New Britain herald., 1927-04-20
SIX PREPARE FOR
TRANSFORM HOP
ACoSta or Chamberlain Will Be
Pilot Of One Crew

New York. April 20 0p,-Fame
and fortune beckoned from the end
Of a $500 mile rainbow today to
six flying crews, announced compet-
tors in the projected New York to
Paris nonstop race.
Lieutenant Winston ". Ehrsott,
former West Pointer, and now a
member OF the New York National
Guard. the latest potential partici-
pant, said he would head an eXpe-
dition during the summer in an
all-metal amphibian plane in COM
petition for the $4,000 orteis
prize.
Lloyd ". Bertaul. air mail f7ier,
has been selected co-pilot and naH-
gator OF the Wright Bellanca mono
plane, in which Bert Acosta and
Clarence D. Chamberlin recently
established a worlds duration flight
record The machine IS expected 10
hop off for Paris within two weeks.
Either Acosta or Chamberlin will be
chosen by the toss Of = coin as pilot
the last minute before the flight
starts.
Bertrand has been flying since
1872. He was co-hoder with Eddie
Stinson of a worlds endurance
record of twanty-siX hours, estab-
lished in 1922.'
Commander j. y Klein. formerly
executive officer OF the dirigibles
Shenandoah and Los Angeles, has
been announced as navigator for
the Ehrgott fight Lieutenant
George r. Pond and Major Thomas
I.anphier, commanding officer at
salfridge field. Mount Clemens,
Mich, will be the pilots. Ehrgott,
who will command. is not an aviator.
Lieutenant Ehrgo't said his plane
IS being built at the Igor Sikorsly
sky plant IN Brooklyn, The Sikor-
sky Company. however, disclamed
knowledge of the construction OF the
plane.
Ehrgott announced that Governor
John H. TrumbulI of Connecticut is
aiding the flight, and already had
offered the services of the Connect
cut militia in preparing for the at
tempt. Headquarters will be es-
tablished at Brainard Field OF
Hartford, Ehrgott said.
Besides f,hrgott and Wright-Be
lanca machine, other entries in tn"
race include: Commander Richard
E. Byrd, whose plans We're delayed
by accident at the Teterboro airport
last Saturday; Noel Davis in his
american Legion" Charles Linden
burg of St. Louis. in a Ryan mono
plane, and Captain Rene Fonck, in
a Sikorsky plane.
The future of the Byrd expedition,
made uncertain by injuries 20 two
members. is awaiting decision OF
Rodman Wanamaker, its sponsor.
Although damage to the plane was
slight, Lieutenant Floyd Bennett, in
p iured in the accident. Will be in IN"
hospital six weeks. He is suffering
from fractured arm. thigh and
rib. Lieutenant George Neville. also
injured in the sa me crash. may be
permitted to return home Thursday.
Paris, April 90 up - Captain
charles Nungesser and Captain
Francis Coli, are planning 10 start
at A. NJ, Sunday, weather per
hitting on their attempt az Trans
atlantic flight from Paris to New
York.
Tests were made yesterday by
Captain Nungesser with his plane
carving a three ton load. 1t rose
to a height OF more than $4,000 feet,
and developed a speed Of 1870 miles
an hour. He now will make tests
with a four ton load, after which
the engine will be dismounted and
replaced by a new one which has
given satisfaction after exhaustive
bench tests.
A long cross country flight OF
several hours over the Paris-Lyons
circuit will complete the trials.