San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-19
SHIPS READY
FOR TRIP To
PORTO RICO
Tested and Taken in Air
by Officers and Declared
in Good Condition.
PILOTS NOT HERE
State Department Has Ar
ranged for Passage Of
Cuba and San Domingo.

Everything is ready but the pilots
for the cross-country flight from Kelly
Field to Porto Rico. The six planes
are ready to be delivered to the pilots
when they arrive, but IN TO Monday
none but the three pilots stationed
at Kelly Fields No. 1 and = are in
San Antonio. The other seven are
expected TO arrive during the week.
The Air Intermediate Depot. or
Kelly Field No. !, was asked to have
the planes in readiness by February
10. They were ready by that date
but the pilots had not arrived. Me.
chanics at the Air intermediate De.
pot have been using the spare time
allowed by non-appearance of the
pilots, in equipring each of the ships
with some special tools that might
be needed during the trip, and which
are not included in the tool kit that
each plane carries.
All of the planes have been tested
by officers OF the A. /. d. for from
two to four hours, and are said to be
in splendid condition in every respect.
Each plane is a DeHaviland of the
ABB type, and carries a gasoline tank
containing 135 gallons, larger than
the ordinary gas tanks on DeHaviland
ships.
Tuesday afternoon at / 80 o'clock
all six ships will be out on the line
at the A. !. ID.
According TO Geographic reports
received in San Antonio Monday
morning, the State Department al
washington has already obtained per
mission from the governments of Cubs
and Santo Domingo for the machine,
to fly over their territory, and all
other arrangements have been com
pieted by Capt. Thomas G.. Lanphier
who will be in command of the flight
VIII Test Motors.
A statement issued by the War De,
partment said that the return flight
from San Juan would bring the air
planes, after arriving at Miami, Fla.
to Jacksonville, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina, and finally to Boiling Field
Washington. The flight from Kelly
Field to Porto Rico and back to the
national capital is expected to require
about a months time.
1T will be most excellent test OF
planes and motors" the communica,
tons from Washington said, land will
give the pilots experience in flying
over all kinds of terrain and water
and viii demonstrate the feasibility OF
providing air communication with the
gulf island"
Plan Another Flight.
1t was further stated in the Wash.
ington report that the Air Service
plans to ask the War Department for
permission 10 extend this investiga.
ton by flight during the dry season
from Porto Rico through the leeward
and windward islands along the
northern shore of South America to
the army flying field, at France Field
at Crystobal, Canal Zone. returning
via Central America and Cuba. This
flight, if allowed. will circle the Carib,
bean sea and demonstrate the prac.
tibility of augmenting the defenses Of
the Panama Canal by airplane patrols
over the West Indies.
Other communications from Wash.
ingtOn received in San Antonio Mon.
day morning state that Capt. Oliver
5. Person has left the United States
to prepare the way for the flight
through the foreign countries through
which the army planes will pass. Can
tain Person will first visit the West
Indies where he will arrange for
proper landing facilities, gasoline. oil
and supplies for the ships and officers
masking the flight.
1t was said in the dispatch regard
ing Captain Person that the planes
will leave Kelly Field about March 1.