Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-08-18
TRANS-SEA FEAT
TO BRING DARING
AIR PILOT HERE
Flight From Panama To
Washington Via ia?
maica, Planned

Americus is on the route laid out
for one of the greatest airplane
flights ever attempted flight of a
single pilot from the Panama Canal
zone to Washington via Jamaica,
which will take the flyer across the
Caribbean sea and other large
stretches of water, total distance of
2439 miles. 1t is intended that the
flight shall be attempted in Septem-
Der. Lieut.. Chas. B. Austin has been
selected to pilot the airship. Souther
Field is one of the scheduled stops,
the route taking flyer from Havana
to Carlstrom Field, Fla, thence here,
and on northeastward. The official
Air Service News Letter tells of the
plans for the feat as follows:
"The Chief of Air Service announc-
es that authority has been granted by
the War Department to attempt a
flight from France Field, Canal Zone,
Panama, to the United States via ia
maica, during the latter part of Sep
tember of this year. Lieut.. Charles
B. Austin, A. S. A., one of the noted
American pilots has been selected to
make this flight. He will fly D. H.
a B airplane and will make the flight
alone. This flight has been contem-
plated for over year and a careful
study has been made of the condition
attending such a flight and it is con-
fidently felt by all that Lieut.. Aus
tin will be able to carry it out sue
cessfully.
"Plans have been drawn up for re-
modelling the plane which will be
used by Lieut.. Austin so as to install
special gasoline and oil tanks for this
trip. The plane when remodeled will
have a capacity of two hundred gal
Ions which is considered sufficient to
reach Jamaica which is the first leg
of the journey. The distance between
France Field, Panama, to Jamaica, is
$50 miles and it will be necessary for
Lieut.. Austin to fly directly over the
caribbean Sea with no possible land
ing place except the water, from the
time he takes off until he reaches ia
maica. From there he will fly over
the islands and then over a hundred
mile stretch of ocean again to Cuba,
landing at Havana. From there he
will fly to Florida and thence up the
coast to Washington, D. c., his final
destination.
"The distance between stops is as
follows:
"France Field to Jamaica, $50
miles; Jamaica to Havana, Cuba, 45O
miles; Havana, Cuba, to Carlstrom
Field, Arcadia, Fla, $50 miles; Carl
strom Field to Souther Field, Amer
icus. Ga. $50 miles; Souther Field
to Fayetteville, North Carolina. $50
miles; Fayetteville to Langley Field,
Hampton, Va, 200 miles; Langley
Field to Washington, D. c., 159 miles.
Total, 2,439 miles.
at is hoped to have all plane and
test flights completed in time to start
the flight. not later than the first part
of September. If it is found impos-
sible becau-e of ungovernable condi-
tions to start by this time it will be
necessary to wait until after the hur-
ricane season is over which will be
about the latter part of November
However. if the weather in Novem--
beryis unfavorable the flight will not
he made until the next rainy season
az It is impracticable to attempt, a
flight of this character in the dry
season because of adverse Wlnos.