Evening star., 1924-06-15
Lieut.. Maughan to Make
New Flight for Coast

engine trouble due-tO clOgged gaSO-
line feed pipe. AS he was landing he
was forced to turn his plane to avoid
coniding with one Of the animals
and in doing so damaged the landing
gear to such an extent that further
flight that day was impossible.
At the time of landing he was more
than two hours behind schedule by
reason OF the fact that he had en-
countered heavy fog and a generally
hazy atmosphere between New York
and Dayton. causing him to wande
of his course. 1t is believed that
with the new earth induction COM
pass the chances of repetition of
this experience will be reduced to
minimum
After the accident near St Joseph
Lieut. Maughans plane was repaired
and he flew back to Mitchell Field
to make preparation for second at
tempt.
Weather reports for July 19 gave
promise of excellent flying conditions.
Lieut. Maughan arose very early that
morning, ate a light breakfast and
at 4:0s o'clock was off on his west
ward journey. In addition to news
papers he carried a small pouch Of
mail. including letters from the
mayor of New York to the mayor of
San Francisco and communications
from high ranking Army officers in
the east to commanders of Pacific
coast stations.
Arriving at McCook Field. Dayton
at S:35 am. eastern standard time,
he had covered the $40 miles in four
hours and twenty-seven minutes,
something more than an hour behind
his original schedule. Vaughan ac-
counted for this delay by explaining
he had flown circuitous course,
using familiar landmarks to guide
him, instead of flying a straight
course by compass. He was prompted
to this action by the recollection that
on the previous fight he had wan
dered of the course.
Only eighteen minutes were con-
sumed at McCook Field in refueling
the plane. Despite the fact that
original plans called for thirty y-min
ute stops, a new system of refueling
without shutting off the motor made
it possible to cut this time almost in
half. BY means of openings in the
gasoline tank accessible to the bot
to pump gasoline into the tank at
the rate of thirty gallons a minute
without extra fire risk.
This was the first time an airplane
was successfully refueled with the
engine running, previous attempts
having been thwarted by the blast
from the propeller.
In his forthcoming attempt, it rs
expected that Lieut. Maughan will
encounter no difficulty in employing
this method of replenishing the fuel
supply.
Leaving McCook Field at 1858 am,
Lieut.. Vaughan landed at St Joseph
at 11:25 am, central time. His aver
age speed over the lap of $40 miles
was 161 miles an hour, and he flew
at a height of about 1000 feet most
of the way. Fair weather was expe-
rienced throughout this lap, except
for heavy fogs overhanging the val
ley in the vicinity of Lancaster,
Ohio, which he circied several times
in order to get his bearings.
At the St Joseph flying field
Vaughan was mot by the aviation
committee of tho chamber of COM
mefce, which escorted him to a tent,
where he was enabled to lie down for
q brief time The plane was re-
fueled and tested by mechanicians,
and after lunch Maughan took the
air again at 1908 o'clock for Chey-
enne-
1t was on this leg Of the journey
that he encountered trouble. and
| when he landed at the air mail field
at 2:32 pm. mountain time the motor
quickly set to work to repair the
leak, but it appeared doubtful If the
makeshift repair would withstand
| tho severe vibration caused by the
high speed Of the plane. It was 3:27
pm. before Lieut. Maughan took of,
| bound for the air mail field at Sal
duro, Utah, 47o miles distant
Maughan's plane was reported over
Rock Springs, Wyo., at 4.5S pm,
Indicating that he had covered the
distance Of 231 miles from Cheyenne
1T a speed of 154 miles an hour. Ten
minutes later he returned to Rock
Springs, having found it impossible
| to continue the journey. Air mail
pilots found further leakages in the
| oil system where the breaks had
| been soldered at Cheyenne, and ex-
hours to make. tho repairs. Lieut..
MAuGhAn regretfully abandoned the
trip and vent to . hotel for much