Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-03
COURTNEY FORCED
BY STRONG WINDS
TO MAKE FOR SPAIN
British Aviator Reported
Abandoning Plan to Reach
Azores by Tonight.
PASSENGER AND TWO
OTHERS ABOARD WHALE
Proposed Route Will Take Craft to
Newfoundland and Then
to New York.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, September "A mes
sage picked up by the Devices
Radio Station from Capt. F. T.
Courtney's transatlantic flying
boat this afternoon said that he
was making for Corunna SPAIN,
as there was too much head wind
to continue on toward the Azores.
By the Associated Press.
PLYMOUTH, England. September
s.-Capt. F. T. Courtney began his
long g-deferred Atlantic flight at 6:26
o'clock this morning Q2:26 am.
Eastern standard time), his immediate
destination being Horta, Azores, about
1900 miles distant, which he hoped to
reach by 10 o'clock tonight. AT Horta
he will refuel, fly to Newfoundland
and then to New York. He is accom-
panied by Lieut.. Downer as navigator
and r. F. Little, engineer.
There was also a passenger aboard,
described by air force officials as a
Canadian millionaire who is said to
have paid 1900 pounds about $4,000
for a seat in the plane. He is about
65 years of age.
Crowd Cheers Take-eff.
The British airman made TWO un-
auccessfuI attempts to leave the water
IA his flying boat, the Whale, out ne
could not rise because OF lack OF Wlila'
On the third attempt the plane gain
cred a speed of about so miles an
hour. when a fresh breeze cauSnt lne
wings and the Whale gently took the
cir. He headed her almost dlrectiy
south toward Eddystone lighthouse
amid the cheers OF the crowd gataeteo
al the Royal Air Force seaplane BASE
ond was lost to view within few
minutes.
Mrs. Courtney arrived at the air
station shortly before midnight ana
remained to watch her HUSBAND last
minute preparations. When the sea
nlane finally took off, she clapped her
hands excitedly and cheered her nus
band probably louder than any or the
other spectators. She remained wav-
ing her handkerchief until the plane
was out OF sight.
Cant. Courtney, an Irishman by
birth became interested in aviation
during the European War and sought
q place as a flyer with the Royal
Air force. but was rejected because he
wore glasses. He did get into the air
in an auxiliary capacity, being wound
ed in an air battle over Loos, France.
Subsequently he tested English
planes. He began the preparations
for the transatlantic flight in June
and was all ready 70 start early IN
July, but again and again storms
frustrated the departure.
Ready OH August 10.
On the morning of August 10 his
plane was all fueled and ready for
the take-off when last-minute weather
reports told of unfavorable headWinds
over the Atlantic. The 900-odd gal
Ions of gasoline had TO be drawn so
that the flying boat could be return
ed to her hangar from the buoy
anchorage and the disappointed avi-
ator vowed that because of the un-
certainty of the weather ne would
not announce his hop-off beforehand.
The Dornier-N Napier flying boat, the
Whale, is a speedy craft and is said
to be capable Of 125 miles an hour
The plane is powered by two Napier
Lion engines, with a horsepower of
1000. and can carry maximum load
of 5000 pounds at high speed. Equip
PED with radio, the Whale expects 10
receive constant weather reports from
official bureaus in England and Amer.
lea and transatlantic steamers.
On the side of the flying boat is
painted 'G-EBQO," which is also the
radio call of the boat. On the tail a
large 20" is painted.
The flight Of the Whale to and from
America, with only brief stop in New
York, is designed to establish a tenta-
tive commercial plane route. If the
round trip is completed a total dis
tance of about 1000 miles will be
flown.
Invented death Dive"
Capt Courtney is credited with the
invention of the death dive" in which
the plane dives earthward at terrific
speed and, when within q short dis
tance of the ground and a crash seems
at hand, the plane. is "hattened out"
and turned skyward.
The Whale will refuel, it is expect
ed. at the Azores. and then resume its
fight to New York, to land on an open
stretch of water near the Battery
Weather conditions will in all proba
bility determine the route back home
of Capt Couctney's craft.