The sun., 1919-07-26
FLY FROM DAYTON
TO MINEOLA IN 6:62
Capt. Francis and Lieut.. Welch
Come to Make Coast to
Coast Flight.
WILL MAKE SINGLE STOP
Martin Bomber, Against Head
Wind, Makes Better Than
90 Miles an Hour.

Capt Roy N. Francis came roaring
across country from Dayton, Ohio, yes
terday in a nonstop Night OF $50 miles,
a flight which is merely test for the
big jump from New York to San Fran
cisco with single stop on the way.
The big two motored Martin bomber
in which the long flight IL to be made
bucked the wind which was almost on
her nose all the way from Dayton to
Hazelhurst Field, Mineola, but despite
this made the $50 mile jump in six hours
and ffty-two minutes, considerably bet
ter than ninety miles an hour.
Capt Francis, who was accompanied
on the long flight by Lieut.. p. W. WEIGH,
said on his arrival at Hazelhurst Field
that he could not fix the day OF the
transcontinental night. but that he prob
ably would take of In Ave or six days.
The big Martin bomber ran into bad
weather and worse luck AT Dayton and
was held there about a month longer
than was expected. Nothing serious was
the matter with the plane or its motors.
but a series OF petty misfortunes gummed
up the work and the weather took turn
at stopping things when the run Of hard
luck was over.
THE flight to-day was made with a
northeast wind hitting us\ in the face
els said last hight at the American Fly
ing Club, IL East Thirty-eighth street
I'm passing over the mountain ranges
In Pennsylvania we Jumped over some
rain clouds and up to about 5000 feet
to make sure we would have plenty Of
gliding space II anything went wrong
with the motors.
The country there looks very chopped
up from the air. The ranges run parallel
through the country and look good
deal like lot OF corn hills. 1t was
mighty good to sight New York after
the long flight from Ohio. It was there
we started TO come down, for we passed
over the cit vat about 5000 feet. The
fight was made by compass all the way.
and we had little trouble. despite the
wind, which drifted us south. We made
certain of our bearings by checking up
on several big cities as We passed over
them. Mineola was made at :55 p. NJ.
The visibility was not very good"
The only trouble experienced was a
leak in the water pump OF one OF the
two 400 horsepower Liberty motors.
Capt. Francis noted the trouble over the
clty, but the motor kept on turning over
despite the defect. For the next few
days mechanics will be very busy going
over the engines and plane to make sure
she is in good shape for the long flight
to North Platte, Neb. The weather will
be studied by Capt Francis and by
Lieut.. WEIGH, who is one weather sharp
not afraid to predict the weather and
then face the music in an airplane him
self. Good, or at least fair. conditions
throughout the continent will be neces-
sary for the success of the flight.
The first hop OF the transcontinental
fight is from Mlneola to North Platte,
1900 miles. The second Is from the
Nebraska town over the Rocky Noun
aims to San Francisco, 1918 miles
way. The plane will carry ITO gallons
{ gasolene and fifty-five gallons Of oil
on her start from Mineola. On board
will be Capt. Francis, Lieut.. E. A. Clune
nd Lieut.. WEIGH. All are skilled me-
hanics as well as pilots. and they will
make all repairs necessary en- route.