The sun., 1919-05-11
SECOND LEG OF
AIR TRIP DONE
IN FINE STYLE
NC-1 Finishes It in 6 Hours
and 81 Minutes and
Lands Perfectly.
NC-3 GETS INTO TROUBLE
Break of Propeller Stick Cause
of Return to Halifax-Her
Time About 7 Hours.
NC-3 GETS INTO TROUBLE

American naval seaplanes NC-1 and
NC-3 have arrived here after making
nonstop flights Of 400 nautical miles,
or 500 statute miles, from Halifax
harbor on the final North American
stretch Of their transatlantic flight.
Owing to mishap to a propeller
which compelled her to return to
Halifax after flying fifty miles from
the port, the NC-3, bearing Com
mander John H. Towers, leader Of the
venture, arrived at 7:31 this evening,
three hours and fifty minutes after
her sister ship, the NC-1, commanded
by Lieutenant-Commander P. N. L.
Bellinger.
The NC-1, which left Halifax at
S:44 A. NJ, made the trip in six hours
and fifty-seven minutes and came
roaring into Trepassey Bay ut 3:41,
making n perfect landing and plan
ing Immediately to her mooring. The
ships in the harbor heard her calling
by wireless that she was approaching,
and were covered with bunting.
Motor boats circled about her, shout
ing congratulations, and pHnts Of
vantage about the harbor were
crowded with people. -.-------l
Her speed was 661S nautical, or
IS land, miles an hour. a rate which
is in excess Of the cruising speed de-
termlned upon by Commander Towers
as the best at which to fly long dis
tance without straining engines.
Perfect weather for start.
Propeller misfortune beset the
NC-3. despite the fact that on Friday
Commander Towers had carefully
tested out the planes. The NC-3. 1t
was learned. broke propeller during
test flight early this morning, but
replaced 1t and followed twenty min
utes behind Commander Bellinger's 8
plane, which set out at S:44 A. M.
The start was made in brilliant sun
light with a gentle wind from the
north cutting across the course, which
was almost due east. 1t seemed a
perfect day for the start, so the
crews were at their posts eager to get
away at in the morning.
The second propeller trouble oc-
cured when one of the sticks on the
NC-3 cracked. She was then fifty
miles from Halifax. Her wireless
flashed the bad tidings to the mother
ship Baltimore. in the harbor. and at
1880, an hour and forty minutes
after the first start, Commander
Towers's craft dropped into the water
alongside the Baltimore. Mecha-
nicians had prepared propellers on re-
ceipt Of the wireless message so that
as little time as possible would be
taken to replace the damaged one,
but despite this 1t was 1880 P. M.
before the NC-3 again streaked across
the water and plunged forward on her
journey.
The NC-1 knew Of the mishap OF
the flagship. as Commander Towers
ordered word flashed to the leading
plane just before he turned back.
When the NC-1 landed here conf
dence was expressed by her crew that
their leader would be along just as
fast as the propeliers Of his craft
would take him. Commander Tow
ers's plane made the trip in seven
hours and one minute. only a few
minutes slower than the NC-1.
Flew at High Altitude.
The NC-l flew at a considerable alti-
tude, Immediately after taking on
from Halifax harbor. The course was
along the coast OF Nova Scotia and
then straight across the gap from
Louisburg to Trepassey Bay. more
than 300 miles further on. DestroyerB
were stationed along the route, but
THIS precaution was needless for both
planes with the exception of the in
cident OF the cracked propeller, ex-
perienced no trouble.
The crews OF both planes expressed
the belief that before they take or on
the long trip to the Azores their sis
yer ship, the NC-4, which is now at
nathan, Mass. undergoing minor
repairs, will be with them. The day
o' the start from here has not been
Hhnounced, for It will depend a good
o'al on weather conditions but II Is
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