Evening star., 1923-07-08
America to attempt Flight
around World Early in 1924
Army Pilots, in U. S. Designed and Built
Planes, Are Expected to Outrank Feat
of Magellan in 3O,OOO-Mile Test.

What two other nations, France
and England, have failed to accom-
plish after one attempt each. the
United States, far in the rear from
the standpoint of equipment and
financial assistance, will undertake
in attempting flight around the
globe in the spring of 1924.
Flying airplanes designed and built
by American brains and industry, Il
group of Army air service pilots Will
leave Seattle. Wash. some time after
May !. cross the American continent
to the Atlantic ocean and there pick
up route that will carry them to
Europe. either by way of Greenland
or Iceland. or directly across the
ocean to Ireland. Through southern
Europe to Asia Minor the ships will
Wend their way and thence into
Arabia, India. China and Japan, from
which country they will take a north
east route to Alaska and home. The
length of the flight VIII be from
21.OU0 to 10000 miles.
The plan to outrank the historic
feat of Magellan is not an expression
of what the Army air service would
like to do. but what it is going to do.
il is confidently predicted. We never
have started anything yet that we
have not finished" is the declaration
uf a prominent official of the air
service. AlagnanimouS preparations
now are being INTERPRETATIONS in
themselves almost as great as the
actual consummation of the flight
plans.
Route to Be Chosen.
Just as soon as the State Depart
ment receives permission from sew
eral foreign countries for. air service
officers to travel through them and
select route. the active work of
bringing this long g-dreamed-of prof.
urt to a conclusion will begin. Lieut..
Clifford Mutt. who was assistant to
Capt. St Clair Street in the New
now is on duty in the philippines,
Will leave his base and make study
of Il proposed route from China up to
the Aleutian Islands. AT the same
time. Lieut.. Clarence +. Crumrine.
who was the Photographic officer on
the Alaskan expedition, Will leave
New Foundland and determine on
the best route across the ocean. either
direct or by way of Greenland and
Iceland. He also will visit the Farce
Islands. England, France and Italy
and then return to the United States.
Upon the conclusion of their trips
the officers will submit reports to the
committee of special projects, which
and then a report will be made to
Maj. Gen. Mason NJ. Patrick, chief
of the air service, giving in detail
the exact plan to be followed. Gen.
Patrick will in turn present recon-
mendation to the Secretary OF War
and if the latter approves the plans.
the trip will be certainty. Unless
it Is found that the expedition Will
he of too great expense at the present
time there is nothing that can come
latN So
dorsement of the project, ii is pre-
dicted.
Will Lay Out Landing Fields.
Before the ships leave the ground
several advance officers will visit the
entire route, lay out landing fields
choose places for distribution of sup
plies. allocation of motors and spare
parts and endeavor to make condi-
tionS as smooth as possible. From
experience in mapping the Alaskan
and Porto Rican expeditions these
officers have learned to leave moth
ing in the way of detail untouched.
for the most trivial oversight may
mean a long delay or failure.
The starting point-Seattie--is vir-
eastward to the Atlantic ocean will
be crucial test for the planes.
Landing gear will be used almost
exclusively. as pontoons, which per
mt the alrrlane TO erect landings
on water. retard the speed of the
airplane. New motors will be in
stalled in the planes at Newfound-
land, preparatory to the transatlantic
hop. if weather conditions around
Greenland and Iceland forbid that
route.
The motors to be used undoubte edly
will be the world famous Liberties.
and, although they hold the endur-
ance record of more than thirty-six
hours. it is not deemed advisab Bile to
run them even that length of time
without check. The maximum run.
therefore, will be between ten and
fifteen hours, which will permit hops
of 1000 to 1900 miles. At the end
of thSe distances the motors will be
checked thoroughly. 1t is expected
that each plane will use about four
motors for the journey.
Cannot Traverse RUSSIA.
There will be intermediate landing
fields between these 1000-mile jumps
If the gasoline capacity OF the planes
permit such laps. due to weather con-
ditionS. 1t will be virtually impossi-
bic to foretell the condition of the
weather 1000 miles in advance, SO if
the ships take a chance and get 500
miles under way and encounter storms
they will have to retrace their steps
to their base. Therefore, ii Is planned
TO establish sub-bases about every
500 miles to enable the globe navi-
gators to lay up in the event of con-
tinued inclement weather.
Because the United States has not