Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-07
FIRST COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE FLIGHT FROM
new YORK TO PORTO RICO AND RETURN
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

r r Zimmerman, with the Moro
castle ii, flew into New York har-
~ and landed at the Columbia
Yacht Club at 40 P. NJ. May 27th,
.,d thus terminated record flight
@rorn San Juan, Porto Rico to New
york and four months test voyage
=, the Metal Hull Type Flying Boat,
he Moro Castle ii, being the first
metal hull flying boat to be construc-
led In this country.
The hull is built entirely OF lis
alloy. metal as light as aluminium
and az strong as steel. 1t has seven
uatertight bulkheads and Is so con-
structed as to entirely prevent leak
age. II has the advantage of not
soaking up water, which has always
been a trouble experienced with
wooden hull boat construction and to
which the English pilot, McClaren at
tributes his unsuccessful round the
world flight. The weight due to this
water soakage liz often as much as
three to twelve hundred pounds.
The flight TO Porto Rico was the
first Of commercial airplane be-
tween the United States and Porto
Rico. The entire flight was made
without outside assistance, financial
or otherwise. and was originally pro-
tected to demonstrate the standing
I'D qualities OF this construction and
TO show the Navy. maneuvering off
Porto Rico the boat operating under
the worst conditions; that OF flying
with the fleet. The boat flew under
all kinds OF climatic conditions,
varying from the winter weather in
this section to that Of the semi -trop-
les and from dead calm water to ex-
ttemcly high sea landings. as IT left
here on January 10th. The total dis
lance Travelled during the flight
vas about $4,000 miles, Or approx
mately half the distance around the
world by the route which 1t would
have to take on such voyage. IL has
flown since launching on June LIST,
1923. $4,000 miles with no visible
signs Of deterioration.
&. j. Zimmerman, the pilot, In
commenting on the flight stated:
with no other flying boat that I
have previously flown could /. have
duplicated the performance OF the
MORO Castle II. I carried mt various
tunes about 1000 passengers from
harbors entirely unauited for flying
boat operation with no previous ar
rangements or outside assistance
other than photographic charts used
ny nHblRdtDTS. IN one instance, at
Baracoa, Cuba, the hnrbor" was go
small and surrounded by bills that I
Wrs not able to land in 1t. After
gliding tho fun distance of the harbor
| landed in its mouth ana tho open
ocean. Another ease. Mt Santo Do
mingo city. the river was SO narrow
and short as To make IL practically
impossible for n boat to land. OF all
tho harbors ! visited. Matanzas,
Cuba, Antilln. Cuba and San Juan.
Porto Rico offered the best oppor-
tuuities for flying boat landings and
for aeronauiical development. There
Is little question but that San Juan
will he tho fucling point between
New York and South America In flu
turc air travel ms this harbor offers
excellent facilities for seaplane work,
My total supply OF spare parts
consisted Of one box weighing about
100 pounds containing motor spares
and other small parts. Tho fact that
| carried passengers every day eX-
cept two from January 29th 10
March 4th. operating on the coast Of
cuba. signifies the small amount OF
maintenance required OF this type Of