The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-30
HINCHCLIFFE
SELECTED TO
PILOT PLAN E
American Says He Did Not
Leave France To Elude
Maurice DrOuhin
FRENCHMAN GETS PAY
Levine's Amazing Lone Flight
From France to England
Is Discussed
FRENCHMAN GETS PAY

NHVSuOu, CuSs0Uu, AUX. Cvs
tFr-Charles A. Levine announced
here this afternoon that Captain
w. G. lIinchcliffc had been dcfi-
nitely selected to pilot the trans
atlantic mOnOplane, COllmbia.
back to the United States. Mith
Levine AZ his cOasponlon. 10y
soon AZ the weather cleared.
The start will BE- made from
Cranwell, Lincolnshire. where
Captain Hinchcliffe viii! probably
take the Columbia tonight after
4 trial flight this afternoon.
1t Is u great privilege tn bc
associated In this undertaking.
want no contracts with Mr..
Levine" declared the captain.
who 10 enthusiastic at the pros
pect of flying the Atlantic.
Hinchciiffe IL one Of Great
Rritain's most experienced air
men. He Is a veteran Of the
world war. aged -, and has
5000 flying hours to his credit.
Tall and slender. he presents
a picturesque figure, and he Is
known rs most skilled pilot.
He lost the sight Of one eye
tuuuOukN nv sss
aerial combat with German
plane during the war.
London, Aug. 3O.-tAr-Charles A..
Levine, whose amazing lone flight
from lie Bourget, France, to Croydon
yesterday is attracting as much at
tention here as a fresh TRANSATLANTIC
achievement, says he is going on to
America somehow, "if I die in the
attempt"
His next step is to find pilot for
his transatlantic plane Columbia. and
he expressed every confidence OF
succeeding.
He was besieged this morning by
airmen eager to serve and had the
names of score or more to select
from, but he still hopes that Captain
Hinchcliffe, well-known imperial air
ways pilot, will be his man. One
flyer, Captain Arthur Mills, former
war pilot, told Levine he was pre-
pared to- start tonight, while Flight
Lieutenant G. Birkctt, pilot for taxi
flights at Croydon, said he was ready
to start the minute the Columbia can
be made ready.
Family to Join Him
Mr.. Levine asserted he expected to
remain in London, his wife and
daughter joining him here.
He declared he did not leave France
with the intention Of cluding Maurice
Drouhin, the French airman, who had
agreed to pilot the Columbia back to
the United States from France, but
that he would pay Drouhin 100000
francs and deliver their contract.
The owner Of the Columbia ex-
planned that he desired a pilot who
did not expect perfect conditions for
his attempt to fly across the ocean
adding: "rve been trying to get
Drouhin to take off for America. bu,
he is unwilling to take chance with
out perfect weather."
Opinions Differ
1t is yet to be seen whether the
air ministry will have anything ia
say in the matter Of a British pilot
taking over the plane for guidance to
America.
While opinions differ respecting
the manner in which Levine quit
France in defiance of air navigation
regulations, most commentators are
amused at the cool daring of his ex
plot, and some surprise is expressed
that it did not end in tragedy.
Paris reports say his take off was
splendid, but his landing at Croydon
according to the airdrome staff, wa.
as near disaster az il could be. 10 ~.