The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-03
U. s. PLANES READY
FOR OCEAN FLIGHT
Three Naval Craft VIII Be
Placed in Commission This
Morning.
wARSHIPs SHOW ROUTE
Trip to Newfoundland Will
Be Real Test Before Cross
ing Atlantic.

The three great navy seaplanes which
are to attempt to fly to Europe are
about ready for the start from the
Rockaway naval station. AL that re-
mains to be done Is tho rigging OF the
wireless on the NC-1 and few matters
Of detail on the NC-3 and NC-4.
1t is improbable that the start for
Newfoundland will be made before Tues
day or wednesday OF next week be-
cause Of the necessity for further tests
for the NC-4. which has not yet been
tested with the full load of $4,000
pounds, and for the NC-l, which has not
been in the air since her fourth motor
was added and she was-ntted with the
wings OF the NC-2.
This morning mechanics and carpen-
ters will climb of and out Of the great
hulls Of the three seaplanes while they
are officially placed in commission as
craft Of Americas navy, which will es-
| tablish n precedent. for they are the
first naval aircraft to be given the same
STATUS as warships.
The ceremony will consist OF the for
mai turning over of the seaplanes to
Commander Towers. leader Of the trans
oces mic flight, by Capt. Powers Syming-
ton, chief OF stan Of the commandant
Of the Third Naval District. the accept
anco by Conn ander Towers and the
hoisting of the jack. pennant and ma
| tional flag on the three ships at the
sounding Of a bugle. Commander Towers
hasn't n band, 1t was learned yesterday.
| although the naval regulations provide
that there shall be band, so II is prob
able the NC-boats will have TO worry
| along with bugle until after they make
the flight. when bands probably will not
| be 80 scarce.
| Planes Are Given q Rest.
II was a dull day at Rockaway yes
| terday. Although there were dozens of
| mechanics rushing around. three or four
smaller navy seaplanes buzzing through
the air and an army aviator from over
| Mineola way looking down some thou
| sands OF feet on the station, the big
ones'' did not go up. The NC-4s hull
had leaked slightly, making 1t necessary
| to put her in soak at anchor to swell the
| seams The other NC boats remained
in their huge hangar undergoing minor
| adjustments.
When the craft are In perfect condi-
ton for the flight the matter OF the
| weather will come to the fore. 1t is not
| intended to start from Rockaway under
| threatening conditions. for too much de-
| ponds upon getting the NC boats ia
Newfoundland In one piece and, inciden-
! tally, getting their crews there In the
same undivided state. The trip to New
| foundland. which will be made In two
jumps, from Rockaway to Halifax, Nova
Scotia, and from Halifax to Trepassey
Bay Newfoundland. is not considered
part of the transatlantic flight by navy
officials, but merely a couple OF ties,
nights Just enough gasolene will be
| carried to taks the ships safely the SAC
nautical miles to Halifax, where they
| will be refueled for the jump to Trepas-
| sey Bay, 460 nautical miles further on.
II the NC boats rise from the waters
OF that part Of Trepassey Bay known as
\ Mutton Bay under their own full load
and speed two hours easterly withou,
| engine trouble or mishap to the planes
the success of the entire flight is as
sured in the opinion OF naval officers at
| Rockaway.
1t was explained that this is the only
stage of the Rockaway- Halifax New
foundland-Axores and Lisbon Plymouth
loaded to their greatest carrying
capacity, The weather. too. in the re-
gion around Newfoundland is the worst
likely to be met. The engines during
those hrst two or three hours flight
from Mutton Bay will thus be put to
their greatest trial. As the seaplanes
| progress better weather conditions will
be encountered. the gasolene lead, orig
inally i1,400 pounds, will grow less on
falling scale. starting at $50 pounds
an hour, and the pilots themselves will
| hANOn1A
humorins their great flying boats, BY
the time the Azores are reached the
| engines will be consuming only $50
pounds Of fuel an hour.
VIII start in Morning.
| The start from Rocksway will be at
Z o'clock In the morning. The start
from Newfoundland probably will be at
| IL o'clock or noon. for the 1000 nauti-
cal miles (1,3s0 land miles) will be
covered In about eighteen hours, and
the plan is to land always In the day
time during the flight. Fayal therefore,
should be sighted about dawn after an
all night trip
Commander Towers said yesterday
that the Navy Department Is making all
arrangements for stationing the destroy
| ers and battleshipe along the route,
Probably about sixty navy craft will be
used for this work. The battleship New
York. heading a division of big ships un-
der the direction Of Rear Admiral Hugh
Rodman. and the destroyer Rochester, at
the head of forty destroyers. commanded
! by Rear Admiral c. p. Plunkett, have
sailed from New York for their stations.
THE destroyers will have great num-
bers PAINTED on their decks according
to their orders along the route" Com
I 49, \
to see the numbers and thus check up on
our position as determined with the
usual nautical instruments. At night the
destroyers will use searchlights. II the
night Is misty we will be able to see
these lights playing on the cloud banks
much further than II the night is clear. a
| Some trouble Is anticipated at New
| foundland on account OF the weather
and tho poor shelter for the planes
Trepassey Bay, the southeasternmost OF
all the harbors Of the island. Is not a
good narbor. for. with the exception OF
ST. Johns, Newfoundland, has no good
harbors. In addition TO the lack OF
shelter. a southerly wind will blow into
the haIbor icebergs drifting of New,
foun6land and thus seriously threaten
not only the seaplanes, but the destroy
ers and supply ships But this Ia only
one danger In a trip which is full OF
peril from the start at Rockaway &c
the landing at Plymouth,
VIII study Weather Conditions.
Commander Towers will be much a,
h.me In Halifax. the first stopping place
after Rockaway. for he commanded the
American aviation base on the cast shore
Of the harbor during the war. The
United States cruiser Baltimore Ia there
with mechanics and supplies. The crui,