Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-05-10
.AVIATORS CROSS CONTINENT
WITHOUT STOP


wishes there are no stops between.
With the arrival at Rockwell field,
near here, of the army monoplane
T-2, piloted by Lieutenants Oakley
G. Kelly and John A. MacReady, the
first nonstop flight across the United
States was completed. The time
from Hampstead, N. Y, to San Diego
was 26 hours, so minutes and 48 2-5
seconds.
The grind began Wednesday at
12:36:53 p. M, eastern standard
time. The distance is estimated at
between 2,700 and $500 miles.
The airmen received warm
greeting when they were sighted over
the city few minutes before they
landed at Rockwell field. Airplanes
from the field and naval planes from
North Island escorted the two lieut.
enants to the landing field. Whistles
of factories and from warships in tn @
harbor also joined in the greeting
Both aviators were in good physi-
cal condition when they landed and
after being greeted by army officials
were taken to the officers quarters.
The historic flight began at Hemp
stead, with Kelly in the pit. The T2
cleared the hangers at the end of the
flying field by inches, nosed us for
elevation and turned it's blunt nose
toward Rockwell field. 1t did not
stop an inch short of its goal.
Spectators at the take-off were
held in suspense for a moment, when
it appeaed that the huge plane would
not rise in time to start, Lieut. lant
Kelly having turned back after tho
first attempt, when it -. -rr.. snv
the T-2 would be unable to clear the
buildings.
Roaring westward hour after hour
in the supreme attempt of its historic
career, the T-2 was awaited in every
city, town and village throughout the
long line of figh. and telegraph m
struments during the afternoon and
night told of tn epassing Of point af-
ter point hours ahead of the tenta-
tive schedule announced.
An average of more than 100
miles an hour was maintained for
the trip.
The aviators were the recipients
tonight Of many congratulations, in
cluding one from President Harding.
All distance records for nom
stop airplane flight were smashed to-
day by the transcontinental jump.
It was the second attempt of
Kelly and MacReady at transcon-
tinental flight without a stop, having
been forced down at Indianapolis on
their way east from San Diego last
year. The flight was made in the
same plane used today though diff
ferent engine had been installed.
"You have written new chapter
in the triumph of American aviation"
said a telegram from President
Harding and scores of other ccngra-
tulatory messages expressed similar
enthusiasm over the accomplishment.
The T2 landed at Rockwell field,
according to the official timers, at 26
minutes Sc IA seconds past 12
o'clock noon Pacific coast time.
There was wild enthusiasm at
Rockwell field when Lieutenant Mac
Ready nosed the T-2 down and land
ed the huge ship with consumate ease
on almost the exact spot where he
and Kelly took off in their attempt to
fly to New York November last.
The crowd, thrilled by the sight of
the beautiful ship and sensing what
its feat meant for Americas prestige
in the air, pushed the guards aside
like so much chaff and bore down on
Kelly and MacReady, madly cheer
ing the record makers.
The two navigators, their faces
sploched with oil and grease, but
wreathed in wide grins, were fairly
forced up against the fusilage. Here
they were lifted on the shoulders of
admirers, presented with huge bou-
quets and not let down until the
throng had yelled itself hoarse.
Major Henry Arnold, commandant
of Rockwell field, and the official Of
the national aeronuatical association
were caught in the mad rush for the
spectators. Major Arnold finally
fought his way to MacReady and
Kelly.
! congratulations" said the Major
to both men. ''It was marvellous
flight and we are proud Of you."
The following table marks the pro-
gress of the historic flight; the time
being approximately, and shodn in
all cases in Eastern Standard time.
1887 p. m. wednesday, left