Evening star., 1927-11-03
LEVINE IS FORCED
TO RETURN HERE
Bad Weather Makes Contin-
uation of Flight to Rich.
81 mond Dangerous.

Charles A. Levine. who. while er
route to Richmond yesterday with d
party Of six New Workers in a FOX
ker monoplane piloted by Bert Acosta
landed here when darkness overlook
them in their flight, and who spent
the night in Washington. took off at
,12:40 today at the Naval Air Field
to resume the trip to Richmond but
was forced to return to the landing
field half hour later when nclement
weather made the flight impracticable,
Levine and his party will leave by
train for Richmond, and Acosta has
been instructed to follow them in the
plane as soon as the weather per.
mits.
II thought that it was best to aban.
don the attempt to make Richmond
today" said Acosta after landing,
stwhen the weather conditions became
SO bad after we had flown for several
minutes over the river that we could
not make any sort Of headway. Lee
vine did not want to cause any dis
comfort to the ladies in the party.
and it was decided that we turn back
20 Washington"
y Mr.. Levine explained today that he
was on his way to Richmond to open
an airplane factory to turn out planes
10 sell at 81 500 each. and a number
Of larger planes modelled after the Co.
Iumbia. which he used in the trans.
atlantic trip. and that he hoped to
establish a flying school in the Vir
ginia capital. His plans. he said, were
inspired by Col. A. A. Anderson. a
member of the party. who will join
him m backing the venture.
~ Plans Transport Lines.
Nv on "a ~ 10 teo ,,l,,ra<J
to foster the esta blishment of long.
distance airplane passenger transpor.
tation lines between the big cities of
the country in the near future, de.
f,iaring that while in his opinion this
form Of transportation would not de.
yalope as rapidly in the United States
as it had in Europe, because of our
superior railroad facilities. that regu.
larly establish long distance routes
are practical and are in demand to-
day
"Such air lines over short distances.
IS between Washington and New York,
would not be feasible at this time
he said, ''and until better facilities are
developed" because over an hour
would be lost going to and from the
landing field and only few hours are
required for the trip by train.
II: .:"Aviation has come into its own in
this country, and rapid progress is
being made at last" Mr.. Levine de.
siared, predicting that I'VE will have
fransoceanic air mail service within
the next two years." and that before
many more years have passed" huge
rnultimotored planes will make daily
flights across the Atlantic on regular
schedules unaffected by storm or cold
weather.
~ Will Fly Across Again.
81 am going to fly again across the
Atlantic, possibly in the Spring. and
! am going in a multimotored land
plane. They are safer for these long
Nights. Seaplanes offer but a small
margin OF safety. as no seaplane has
yet been designed which will with.
stand the rough waters Of a tossing
sea My next flight will probably be
made from East to West. This time l
will carry a radio operator and a
navigator as well as pilot and will
most likly take off from England"
Levine, who has planned the con-
struction Of a 50-passenger 7.motored
transatlantic air cruiser. said that he
would begin the actual work Of build
ing this first air Leviathian" as soon
~ New York decided upon its mu-
nicipal airport
81 When asked about his fight over
the English Channel last Summer LIE.
vine said that although It was the
frst time he had taken of and made
q landing by himself that he was not
the least afraid. only wishing "a cou.
pie Of times" that Clarence Chamber
hp. the Columbia's g pilot, was with him
20 give him directions.
Glad He Returned.
when reached England my
friends advised me against going back
TO France, telling me that / would
be mobbed," Mr.. Levine said, "but
no such thing happened. 1 am glad
that ! did return because was greet
ed with very warm and friendly re-
ception. / am all for the French peo.
pie, and hope some day to fly back
70 France again."
8 He would not discuss his connec.
tons with Acosta and would not cay
whether or not he would pilot him on
his next flight across the Atlantic
n have plans for him." is all that
he would say.
Mr.. Levine will leave Richmond TO-
and would then fiy to Trenton where
q luncheon has been planned for him.
II win fly back to Washington a
week from Monday" he said, "and I
am coming here with some very def.
mite plans. which ! am not at liberty
20 discuss at this time
I, Besides Acosta and Col. Anderson
accompanying Levine are Mrs. Hen.
Wander Rocher. Mrs. Irene Dudley,
Edwin B. Steiner and E. J. Demgas,
al Of New York.