The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-07
OVERSEA FLIGHT
THIS WEEK, PLAN
Hawker, Australian Filler, Get
ting Mount in Final
Shape.
OTHERS WILL TRY
Americans Will Have to
Hurry, as Rivals Are AL
most Ready.
Special Dsspdfch TO The suS.

speCtut DVpuTcb 10 lhh Sun.
Sr. JOINS. y. F., April 6.-Harry
Hawker, an Australian aviator, prob
ably will start from st. Johns the lat
ter part Of this week in an effort to
make the first airplane fight over the
Atlantic Ocean. Hawker will pilot a
Sopwitch biplane, and with him as
navigators will be Lieut.. Commander
Mackenzie Grieve OF the British navy.
1t is understood that Hawker and
Commander Grieve have completed
their arrangements, given their ma
chine FINAL overhauling and are only
awaiting favorable weather conditions
before leaving American shores on
their epoch making attempt to fly
overseas. =
A number Of other aviators. many
of them famous for their work in the
air service Of the British army. are
here getting their machines in readi-
ness for the fight, and 1t Is expected
that several others will follow the
Hawker machine.
Capt. C. w. r. Morgan plans to
make the attempt, plotting a Martyn-
side machine, and sidney Pickles Of
the Royal Aero Club Of England will
leave Newfoundland In a Falrey BIZ
plane. Col. Porte will try to make
the flight in a Felixstowe Furey tri-
plane flying boat. Col. Porte Is the
aviator who, as a Lieutenant in the
British navy, had planned to make the
transatlantic night in Rodman Wana-
makers airplape, the America, just
before the European war began.
To He Ready This Week.
| 1t is believed in aeronautical circles
here that the end Of this week will zee
| at least four British and Australian
| contestants ready to start on the voy-
age, and unless the American navy s
| airmen make their start far ahead OF
1 their announced programme 1t looks as
1 II the honor of making tine first attempt
! to fy across the Atlantic will go to an
! Enelishman or Australian.
| Besides the aviators already men
| toned, r. Raynham is getting ready for
| the flight, and Major J. c. p. Wood will
pilot a short Rolls-Royce biplane. Capt.
Arthur Payze. the first British airman
| to announce his intention OF trying the
overseas flight. Is. according to des-
! patches received here from England,
still getting ready his Whitehead bi-
plane. 1t has not been announced
! whether Capt. Payze will start from the
4. European side of the water or ship his
machine to America and try to fy back
| home.
| All Have Fine Records.
! All Of the British pilots who are to
make the attempt have very fine wal
records as aviators, and are all airmer
gan lost his right leg below the knee
during an air battle while serving with
the British army. but says the loss OF
the limb does not handicap him in the
air. Major Wood Is probably the young
est of the contesting airmen. HIS early
I; experience as a flier was gained in the
African campaign, and later he was
transferred to the British forces on the
western front, where he made a reputa-
ton as a pilot OF skill and daring. Hs
has flown more than 10, 900 hours In
service flights.
The aviators who will leave these
shores this month are all entered in the
$4,000 contest of the London Ddiil
Mail, which offered that sum as a prize
for the hrst transatlantic flight in q
heavier than air machine.