Evening star., 1927-09-18
LEVINE HAS TIFF
WITH NEW PILOT
HinchcIiffe Announces After
Row Columbia Will Start
by Tuesday,.
By the Associated Press.

Dy tHS ASsuCldtcU TtSS
CRANWELL. England, September
17.-Charles A. Levine, who has
quarreled already with three pilots,
Lloyd A. Bertaud, Clarence Chamber
lin and Maurice Drouhin, was at log.
Walter Hinchcliffe, both before and
after their two unsuccessful attempts
to take off for India in Levine's trans
atlantic plane Columbia.
Their difficulties developed early
this morning when Levine said that
he wouldn't fly because the ground
was too wet for a take-off. Hinch
cliffe retorted that he was tired OF
these delays and if he didn't fly today
he would not fly at all.
II have reached the end of my
patience" he said.
Carisi Supports Levine.
John Carisi, superintendent of the
Columbia Aircraft Corporation, build
ers of the plane, supported Levine in
his argument and Hinchcliffe told him
to "shut up"
Then after two unsuccessful at
tempts. in which the plane, considered
overloaded, failed to rise from the
ground, Levine left for London
Hinchcliffe followed him to the Gran
than Railway Station and tried tC
prevail on him to stay here over
night and make the flight Sunday
morning. Levine, however, said that
private business required him to be
in London and left. He said there
would be no flight until Monday.
Friction between Levine and his
pilot developed early this morning
when Levine returned to bed after
having been called early because he
saw it was raining. although Hinch
cliffe told him that the winds were
favorable all along the route. Hinch
cliffe went to Levine's room and in
sisted that he get up. There was
something Of a scene there and one o,
Hinchcliffe's relatives suggested that
the pilot thrash both Levine ant
Carisi If they would not agree that
there would be no further delay.
Insists on Start.
On their arrival at the airdrome
Capt. Hinchcliffe insisted on an i'm
mediate start. He was much annoyed
when he found that the plane had no,
yet been loaded with the personal ef
fects of both men. After four hours
arguments, Levine agreed to make
the flight. Aviation experts here sale
that if Levine had agreed to go wher
he first arrived at the airdrome, the
plane probably would have been able
to get off the ground as the wind
which was then in the west, wOult
have assisted the takeoff. The wint
later veered to the northwest.
Having consented to go, Levine tool
so minutes to change into flying togs
Some one asked Capt. Hinchcliff'
while he was waiting, where Levine
was, and the pilot replied, "he is pack
ing his toothbrush and making SUR
that all the bristles are straight"
Before getting into the plane Levin
handed Mrs. Hinchcliffe, the wife o
the pilot, check for 1000 pounds
sterling.
Agreement Held Reached.
Hinchliffe on returning to his hote
near here late today, said:
Levine and / have had few word
and now we have come to an agree
ment. He will positively fly by Tues
day. Carisi, the mechanic, is to hav,
nothing more to do with the plan
and is to return to America. 1 hav
discovered already and remedied tn
engines defect, which made it los
100 revolutions per minute.
Levine is one Of the incest men
knew" he continued, 'and also ont
| Of the bravest, but he cannot make III
| his mind yes or no. l admit / wa
very much in wrong this morning
| He told me this afternoon frankly
that he did not want to go becaus
of the press of business and
| answered that he should have told M
SO instead of blaming 1t on the rail
| and the field. l also admit / wa
| strongly inclined to thrash Carisi thi
| morning, but / hope that Is all owe
now l want to fly the Columbia a
/ believe it to be better plane an,
better engine than anything II
England"