Evening star., 1927-11-16
WIND DATA CALLED
VITAL TO SEA HOPS
Future Ocean Flying Must
Depend on Radio Re-
ports, SchIuter Says.

Future transoceanic flights must
depend in great measure upon ac~
curate reports on wind and weather
conditions over the oceans, transmit
ted by radio from ships in time to give
notice of conditions to aviators about
TO "hop off, :" in the view of Capt. Paul
Schluter. navigator for Martin Jansen
in the Aloha. which finished second
in the Dole flight to Hawaii.
In the absence of radio in trans
oceanic planes. to enable aviators to
check with shore information. more
accurate instruments with which TO
fore transoceanic flying is more than
a gamble. Schluter said.
Here for Ceremonies.
Capt. Schluter, who came to Wash
ingtOn Monday to attend the luncheon
at the White House and the preSenta
ton Of the Hubbard Medal to Col.
Lindbergn. does not agree with the
theory that somewhere in the Pacific
there is spot where winds sweep in
concentric circles and whirl airplanes
into spius from which they cannot
emerge. Three times in the Hight ie-
tween California and Hawaii. he said.
the Aloha went into tail spins. from
which Cnly the skill of Jansen ri2hted
the ship Schluter believes the Miss
Dorar." carving Miss Mildred Doran.
which was lost in the Dole flight. got
into a tail spin in the flight and, I'M
able to right itself. dropped into the
Pacific.
He also believes that the Hearst
plane. piloted by Jack Fret, and the
fastest plane Of the four which start
ed. overreached the islands before its
position could he plotted and roarcd
out into the Pacific beyond Hawaii,
to drop into the ocean when fuel gave
out. His own machine had OrlY 10
Gallons Of gasoline int reserve tank
when the ship landed on Oahu Island,
he said.
"rhere is no way by which WING
variations can be observed from air
planes in flight" Capt. Schluter said,
"It is an essential part of forecasting
for trans-oceanic flights that the
course and velocity of prevailing winds
be plotted This can only be dOre
from observation balloons or from
captive balloons released from ships.
Of course, the trend and velosjtv Of
winds at the surface Of the water
can be accurately told froCl ships,
but in the higher attitudes, winds Of
an entirely different direction and vel
ocity may prevail.
Praises LindbergIl.
Capt. Schluter has the utmost
respect for the ability and purpose of
Col Lindbergh who made the first
flight from New York to Paris. He
said Lindbergh. in solitary flight, was
unable to take seXtant observations
OF his position. and was forced TO rely
on dead reckoning to keep him on his
course His feat is the more remark
| able, Capt. Schluter pointed out, be-
| cause Lindbergh was in an enclosed
cabin, and could see only through his
periscope "eyes" on either wing.
Strong westerly winds prevail in
both hemispheres between ATTITUDES 40
and so north and south, Capt. Schluter
said. These should be of the utmost
aid to aviators travelling westward
from Europe in those ATTITUDES, al
though this course would bring them
| considerably south of the great
| circle" route Travelled by steamers. and
even south Of the Azores. The Elder
| Haldeman flight, he said. forced the
american Girl" to buck head wester.
" winds most Of the way.