New-York tribune., 1919-05-09
Whole Coast Watches Flight of Seaplanes
Two U. S. Seaplanes Reach
Halifax ON Flight to Europe

roar from the concentrated power of
10000 horses the huge ship tore
through the haze-swept waters of ia
maica Bay. Fifty seconds later she
literally leaped from the water into
the air at terrific speed.
The haze had scarcely shadowed her
graceful lines when Lieutenant Com
mander A. C. Reads NC-4 rushed
through the water after her. The
"Four," too, rose with graceful ease in
fifty seconds. and quickly pierced the
misty shroud.
Then the NC-1, first of her type, and
commanded by Lieutenant Commander
P. N. L. Bellinger, raced madly after
her two sisters. Sixty seconds after
her start she sprang into the air.
Wind Conditions Perfect
All three planes took off toward the
southwest, in the opposite direction to
which they had to fly. Five minutes
after the first "take- off" the anxious
watchers on the beach saw the three
| in majestic formation gradually emerge
from the smoky black haze, headed due
east.
They were flying splendidly, the
twelve Liberty motors humming in the
perfect unison of smooth running. All
the signs BODIED we'll for a rapid and
successful flight to Halifax. The wind,
but gentle spring zephyr. was just
out retarding their progress.
Behind them in the air one of the big
F-5 l. type of two-engined flying boats
was acting as attendant. In her cock
pit were the photographers of the navy
taking official photographs for the
archives of the Navy Department.
The F-5 L, piloted by Gunner C. D.
Griffin and Ensign j. R. Briggs, ac-
companied the NC seaplane as far as
Fire Island and then returned to Rock
away. There Griffin reported they
had left the three transatlantic planes
flying strong in due easterly direc-
ton.
"The NC-l was twenty miles off
shore" said Griffin, "about 600 feet
in the air. The NC-4 was flying ten
miles off shore at an altitude of 500
feet, and the NC-3 between them at
distance of fifteen miles off shore and
| 500 feet high.
1--WE flew quite close and could see
Commander Towers sitting in the COM
manding officers cockpit in the nose
of the NC-3. We semaphored to him,
saying 'Good-by, good luck He replied
with wave of his handkerchief"
Orders for Flight Brief
The spirit in which the navy is max
! ing its attempt to fly across the At
lantic is voiced in the flying orders
announced by Commander Towers just
before the start. They read:
Should any seaplane becor.e sep
arated from the formation it shall
make the rest of it's way along the
course until normal conditions OBJ
tain. In case any seaplane is forced
to come down the others to remain
| in the vicinity until report of the
other planes condition is received
Sharp spirals and steep banks are
| forbidden.
"If the commanders flagship is
! forced down orders viii be awaited
as to which plane if any, shall re-
! main. If necessary the commander
will use one of the other seaplanes
] as his flagship. A standard altitude
of 1000 feet will be maintained"
There are to be no aerial acrobatics
nor reckless flying. The expedition is
of a scientific nature and is to be con-
Quoted as such. Commander Towers
remarked before stepping aboard his
craft, owe are all assigned to special
duty. That is ALL"
Early yesterday morning it looked
as if the flight would have to be post
poned again. Conflicting reports re-
garding weather conditions were being
received, which made decision on part
Of Commander Towers almost impos-
sble
First Plane Ordered Out
Promptly at 1880, however, he or
dered the NC-3 out of her hangar She
had lain there through the night, while
the mechanics worked feverishly tun-
ing up the three new Liberty motors
xuh ich hoI 1aI oF
the faulty ones. The other two
planes had remained on the concrete
base since their trial flights the night
before.
She was hauled onto the platform
Of the marine railway and quickly
launched. Then she was given her
first trial fight with the new engines.
Exactly at $3.50 O'Clock she rose from
: the water in thirty-nine seconds with
, her transatlantic crew aboard.
J She rose to an altitude and few in
manner that greatly pleased the other
! crews watching from the beach. Dur
ing this fight Lieutenant Commander
, Lavender, chief radio officer, spoke
over the wireless telephone to the
other ships lying on the beach and
told them the NC-3's engines were run
ming splendidly.
Meanwhile on the beach the NC-1
WAS DelnS swung on the CallDrdtcC
compass lines to work out her com.
pass deviations. This was completed
. just before g o'clock. Five minutes
after she took off in a preliminary
trial flight with Commander Bellingel
and his crew.
twenty-five minutes later she re
! turned. At this moment the thicl
: black haze had darkened the atmos
} phere to such an extent that the NC.
. was compelled to use her night landin,
flares to make landing. AS she cir
r cied over the NC hangar two powerful
points of light shot out, piercing th
inky haze and lighting up the waite
, where she settled.
4 Wings Still Give Trouble
After short run her blunt nos
!. pushed up against the beach. The
one Of her pilots shouted 70 Comman
: der Towers "She still has tendenc
to roll over l had to hold the site
firm all the time"
= He referred to the difficulty expert
(. enced with the ailerons. This aros
: through the necessity of using the. lef
wing Of the NC-2 and the original win
of the NC-1. following the unfortunat
4 accidents to the remarkable craft
= Evidently the two do not quite balance
@ Commander Towers said this would no
: affect the fight, but would be bigge
a strain on the pilot
a By this time e was clear that Com
4 nandcr Towers was feeling very dub
. nua Hio uaual bo biiifu RI;