Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07

abroad and flying for permanent pos
session OF the coveted cup.
This was the opinion of naval air
men in Washington last night who
have followed Lieut.. Williams prof
ect closely since its inception. They
regretted the lack Of unanimity which
the request had to have before being
granted, but at the same time eX
pressed confidence that the small blue
racer with the 24-cylinder Packard
engine of more than 1900 horsepower
now in a private seaplane hangar al
Port Washington, Long Island. would
be ready to roar off the Bay of
Venice on September Is when the
starters guns are fired.
Cablegram Answers Request.
The request of the National Aero.
nautic Association, which has been on
file with the Aero Club of Italy. pro-
moters Of this years Schneider event
by virtue Of an Italian victory at
Hampton Roads last November IL, for
about a month, was answered yester-
day in a cablegram which read as
follows:
Ion account England not having
given it's consent we are compelled
to maintain date Schneider cup race.
If Lieut.. Williams plane en-
counters no difficulties or requires no
adjustments after its first test flight,
beyond the usual minor check-upS at
tending the maiden flights of new air
craft, his expedition, by utilizing
every available minute, can reach
Venice in time for the race, 1t is
thought here. At present the first
flight of the little racer is being held
up pending receipt Of set Of pom
ICONS which the Naval Aircraft Fac
tory at Philadelphia is building for
him.
The original pontoons on the plane,
according to information which has
trickled back to Washington aeronau-
teal circles, have not sufficient dis
placement to sustain the plane high
in the water. This was not discovered
until the pilot took his plane out into
the water last Sunday and as he
endeavored to taxi along the surface
at a moderate speed, the deeply
sunken pontoons sent up a heavy
shower Of spray which the rapidly
swirling metal propeller beat into.
Propeller Made Useless.
This resulted in the delicately
pitched blades being thrown out of
form, which automatically rendered
the propeller useless at that moment.
1t is assumed here that a spare pro-
peller has been obtained, although
the type used on the Williams racer
was built especially for the engine.
which is the most powerful ever in
stalled in any type Of aircraft in the
world.
Work on the reserve set of pom.
toons at the aircraft factory had not
gone beyond the point where it was
too late to modify them, so, it is
understood. engineers there have made
changes which will give them greater
displacement. These should be ready
In a few days and a conservative
opinion was expressed here that Lieut.
Williams should be going by the end
of the present week"
A few dashes across a 3.kilometer
speed course for the maximum sea-
plane speed record Of the world should
follow and then Lieut.. Williams
will center his efforts on getting to
Italy as quickly as possible. Ordi.
narily 1t requires about 10 days by com.
mercial steamer, which would land
the plane and crew of riggers and
mechanics at Genoa. An overland
journey by rail would follow and then
the plane would have to be uncrated
ut Venice, set UP and tested before
the race.
May Go on Cruiser.
Should Lieut.. Williams be able to
connect with a speedy cruiser bound
for Italy about that time, his journey
could be shortened somewhat from the
, standpoint Of time and also the shin
probably could take the plane direct
TO the Venetian harbor. Informal
overtures to the Navy Department, It
10 learned, have been made on behalf
of Lieut.. Williams for such transpor.
tation.
Even though the postponement
which was refused, would mean the
success or failure Of the American
racing expedition, the National Aero.
nautic Association is powerless to
bring about the desired extra time. Mr..
Schory said last night. The Fedora.
. ton Aeronautique Internationale
world governing body for aircraft per.
formances, and under whose rules and
regulations the forthcoming interna.
tional seaplane classic is being held
cannot change the date if one of the
entrants objects, as Great Britain has
done. ''NS
NO reason for Great Britain's re-
fusal to accommodate the America
request could be advanced here last
hieht. Neither was there any inform
ation available, beyond the text of the
caniegram. as to whether Italy ftselt
had concurred in the American re
ouest. In this respect, however. /,
"as explained that 1t made no diff
t l,. whether the Italian Aero
up olo or not. since Great Britain's
lack OF consent, brought about q
ruling minority" q
Expense Believed Involved.
IN the interest Of absolute fajrness
however. some naval airmen believed
.hat the matter of expense had n crea
. neaIlhs on the decision of the Aer,
ciuo OF Great Britain. To organic,
: Hno maintain a racing team. II wa,
shld, number of people must h,
maintained in salaries as we'll az ev
penses, and the pilots themselves bav,
other duties and responsibilities =,
winch they must attend. Croo
britain has three racers entered on,
= crew OF at least 80, including pilots
is necessary to nurse the delicate We
poWerful ships along from dav to da y
me schneider race. promoted by III,
National Aeronautic Association /,
tt's Iouh'ry iast year, was postpone,
about a month to accommodate IN
TIA ilan team. which could not he read,
Tor the opening date. AS Italv wa
the only other entrant, the matte
rested squarely with the United State
ior decision. and this went forwar,
Immediately in favor of the Italians
In 1874, the year following the frs
american victory in the SchneIde
event at CoweS Isle of Iy.rL.
England, the race was scheduled IN
baltimore. and just before the Britjs1
team was due to sail, its prize race
crashed in the Thames and wa
washed out" England was the onl
other entrant fhat Nnar. . nd a.. -. ~.