The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-05-04
All Records
Smashed by
U.S.Air1l1en
Army Aviators Complete
Transcontinental Trip From
New York TO San Diego in
20 Hours 30 Minutes.
Land Shortly After Noon

San Diego. Cal. May 5.-Ail distance
record. for nonstop airplane flight
we're smashed today by Lieuts. Oakley
q. Kelly and John A. MacReady. wnS
flew here from Hempst cad. y. y. il
20 hours. 30 minutes. IS 2-5 seconds
official time. The distance covered wa. .
approximately 2.625 miles. but ihs
flyers average speed was more thsA
100 miles an hour. because they did
not follow an exact air line.
IL was their second attempt at tranS
continental flight without a stop, fhes
having been forced down az Indianap
oils on ther way east from San DiagS
last year. This flight was made in tint
same plane that was used toda.
through a different engine had bee
installed.
You have written a new chspts
in the triumph of American avis
ton said telegram from Presiden
Harding and scores of other con
eratulatory messages expressed a sim
liar enthusiasm over the achieve
ment.
Given Warm Reception.
The great monoplane t. lande<
a. Rockwell field. according 10 th'
official timers. az 2s minutes. IS /
second past II noon. Pacific coss
tine. The start was az 12.3s.is p. m.
eastern standard time.
There was wild enthusiasm at Rock
well field when Lieut. MacReady noseo
the T2 down and landed the huge
ship with consummate ease on almost
the exact spot where ne and Kelly
took off in their attempt to fly 10
: New York November 4.
1hs crowd. thrilled by the sight
of the beautiful ship and sensing de-
~ what its feat meant for Ameri-
cas- prestige in the air. swept the
| guards aside like so much chaff and
born down On Kelly and MacReady.
madiy cheering the makers Of the
country's first ,renscon;inentai flight;
Marvellous Flight
The two air navigators. their faces
splotched with oil and grease. but
wreafhed in wide grins. we're
fairly forced up against the
fusilage. Here they were lifted
on the shoulders OF admirers. present.
ed with huge bouquets and not let
down until the throng had yelled itself
hoarse.
Maj Henry Arnold. comnlandant Of
Rockwell field. and the officials OF the
National Aeronsticsl association
! were caught in the mad rush of the
spectators Major Arnold finally
fought his way 10 MscReady and Kel.
Tvs side.
Cong said the major
10 both men. 1T was a marvellous
flight and We are surely proud o.
you.
Held Previous Record
The best previous record for dis.
tance covered in a nonstop aisht was
that set by MacReady and Kelly in
their former sttemp; To cross the
continent without stop. approx
mstely zee miles. This distance
they covered in g hours - seconds
November and !. ise2 They were
forced down hy failure OF their en-
gine its cylinder jackets cracking and
the water leaking out Of its circula-
ton system.
Ou October 5. last year. the same
pair Of aviators in the same plane
took the air from Rockwell field for
what they had Intended 10 he trans.
continental ft!ght. But fog ohscured
the passes in the mountains east OF
san Diego and. unwilling 10 attempt
the eastward passage under such
conditions. they turned hack ard
spent the ensuing hours in a fight
above Rockwell field and san Diego.
not landing until they had estsh-
lished a world record OF s. hours IS
minutes 50 seconds. This was more
than nine hours longer than the pre-
vious record holders. Edward Sunscn
and Lloyd Bertaud. had been able 20
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