Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-19
CAPACITY LOAD is CRUZ.
Flying Boat VIII BE Called on To
Carry $500 Pounds.
BY Gable to Tho Star and the North Ameri-
can Newspaper Alliance.

BY Cable to The Star and the North Ameri-
can Newspaper Alliance.
CALSHOT NAVAL FLYING BASE.
England, July 19.--As the day APP
breaches when Capt. Frank 7. Court
ney will be ready to hop off for
Talentia. Ireland. on the first leg OF
his flight westward across the Allan
tic, the tension is on the increase
here.
The engineers. mechanics and eX-
perts who are spending almost their
entire time with the great metal
Dornier Napier whale flying boat. In
which the historic hop is to he made
were confident today that everything
will he in readiness shortly.
Fair Weather Needed.
II they are able to complete work
on schedule and the whale lives up
to expectations when called upon 10
carry a capacity load of $500 pounds.
the "all clear" signal will be given
on the first day there are fair east
erly winds to help push her along
the dangerous 1900 mile stretch OF
open sea between Valentia, Ireland,
and Topsail, Newfoundland.
This daring adventure, which Is
Great Britain's best bid for trans
full share of fair weather for success.
When the whale leaves Valentia, she
will have about 1000 gallons of gas
oiine aboard, enough for at least
% hours of flight. The fuel Will
weigh more than 3 tons.
1t will be carried in Is large tanks
and Is small containers which can De
thrown overheard when empty. AS
a matter Of fact the whale will be
little more than a loaded gasoline
tank when she is ready to start.
Flying tests with the heavy load or
gasoline will be made either today or
tomorrow.
The trial flights with light loads
which were made last Friday ana
Sunday illustrated the Whale can take
off from the ground in one-quarter
of a minute in a running distance OF
less than 100 yards.
Capt. Courtney is confident the
plane will rise as easily with ca
pacity load. At any rate, there is no
doubt about the plane getting in the
air. as it is a flying boat and can run
along water for any distance neces-
sary.
The Whale was put on a table yes
terday to Swing" the three COM
passes. The wireless direction finder
also was corrected for variations.
While these delicate operations were
going on under the direction of Flying
officer Downer, the extra equipment
for the flight was being inspected.
Sea Anchors Prepared.
Sea anchors to keep the flying
boats head into the wind if forced to
land were made ready for use. The
collapsible rubber life raft was made
ready for slowing in the Whales
after compartment. Fire extinguish.
ers, first aid kits, hand torches and
batteries and signal flares were as
sembled. The 20.foot emergency
wireless mast, for erection above the
wings in case of trouble, was tried
out. This mast viii enable the flyers
to attain good distance with their
powerful set if they are forced down
at sea.
Reports on Weather.
Beginning today Capt Courtney will
receive continuous weather reports
from the air ministry, which is acting
in cooperation with the United States
Weather Bureau in mapping weather
for the flight. Capt. f. Entwhistle,
British weather ,ert, who charted
Sir Alan Cobham's fight to Australia,
will give Capt. Courtney the final sig
nal to start when he is convinced at
mospheric conditions are favorable.
The representative of the air minis
try who is stationed at the field here
declared today that the flyers can ex-
pect favorable weather if they get
away before the end Of the week.
(Cepyright. 1927. in all countries but Great
Britain by North American Newspaper AL
lance. In Great Britain by Westminster