The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-08-21
TASK OUTLINED
BY Army EXPERTS.
AS EXPERIMENT
Trip Will Cover 3,085 Miles
and Will be Divided Into
ID Legs; Texas to be
Visited on Way.
BY Harry Hunt.

WASHINGTON.-The first transcon
tinental airshp pathfinding expedition
10 be undertaken in the United States
will be started early in September when
the army dirigible CO casts loose from
her mooring at Langley Field, Newport
News Va. and heads for Washington
on the first leg of a flight to Ross Field
Arcadia, Cal, and return.
The flight will be undertaken by a
crew of five in command of Major II.
a. strauss, now in charge OF expert
mental and research work in aeronaut-
les at McCook Field, Dayton, o. The
personnel will consist of OF two pilots,
two engineers and one radio operator
The only members OF the crew so far
designated are Master Sergeant Will
liam A. Fitch and Staff Sergeant A. d.
Albrecht, both Of Airship Company IS,
now with the CO at the Aberdeen Prov.
ing Grounds. Aberdeen Md.
Ten purposes are sought in attempt.
ing the flight, as follows:
/. To establish and chart def.
mite transcontinental airship route
Seek Landings.
.. TO assist in the location of pos
sible emergency landing fields both for
airplanes and airships,
3. To demonstrate the possibilities
OF the present training type of airships
4. To determine what changes in de-
sign are necessary TO make training
ships suitable for reconnaissance work
8. To determine engine performance,
life OF power plants and fuel consump-
ton under varying conditions and at
various attitudes.
6. To train airship personnel under
field conditions.
Z. To ascertain best methods of moor
ing and caring for ships at places where
air'service troops and hangar faclli-
ties are not available.
s. To stimulate interest in CONNER
cial aeronautics, particularly airship
travel.
3. To photograph and chart trans
continental airway and landing fields.
10. To determine by experience the
necessary equipment. minimum crew
and comforts required 10 enable crews
10 stand the long watches necessary in
extended flights of this kind.
Total of 3Os5 Miles.
The route that has been selected
approximates what is believed must
be the line OF flight for transcontlnental
airships in the future Its course has
been largely shaped by terminal and
hangar facilities. available hydrogen
gas supplies and low attitudes
As indicated in this selection, the
balloon will be inflated with hydro.
gen gas, not helium While this adds
TO the hazard OF the expedition, 1t also
puts the flight on a par with the lift.
ing medium that must. for the pres.
ent al least. be used in commercial
airships.
The total distance on the outward
flight approximates S0s5 miles divided
into Il legs. The route selected, and
distances between scheduled stops. are:
From Langley Field to Washington
lSV miles; 10 Akron. o.. 200 miles: to
Dayton, o., l7j miles: 10 ST. Louis. s2C
Niles TO Little Rock. Ark-the longest
single leg-26O miles; to Dallas. Texas
900 miles 10 San Antonio. 25O miles
TO Maria. Texas $50 miles: to III Paso
Texas, l15 miles, to Nogales. Arizona
2'5 miles; 10 Yuma. Arizona. 24O miles
and TO Ross Field. Arcadia. CAL tn,
terminus. $50 miles.
Now Testing C.e.
The weather bureau Will cooperate II
supplying the baloonists detailed sd
vance notice OF weather conditions
ahead, and emergency stocks OF sup
plies and parts win be held At strate
gie points along the route.
A number OF test flights are beln,
made preliminary 10 the flight in Sep
iember Recently u flight was mad
10 New York and back. with a crey
composed VI Captain WIN f.. Kepner
Lieutenant E 5 Moon and staff Sci
geant August D Albrecht. This rllgh
was attended with many hazards. du
! to thick fog which hung over Ne,
| York when the alrmen arrived ther,
hut after being lost for two hours. IN
crew regalned their bearings. and mad
The return trip without mishap.