The Cordova daily times., 1923-03-27
ARMY PLANES
 MAKE FLIGHT TO ISLANDS Six Ships Journey on Long Route for Experiment
 PILOTS ARE NOTED FLYERS
 Jinx Warded Off by Varied Insignia on Machines
PILOTS ARE NOTED FLYERS

To demonstrate the case with which aerial communication may be established with insular possessions of our country, and to allow the col 1 lection of valuable flying data in the regions passed over, six Army air planes are just now engaged in a flight to Porto Rico from the Army flying field at San Antonio, Texas, via Cuba, Haiti and San Domingo, a distance of approximately 2,7OO miles. On their return today, the planes are making the second lap of their journey after having suc- cessfully reached their destination. Notable Flyers
 A more noteworthy coterie of fly CTS would be hard to gather together. Practically every one of them IS known to public for some past ex- ploit or series of exploits. Captain Lanphier was noted flyer during the war and had command of one of the great training fields in France. Lieutenant Moorman, with whom he is paired made number of noteworthy inter-island flights while stationed in the Hawaiian group. Lieutenant Nelson was a member of the famous flight from New York to Nome, Alaska and back to Washington, D. C., when 10000 miles were flown. He also took part in the first flight through the Grand Canyon of the Colorado when aerial motion pictures of the great gorge were made. Jimmie Woodruff piloted the first Martin Bomber from Langley Field to Kelly Field, last December, reaching here after a daring passage, during which the motor of the great plane was cracked and had to be cooled by pouring water over it from time to time to prevent fire. Lieutenant Dunton piloted the second Martin Bomber through, reaching Kelly Field after a flight from Long Is land. during which he overcame diff ficulties which appeared insuper- able Then there's "Bromo" Selzer, formerly a member of the famous border patrol and a member of the party of flyers chosen last fall to conduct the search for Colonel Mar shall and Lieutenant Weber, who were lost somewhere between Rock we'll Field, Calif, and Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
 Each of the other flyers is equally well known in the game. Some are overseas veterans; others have flown only in this country, but all were chosen for this flight because of their knowledge of planes and their skill in cross country and long dis tance work.
 The Ships
 The ships are of the De Haviland 4B-3 type, with 42-foot g inch wing spread. Each is equipped with a 12- cylinder, 4OO-horsepower motor and has main fuel tank capacity of l35 gallons and auxiliary tank of 75 gal Ions capacity. The latter, intended for emergency use, will supply fuel for twenty minutes flying. All ships are equipped with the Sylphon fuel system. The seats of each plane are equipped for carrying parachutes as measure of safety for the pi- lots. Each ship is equipped with sufficient spare parts to make nec- essary repairs while in foreign coun- tries, where otherwise they would not be available.
 Martin Bomber type propellers have been placed on each ship in stead of the regulation De Haviland propeller, for the reason that these, because of better pitch, allow the engine to attain greater speed while operating more slowly. The effect is to conserve gasoline and prevent