Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10

cities were dwarfed from our height.
harbor like a grim sentinel as we sped
obtained from these observations
being nearly at right angles to our
course. they gave us a check as =
distance travelled, from whio'n we
could deduce our ground speed.
BY tables prepared in advance we
were able quickly to determine our
position. This advance preparation
of tables and our use of it is, wa
believe, something quite new il air
navigation.
Making Way BY "AvigatiOn."
We might call this "avigation." that
is, navigation of the air.
We were going over lonely sea
from the time we passed the Chateau
Thierry just after leaving the Cali
fornia coast until 2:40 o'clock this
afternoon. San Francisco time. when
we saw the oceanic liner Sonoma. Not
another craft had been in view. The
Sonoma was welcome sight for two
reasons. First, it gave evidence of
other humans near us, and, second.
it showed us again that we were, as
we had planned. on the great circle
route. since the plane was following
the same course as that taken by
steamers in the lane from San Fran
cisco to Honolulu.
Beyond that the clouds became a
little thicker. with rain squalls all
around us. We drove quickly through
or passed the rain squalls and gener
ally had good visibility.
Maitland asked Hegenberger if it
was not about time to sight the
steamer. and Hegenberger. after
checking. said we should meet the
minutes. Just then Maitland saw the
Sonoma loom up dead ahead, just as
we had figured.
We had not thought of food,
strange as that may seem to lands
men, our whole attention being con.
centrated on the job in hand. Except
for little engine trouble at the start,
the big motors had been working per.
fectly. This engine trouble did not
slow us up perceptibly and worked
off in short time.
The sun was now dropping lower in
the western sky and we were already
looking for the next expected steamer,
the Dollar liner President Cleveland.
By establishing radio communica-
ton a little after o'clock, San Fran
cisco time. we were cheered by a radio
conversation. during which we re-
ceived the President Cleveland's posi-
ton. Thus we were again ena dc / to
check our own.
We knew we were slightly north of
her curse and asked the Cleveland
for true bearing from her radio
compass. She reported that our sig
nails wer' too weak to use the radio
compass, so we turned tn plane at
right angles to our course and flew
south toward the President Cleveland.
Darkness Descending on Sea.
In about 90 minutes communication
was again established, the Cleveland
reporting our signals stronger but
still insufficiently strong for a radio
bearing.
AS we knew our position fairly
closely. did not proceed further
along this new bearing in the direc-
ton of the Cleveland, but resumed
o - course toward the islands.
Darkness was now coming over the
vast sea. The clouds had been grow.
ing thicker and deeper during the la
ter part OF the afternoon.
AS tn, ceiling was very low below
the clouds and as we had no moon
light to fly through we climbed above
the clouds to 10000 feet in order to
make celestial observations during the
evening.
At 1890 feet II was extremely cold,
even in late June, and we were con-
stantly shivering. We had not figured
on going so high and hence wore only
our regular service uniforms with
thin cotton flying suits covering them.
Frost Slowed Down Center Engine.
Not light was visible. In fact,
we were shut off from the sea by a
vast. unbroken stratum of clouds.
Hegenberger used his vest-pocket
f1ashlight all night to look at the in
and chart, and it proved
sufficient.
Along about midnight the thought
of food first came to us. Then it was
that we failed to discover what we
looked for. However. this really did
not bother us, for we had plenty to
think about besides food.
Soon after midnight we noticed that
the keen frost at this high altitude
was striking in the carburetor intake
of the center engine and was so slow
ing down this engine that it was re-
duced to idling speed, almost stopped.
There are stoves heated from eX-
haust gases designed for use in air.
planes to prevent such trouble due to
extreme cold, but as we had not ex-
pected to go to such an altitude we
had left the stoves behind at Oakland.
Commander Byrd used three stoves
on his polar fight.
Stars Went Out as Plane Sank.
Lo.-- of power due to slowing down
of the center engine caused the plane
to settle slowly through the clouds.
AS we sank through the clouds, one
b. one the stars overhead dimmed and
went out, thick cloud mass closed
about us. We were in total darkness
except for the flashlight and the in
s. ument board lights. In that half
hour we were sinking from 10000 feet
to 5000 feet.
With drifting rain clouds and
nimbus clouds all around us did
not look out, but concentrated every
faculty on the instruments, relying
upo them to keep the plane on her
course, straight and level We felt
the supreme test of our navigating
instruments was being made.
c.C Co99yrisaht ; 1927 in the United States
Europe and the British Empire Ivy the New
IN part forbidden without permission. All