Commander John II. Towers took
Crew No. for three hour test flight
in a F5 flying boat Immediately after
his arrival from Washington yesterday.
The flight was made to test out new
navigating apparatus, and was declared
to be {. complete success.
One Of the new instruments is a
"Turn Indicator" which is said to de-
tect Immediately any tendency of the
flying craft to get off its course. and
to check "the deviation in its incipi-
ency." The instrument is constructed
on the gyroscopic principle.
After the flight was completed Com
mander Towers issued statement Civ
ing the dimensions and general out
lines Of the NC flying boats. SO far
as the dimensions are concerned they
confirm those printed in The Tribune
Monday. Regarding the technical de-
tails of the boat the statement says:
"The gasolene pumps are wind driven
by small wooden propellers and are in
duplicate. An auxiliary hand operated
pump is provided. Flying control is
of the dual control Deperdussin sys-
TEN with side by side seating. Pilots
are in the hull just forward of the
gasolene tanks.
Wireless Has 3O0-Milc Radius
"Complete wireless installation in
cludes telegraph and telephone, and
wireless direction indicator is provided.
The system should give radius of ap-
proximately 800 miles while in the air
and l50 miles while on water.
Electric current is furnished by gen.
orator operated by wind driven pro
pellcr. In addition to operating wire
less telegraph apparatus the storage
batteries operate complete lighting
system.
"The wireless operator and engineer
are located in the main after compart-
ment just aft Of the gasoline tanks.
Each is provided with complete instru-
ment board.
"Cruising speed of the boats Is about
sevelty-tWo statute miles an hour. Gas
olere consumption at cruising speed
about $50 pounds average an hour. Total
gasolene ca.,Ni2l about II, 400 pounds.
Cru sing !iua without wind about
LII milaa."