Evening star., 1924-05-19
NAVY PLANE STARTS
ON ENDURANCE TRIP
CS-2 Takes Air Here in Effort to
Remain Aloft More Than
Twenty Hours.
FOUR ATTEMPTS BALKED
Rain and Wind Delay Beginning
of Flight.
FOUR ATTEMPTS Bake

Inc Navy neet scout plane CS-@,
after four unsuccessful attempts, took
the air at 1886 o'clock this afternoon
in an effort to establish an endurance
record of twenty hours or more. The
plane Showed" off from the river a
little this side of Alexandria, Va,
without any assistance from another
seaplane which was ready to blow
her off,
The plane, with a gasoline capacity
of 900 gallons, 100 having been re-
moved to tighten it, flew over the
Maryland side of the river. crossed
Hains Point and disappeared down
the Virginia side. where it crossed
over to Marshall Hall.
The course of eighty miles, which
includes an elbow to Fort Hunt. will
be flown until the gasoline tanks are
exhausted, the pilots hope.
Four Attempts Fail.
After three unsuccessful attempts
yesterday, in which a choppy sea,
twisted propeller and threatening
rain played prominent parts, the
ship carrying Lieut.. John Dale Price
II
700 gallons of gasoline. made another
unsuccessful attempt shortly before
noon today. 1t TAXED down the river
to Alexandria, and there another sea-
plane. piloted by Lieut.. A w. Gorton,
attempted to blow" the CS-2 off the
water. This maneuver consisted of
taxying on the water directly in front
l. c1, fharahU rraAflnP
stiff head wind which would enable
the plane in the rear to take the air
under normal conditions.
This time. however, a strong cross
wind prevented the CS-2 from leaving
the water. Then the gasoline was ais
charged. .
Observers of the National Aeronau-
tical Association are stationed at
Marshall Hall, Fort Hunt and Hams
Point to give the flight, official rating.
Lieut.. Price and Lieut. Wead nave
on board food supplies for thirty
hours and it is the belief that once
the plane gets into the air all sea-
plane records for long distance speed
and endurance will be shattered The
plane would travel at ninety miles
an hour over the eighty-mile course.
It is equipped with landing lights,
and beacons for night flying VIII be
established at the three points on the
course.
Baked by Wind.
On the first attempt about $3.50
O'Clock yesterday morning just as the
huge ship was preparing TO taxi out
into the river, the wind took com
against the sea wall and some bor-
dering buildings had not Lieut.. Price
cut the switch which caused the
plane to float helplessly until it could
be made fast to the sea wall.
The powerful Wright motor once
more "cranked," the nose was headed
down stream and into a choppy sea
The throttle was thrown wide open
but the heavy-laden craft responded
slowly in speed. throwing up huge
sprays that at times obscured it from
the view of hundreds Of persons who
had gathered at Hams Point to see
the test. The ship continued down
stream as far as Alexandria, where
after it was found the flexible three
blade metal propeller had been bent
by striking the water.
New Effort Made.
About noon the ship was towed
back to the station under much diff
Guilty and a new prop" was In
stalled. A second attempt was made,
but the ship could not get on the
water. Returning once more to the
station the cargo was lightened by
pumping out fifty gallons of gasoline,
and the plane once more took the
river, but as rain was threatening,
Lieut.. Price did not bend much effort
to get off.
AS it TAXED down the river yes
terday morning the ship weighed
about 1900 pounds 1t is declared
Lieut.. Price had flown the ship be-
fore with 746 gallons of gasoline, but,
it was believed more than this
amount was on board yesterday.
However, had the combination of
wind and tide not worked against
it the ship could have gotten off, it
was stated. Lieut. Price stated yes
terday a taxi distance of about seven
miles would be required to get the
plane in the air.