The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-12
SEAPLANE IN TEST
MAKES FAST FLIGHT
~Wounded" Soldier Taken
From Rockaway to st. Luke's
Hospital in 40 Minutes.
WOMAN GOES AS NURSE
Demonstration Made as a Fea'
ture of Programme at Aero
nautical Show.

1t took just forty-nine minutes 10 get
n wounded" man from the naval air
station on Rockaway Beach to the oper-
ating table of ST Luke's Hospital, 113th
street and Amsterdam avenue, Manhat-
tan, yesterday morning by seaplane and
motor ambulance.
The test flight was made TO demon
strate how rapidly'one could be done II
necessary. The interested persons were
Major Helen Bastedo OF tho Motor Corps
of America, Lieut. Stevens, pilot and
Lieut. David Gray OF the Royal Air
Force, the patient. The flight was made
under auspices of the Aeronautical Elk
position at Madison Square Garden.
Major Bastedos part In the affair was
duo. to her curiosity to discover Just how
much better than automobile, II at all,
the airplane is In the speed transports-
ton OF patients. She secured permission
from Lieut. Commander Schofleld of the
Roclaway station to use one of the navy
living boats known as the H S. 2. and
Lieut. stevens was detailed as pilot.
start in Choppy Water.
Lieut. Gray volunteered TO act the part
Of patient. He was bound to stretcher
and slowed aboard the seaplane with
Major Bastedo alongside as nurse. The
water was decidedly choppy, when. timed
by a stop watch. the flying boat shot out
into the sea with a roar. Tho weather
was far from clear. so the flying ambu-
lance was compelled TO circle the bay
several times before the ribbon of the
Hudson could be picked from the mis-
cellaneous land and water scenery
heaped about
As soon as the pilot made out the
Hudson he shot UP the stream and
dropped into the water again at Ninety
sixth street, where lay the receiving ship
Granite state. The wounded man.
still fast to the stretcher. was transferred
20 a dory, put ashore with some difficulty
owing to the whitecaps and slowed
away in the Motor Corps ambulance
waiting on the pier. The run to the hos
pital was made up the Drive and over to
Amsterdam avenue. Tho eighteen mile
trip by water was made in sixteen min
utes.
Dr., Bastedo explained later at the
chow that the demonstration showed the
value Of aerial ambulances, not only for
their speed. but because Of the comfort
IN transportation. To-day, which Is
Bastedo Motor Corps day at the aerial
show, several women speakers will ad-
dress the crowds presumably upon v'onl-
ans place in aerial industry. Major
Bastedo and her aids, who have driven
for many we'll known American and al
lied officials during the war. will be there
and will speak in the afternoon.
z. S. Height Record stands.
Word was received at the show yes
terday that a record flight will be at
tempted to-day from Hampton Roads
to the Rockaway naval station the
attempt, which will be for speed, Will be
made by Lieut.. w. L. Richardson. chief
Of naval aviation photography, in an
S6L seaplane which has wing spread
of 104 feet This plane Is driven by two
Liberty motors Of 3S0 horsepower each.
Another pilot will accompany Lieut..
Richardson so that he may take pictures
on the trip.
America still holds the altitude record.
according to a cable despatch received
at the show yesterday. The message,
which was from the London Graphic,
stated It had been discovered that Capt
Lang of the Royal Air Force reached a
height of only 81 900 feet on January 2
last instead OF $4,000 feet as reported.
This means that the previous record OF
Major Z. W. Schroeder of $500 feet
still stands This was made last Sep
tsmber in a flight at Dayton, Ohio.
Passenger carrying airplanes will be
In operation between New York and
Chicago before the summer 10 over, II
was stated at the show. The l.. w r.
Engineering Corporation OF College Point
Is building a commercial airplane for
this service which will carry both pas
ssngers and freight The machine has
a 100 foot wing spread and is driven by
three Liberty motors OF combined horse
power OF 200.
The builders are figuring on a non
stop overnight service between the two
cities, but II II is decided to stop at
Cleveland the gasolene supply OF $50
SALONS may be cut in half and two tons
OF freight added.