Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-17

as a land plane in order to save
weight, which would be many pounds
| additional if pontoonS were used. The
absence of pontoons likewise would
serve to increase the speed of the
plane. 1t is understood the craft has
fuel capacity for 40 hours continu.
| Gus flying.
Powerful Engines Installed.
Thre Wright Whirlwind engines,
each of 200 horsepower and similar to
the ones used on the Lindbergh and
| Chamberlain transatlantic flights, are
| installed on the monOplane.
The distance between the West Coast
and Hawaii. a little more than 2,100
miles, has never been covered by air,
although the late Comdr. John Rodg-
erS of the Navy came within 200
miles when he was forced down
through lack of fuel and drifted for
nine days on the water before being
rescued.
The Navy expedition, originally
numbering three large seaplanes, is
the only attempt to span that dis
lance. However, since the Lindbergh
success. many private expeditions are
reported to be on foot to fly to Hawaii
and even into the Orient for large cash
Lieuts. Maitland and Heggenberger
plan to compete for these financial
inducements.
The type Of plane now undergoing
tests by the officers is similar to the
one used by the Byrd North Pole
aerial expedition and about the same
in size as the America" which is
being groomed for flight to Paris
and other points.
Secret Closely Guarded.
For several weeks it is known that
wind of some sort of a long distance
flight by an Army plane was going
the rounds, but officers closely con-
nected with plans and projects were
unable to obtain information about it.
A certain air of secrecy has guarded
this project more closely than others.
The plane now being flown westward
by Lieuts. Maitland and Hegenberger
is one of the three new Fokker three
engined monoplanes. bought by the
Army for transport work. Their pri-
mary function is to convey 8 or 10
persons at one time from station to
station, thereby saving railroad fare
or the use of at least that many
planes. The transports also could be
employed as ambulance planes and
for carrying material such as heavy
aircraft engines and spare parts.
F'rOwned on Proposal.
Shortly after the Army's single
engined Fokker monoplane TT, now
in the Smithsonian Institution here,
negotiated 1900 miles between New
York and San Diego without stop,
two prominent Army air officers came
to Washington with the proposal of
using this same ship or sister craft
for a flight from San Francisco to the
Hawaiian Islands. Their plans were
carefully and deliberately worked out.
and nothing but the failure of the
engine in mid-Pacific could have pre-
vented success.
AT that time, however, it is under
stood the War Department frowned
on the proposal, explaining that such
an undertaking would be a clear-cut
invasion of the Navys field of opera
ton, and that the sister service would
resent a water flight" as much as the
Army would resent Navy expedition
over land.
Aide to Dawson.
Lieut.. Maitland is aide to f. Trubee
Dawson, Assistant Secretary of the
War for aeronautics and lives in
Washington at present with his wife
and child. Lieut.. Maitland served as
operations officer of Boiling Field for
four years up until two years ago