New-York tribune., 1919-04-22
Monster NC-3, Now Ready
for First Test To-day at
Rockaway; Sister Craft
Also May Take the Air
No. 2 To Be Test Machine
Action Will Determine the
Equipment To Be Used
in Actual Atlantic Dash

The huge naval flying boat NC-3,
built to fly across the Atlantic will
make her first flight to-day at Rock
away. There is possibility that she
viii be in the air at the same time
a. the NC-2. one of her sister ships.
The finishing touches were put on
the NC-3 yesterday. The minor re-
pairs necessary on the wings Of the
NC-2 also were completed, and the
engines given a tuning up. While
both boats were ready to fly late
yesterday afternoon, the flights were
postponed until to-day.
Crews Assigned TO Stations
Thrty~six petty officers and mcchan
ics Of the trans Atlantic section at the
Rochaway Naval Air Station left for
the Brooklyn Navy Yard yesterday.
They are part of the shore crew that
has been handling the N. C. boats,
and have been assigned to stations
along the route the boats Will fly.
At the Brooklyn Navy Yard the men
will be detailed to the cruisers Bal
timore and Columbia and the convert
ed mine layer Aroostook. These ships
Will then leave for theit appointed
stations, Brayle Harbor n. r., Norta,
Azores, and Lisbon, Portugal respect
lively.
THIS order indicates the plans of
the Navy Department as to the route
OF the transatlantic flight 1t points
to the probability that the big ships
win not fly to England or France
Braylc lIarbor, n. T., is about mid
way between Cape Race and st. John 8,
on the east coast Of Newfoundland
The three naval ships will carry full
supplies for the three Aging boats, IN
cluding spare parts and engines. The
beach crew sent out from Rockaway
yesterday are fully experienced in
been specially selected for that pur.
pose.
From an observation Of the expert
ments, and from the equipment OF the
four nc type of flying boats, it is
now possible to outline the navy's
plans for the transatlantic flight
The attempt will be made with three
OF the four ships early next month
They viii be, it is understood, the
according to present information, will
be used throughout in the role Of eX-
perlmental ship, and the results of
her test flights Will determine the
necessary equipment of the other
three.
Fourth Engine on NC-2
Until yesterday it was understood
the NC-1 was eliminated from the
attempt due to the fact that her wings
were badly damaged in the storm of
last month. This ship was originally
equipped with three engines.
1t was observed yesterday that four
engines had been placed on the NC1
in exactly the same manner as they
entirely different arrangement from
the NC-2, and is due to the lessons
learned in test flights with the latter
craft
The wings Of the NC-1 are in the
Curtiss plant at Garden City, L. l..
undergoing repair. Should they not
be completed in time for the fight
it is understood the wings of the NC
will be placed on the NC-1 so she car
take off with the Three and Four.
Under this plan all three of th(
navy's flying boats making the attemp
to fly across the Atlantic will b,
identical in structure and cquipmcnt
The NC-2 was designed to make tht
attempt also, but she was equipped
with a fuselage body carrying the con
trolls Of the machine This body wa
pidNtu dDONc lIt DOdL DOUy DcLWccl
, the two wings. The engines wer
placed tandem on either side of tn,
fuselage.
The flights with the Two proved
it was learned yesterday, that tn
fuselage offered too large a resistance
and the engine arrangement did no
give the rear propellers their full ef
ficiency. This was because they wer
operating in the rush of air from tn
forward propellers.
Changes Would Delay Trip
f AS far as can be learned it woul
take too much time to remove tn
, fuselage from the Two, and chang
the arrangement of the engines, an,
this has led to the decision to US
the One. Three and Four in tn
y actual test.
), 1t will be much easier, it was said
}, to transfer the wings of the Two t
= the One should that be necessary.