The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-30
American Plane and Pilot in
Air Twenty-Six Hours.
Only Descended When Oil Con-
nectiOn Became Defective.
BOTH MEN HAD FROZEN HANDS
Neither Ate Nor Slept During
Long Soar in Skies.
Previous Record Was 90 Hours
Had Plenty Fuel Left.

The Larsen monOplane plloted by ed
ward Stinson, which this morning
broke the worlds continuous flying
record of "a hours, 19 minutes and
seconds, descended shortly after 11:15
a. M, after having been in the air &c
hours. 19 minutes and 35 seconds.
Stinson, who halls from San An
tonic. Tex, and Bertaud. whose home
is in New York, were a sorry looking
pair when they stepped from their
machine. Their faces were smeared
with oil and their eyes bloodshot.
Neither had had a wink of sleep
since they took off and Stinson said
his only nourishment had been a little
coffee. Newspaper men found diff
Guilty in interviewing Bertaud, who
had been deafened by the roar of the
motor.
The flyers both 27 years old and
both of whom have been in the air
since they were boys, took no partic-
ular precautions to protect themselves
against the wintry weather.
Their Hands Frozen.
Stinson said that he and his mecha
n.cian suffered great pain from the
frozen hands EARLY this morning
Finally their hands became numb and
no longer bothered them.
altitude achieved during the night
was 400 feet. The machine carried
$50 gallons of gasoline when she took
the air ard still had seventy when
she landed.
The official times were: Start. yes
terday morning at 8:5S:15. Finished,
this morning al 11:17:50.
Stinson, stationed at Kelly field,
Texas, during the war as a civilian
instructor because of his delicate
health, probably trained more Ameri-
can flyers than any one man.
Unexcelled as a stunt flyer, he is
proud of never having fallen during
his ten years in the air. He is credit
ed with not even having broken a
part of a plane.
Stinson Family All Pilots.
Stfnson has participated IN many
big meets here His acrobatics at
tracted particular attention during the
American Aeronautic convention
in Atlantic City and he was labelled
a whole flying circus"
Happiest in an airplane he climbs
into his seat 18th as little concern as
the average citizen going out for a
motor ride. The love of flying runs
in the family for two sisters-Mar-
jorie and Catherine-also are adept
pilots
Stinson. was forced to descend be-
cause of a faulty oil connection with
which he and his mechanician, Lloyd
Bertaud had battled since 8 o'clock
this morning. They still had enough
gas to have flown until sundown.
Oil Connection Broke.
The pump used to inject oil into the
lubricating system from the auxiliary
oil tank went out of commission at )
o'clock. The flyers punctured the
tank. set up a temporary tube and
began feeding the lubricating system
by hand taking turns at the controls
of the plane and at the oil tank.
Both men were almost blinded by
oil when they descended In addition
they were suffering intensely from the
bitter cold for altho the plane was
equipped with a cabin, Stinson had
not left his seat in the open cockpit
since a. m. yesterday and his
mechanician found little time to seek
shelter. Three fingers of Stinson's
right hand and one on his left were
frozen. Bertaud's hands were numb.
Record Despite Difficulties.
Observers pointed out that whereas
efforts to establish an endurance rec
ord had been made in the most favor
able season, this flight was made with
the mercury near the zero mark to the
accompaniment of strong winds and
snow flurries.
The aeronautical chamber of conn
lifiCt Hdltt0 tIlG hight as Il I1LllnE
climax to the achievement of Ameri-
can aviation in 1921, when four world
records We're made by Yankee bird
men. The other three were:
August is. Looming monoplane fly
ing boat rising at 800 feet with four
passengers esta ablished an efficiency
and passenger record for ship of its
class.
September %. Lieut.. J. 4. McCready
of the army air service drove an air
plane to a height of 37sS0O feet at
Dayton, O.. shattering the altitude
mark of 33.114 feet set by Maj. Ru-
dolph Schroeder.
November 3. Berr Acosta. IN n
Curtiss navy racer with a speed of
1867 miles an hour for A 150-mile
course. broke the record for a closed
course in the Pulitzer trophy race at
Omaha
Total Weight 5.4OO Pounds.
The record was officially equaIled at
9:17;7 a. M. they announced. and the
plane was still in the air a few min
utes later.
When sighted early today the plane
was flying at height of $500 feet
making great circles around AIineoIa.
Most of the flight was made at a much
lower altitude.
The aviators kept warm by means
of heating apparatus which utilizes
the heat from the exhaust pipes.
Filled with $50 gallons Of gasoline.
-23 gallons of oil, food, coffee and the
two pilots the plane weighed 5.4O0
pounds when it left the ground. The
garsfaf . n