The sun., 1919-04-30
NC-4 TO APPEAR
TO-DAY IN OCEAN
RIG FOR FLIGHT
Commander Towers Says
Oversee Trip Is Bound to
Be Successful.
TO START WITHIN WEEK
Transatlantic Crews Have Try
outs With Radio Equipments,
Which Work Well.


atlantic fiiers to appear in full trans
atlantic rig. will take the water early
this morning, and, II the weather is
not too heavy for an untested plane.
will make her first fight.
At the same time it is promised
that the course will be made public
officially on the return OF Commander
John II. Towers and Commander Rich
ardson from Washington, whittier they
went yesterday afternoon for a final
conference. The terminus of the flight
may not be in England. The navy's
object is to cross the Atlantic from
continent to continent.
4 final landing In Portugal, Spain
o. near Brest in France will fulfil the
navy's orders, and either last leg would
be slightly shorter than that to Lands
End or Plymouth from the Azores. 1t
has even been suggested that the
night may end on the Seine at Paris
though II would be a longer fight than
that TO Plymouth
upon, Commander Towers for the first
time yesterday declared his absolute
faith in the accomplishment of his mis-
elon, The date for the start was set
weeks ago, preparations are so far for
ward that date will be adhered to and
the feet win be away from Rockaway
and ready IN Newfoundland before the
end of the week.
Crews Practise Flying.
The navy's transatlantic crews Nos. :
and yesterday began practice flying
as units In the smaller + boats while
the finishing touches are being applied
to the NC 3, and I, the craft that will
make the actual flight. Crew 2. in
charge OF Commander Reed. and Crew
8, in charge OF Commander Bellinger.
few for nearly two hours practising
with the wireless telegraph and tele-
phone and with the radio direction find-
ers. which for practice purposes are
IDENTICAL on both the NC and F boats.
For the first time yesterday Com
mander John II. Towers declared posi-
riveiy that the flight will start within a
week-and that II will finish.
THE flight will be made" he said
We are not asking for any luck, good
or bad The element OF luck does not
enter into this flight at all. 1t will be
successful We know it."
Commander Towers's confidence is not
idle, in the opinion OF those who with
him have studied the problem of trans
atlantic flight and worked its solution
with mathematical exactitude. Accord
ing TO these men there Is not even as
much chance in the fight as there might
be in the crossing on an ordinary de-
stroyer, battleship or liner. The navy
will make the whole jump within twenty
four hours. The weather over the course
for that period can be predicted as the
result of widespread observations with
definite certainty. The speed of the
planes. the load they must carry and the
supplies necessary for tha Job are equal
Iy a matter of calculation.
Guarding Against Accidents.
As 10 accidents, Commander Towers
and the navy are determined that nc
accidents due to carelessness win occur
Not only are the crews OF the hiers
p:ckcd men, but every person who has
anything to do with the preparations for
the night is a careful selection. Twenty
mechanics were swarming all over the
dig Nc 1 on the beach at RockaWay
Yesterday afternoon. And they handled
theIr hack saws and drills and turnbuck'
les with the most obvious loving care.
Commander Bellinger and others o!
the flying detail circ!ed about and gave
their approval to almost every turn OF a
bo,t The motors we're in place, the
nronellers were bolted on. and it was
n-ed,cted ina the iirst OF the iiiers &c
appear In her full Transatlantic rig WI
lake the water and mako test nigh
This morning.
Yssterday's work, It was made plain
r.ax moi go much for the purpose of test
ing the wireless apparatus as II was o
testing the crews in its use. The test
proved highly satisfactory. The twt
crews, running sixty miles south south
east OF Ambrose Channel. not only sue
ceeded in talking from boat to boat OF
The wireless telephone, but maintained
constant touch with Fire Island ant
-#4.A hama station az Ear Rocka
way. despite the fact that the air wa
fairly jamIned with other messages com
iieg and going between the shore and In
ceming troopships.
4 The navisators also found that the,
could use the wireless direction FINDER
with Fire Island and Rockaway, ever
in the midst OF this busy offshore ether
This test was regarded as most salts
factory. Elaborate measures have beei
i .4'rf ---------
Ooatinssd on Fourth Pogs,