The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-04
Columbia Plane in Dramatic
Take-0ff From RooSe-
welt Field.
DESTINATION UNCERTAIN
Berlin, London, Paris and
Moscow Listed lust /
Before Take.0ff. f.

Bu United Press
ROOSEVELT FIELD, n. T. Juns
4.-The monoplane Columbia early
today shook off the shackles OF in
functions and feuds which have
bound it to the ground for weeks
and took off for an unknown destina-
tion. ostensiby Europe.
The craft carried Clarence D.
Chamberlin as pilot and Charles A.
Levine. president of the Columbia
Aircraft Company, as passenger.
Neither was dressed in flying clothes.
The plane heavily loaded, took off
at 605:27 a. IN. on its second at
tempt. On the first effort, a few
minutes earlier, Chamberlin brought
the plane to a stop without trying to
leave the ground.
1--WE may go to Berlin. we may
go to London said Chamberlin just
before he left. 1--WE may so to Paris,
Rome or even Moscow. 1t all de-
pends on our fuel supply"
Drama at Start
The takeoff of the Columbia was
dramatic-even more dramatic, per-
haps, than Capt Charles Lindberghs
start for Paris from the same run
way two weeks ago.
Chamberlin, clad in knickers and a
wndbreaker, was in the pilots seat.
and 1t began to appear that he, would
emulate Lindbergh's feat of flying
alone. Nothing had been said OF who
would accompany him. Then, as the
engine warmed up, Charles Levine,
president Of the company that owns
the plane and sponsor of the fight.
ran to the side of the cabin and
climbed in. He was in street clothes
and did not even wear hat.
Halted by Weather
The Columbia had been fully pre-
pared for the fight yesterday. i'll
readiness for starr in the late aft
ernoon. Bad weather conditions
forced a postponement. but the plane
was left with a full load Of fuel.
including auxiliary tanks. and its
engine had been tuned up.
Just before Chamberlin, satisfied
with the way the engine was rum
ming. showed he was preparing TO
start down the runway The crowd
had reached 1000 The weather was
perfect-a slight northeasterly breeze
blowing out of a blue sky f1ecked
with creamy cloudy.
Levine. hatless and excited. sud-
denly ran from the crowd at the
side of the plane and crawled into
the closed cabin. The crowd was
stunned. The plane started down
the runway and the crowd broke
into cheers. The craft stopped, re-
turned, started again and nosed up
in a perfect takeoff 1t circled the
field and headed northeast.
II was a perfect bit of melodrama
to match the heart throbs of the
Lindbergh takeoff. when curly hair
and the grim determination OF a
youngster caught the hearts OF the
crowd at the field as they later
caught Paris. Brussels and London.
Heavier Than Lindy's
The official weight Of the plane
when it took off was announced as
$3.50 pounds. $50 pounds more than
tbe weight of Lindbergh's Spirit OF
St Louis. The Columbia is slightly
larger than the other plane.
The plane carried SSS gallons or
gasoline in its main gasoline tank
and two auxiliary tanks, and in addi-
ton was understood to have had
aboard five t.. gallon cans as an emer7
sency supply If the wind is not too
strongly against the plane, it is esti-
mated it can travel $500 miles.
The plane did not carry a wire
less set, even its weak 20-mile emer-
gency set having been thrown out to
save weight just before the start.
Carries Food Supply
Contrasting with the sandwiches
and canteen Of water carried by
Lindbergh on his fight, the food sup
ply in the Columbia included
Two vacuum bottels OF chicken
soup, one jar Of matted milk tablets,
one dozen oranges. ten chicken
sandwiches on toasted pye bread.
John Carisi. factory superintend.
ent of the Columbia Aircraft Com
pany, supervised the final prepara-
tions fof the flight Carl f. Schorry.
secretary Of the contest COMMITTEES Of
the National Aeronautical Associa;
ton. sealed the Paragraph, thus pre-
venting the plane from coming to
earth and rising again without the
stop being recorded.
The surprising entrance Of Levine
into the fight left spectators at the
field, almost stunned. Although the
president Of the company which built
the Columbia has flown often as a
passenger. he has no official stand
ing as a pilot.