Evening star., 1926-01-30
FRANCO HOPS OFF
ON 1,712-M|LE SEA
FLIGHT TO BRAZIL
Spaniard Leaves Cape Verde
Islands on Route of
Columbus.
TAKES TWO COMPANIONS
ON HAZARDOUS VENTURE
Expects to Reach Pernambuco in
Is Hour-War Vessels
Patrol Way.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associ ated Press
MADRID. January 3O.-A wire
less message received by the
ministry of marine this afternoon
said that Comdr. Frances sea-,
plane established wireless COM
munication with Pernambuco at
O'Clock, Greenwich time.
BY the sscciated Press
PORTO PRAYA. Cape Verdi Islands,
January 30.-Comdr Ramon Franco.
me spanish aviator. hoped off today
III the seaplane Plus Ultra, on the
thlrd leg of his attempted fight from
spain 10 South America. His destina-
tlon Is Pernambuco, Brazil, LIP
miles across the Atlantic. The start
was made at $40 O'Clock this morning,
The Spanish cruiser Bias de Lezo
towed the sea plane TO a good spot in
the bay from which to rise, and after
going for short distance at a high
rate of speed the aerial craft rose grace.
fuliy and Franco pointed it's nose to-
Waro South America amid the plaudits
oi me spectators af1oat and on shore.
All day yesterday mechanicians
were busily engaged in putting the
big machine in the best of order for
the transatlantic flight.
Confident of Success.
Prior 10 leaving here Franco and
fls assistants were filled with conf.
cehce that the Plus Ultra would nego-
tlate the overseas voyage and dupli-
cate through the air the feat of Chris
topher Columbus in linking up Spain
with the Americas.
Do IL,
Young mechanic of the Plus Ultra,
Pablo Rada. He pointed out the ease
with which the seaplane had flown
the ol7 miles from Palos, Spain, TO
the Canary Islands and from the
Canarles TO the Cape Eerdes, a dis.
tance of LOSS miles. The motors of
the plane had functioned perfectly on
these two jumps. he said. and there
was no reason why they should not
perform their duties as we'll in cross.
ing the ocean.
Expects 16=fIonr Flight.
Comdr. Franco hopes to make the
Journey in around 1G hours. flying a
little more than 100 miles an hour
On board the aircraft is a plentiful
supply of gasoline and food stuffs for
the crew during the flight. II neces-
sary to come down during the trip the
commander will steer for Fernando do
Norondha, which lies 1,432 miles out
from the Cape Nerdes and 279 miles
off the Brazilian coast.
Several Spanish war vessels will
patrol the ocean between Porto Praya
and South America to give aid to the
nyers If necessary. King Alfonso
Yesterday sent a message to Comdr.
Franco and his companions, wishing
them success in their venture and eX-
pressing the hope that the future
stages of their journey. which is TO
take them to Buenos Aires, Argentina
and possibly thence northward to New
York, would be as brilliant as those
already covered
Two men accompanied Franco for
the hop across the Atlantic. Five
men started the flight from Palos and
two were left behind after the first
leg to make room for fuel and oil.
The Plus Ultra is a special Dornier-
Wal. built in Italy, and weighs
tons. 1t is driven by two motors, each
of 500 horsepower. and has fuel
capacity sufficient to permit an unin-
terrupted fight of / .9S8 miles at a
cruising speed of 127 miles an hour.
Three men were on board when the
plane rose at Porto Praya today for
the flight to BraZil-Comdr. Ramon
Franco, Capt. Ruiz de Alon. his relief
pilot, and Pablo Rada, the mocha
nician.