The Washington times., 1927-10-12
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steamers and rs vessels are strung
out at intervals of a few hundred
miles all the way across.
1t is regarded as unlikely that
the plane will be sighted while it
is battling the elements in the
storm area. Miss Elder and Halde.
man probably would choose to fly
at the highest altitude possible in
order to evade the elemental dis
turbances, or else the plane would
be excluded from the view of yes.
sells beneath them by the low-lying
clouds and fog-Shrouded\ skies.
The American Girl hoped off
from Roosevelt Field, Long Island,
just after o'clock yesterday noon.
II all goes well, the fliers hope to
reach their goal in 80 to AZ hours,
Thirty-eight hours Of flying would
place them in Paris at noon, Paris
time, tomorrow, or a. M, New
York time.
The present rate Of speed Of the
plane, however, as computed from
the position given by the American
Banker, in it, wireless message last
night, indicates that more than So
hours will be needed for the flight.
Choose Hard Route
The filters elected to follow the
steamer route instead Of the great
circle course, which Col Charles
Lindbergh followed on his trail
blazing flight. Tbs former route
adds several hundred mills to the
flight, but Miss Elder ana Haldeman
figured they would benefit by the
presence of steamers beneath them
along the path of the flight.
Weather conditions across the At
aantie are regarded as far from
favorable. but the air over the
French Coast ia clear and the visi-
bility expected to be excellent once
the ocean hop has been completed.
Ruth Elder was flying the Ameri-
can Girl with q smile on her lips
and q rag doll in her arms, flying
1t with q Bible her mother gave
her tucked under the seat, a
Chinese good luck ring, the gift Of
q girl friend, on her finger, and a
rabbits foot tucked in her helmet.
Mrs. Haldeman, wife of the CO.
pilot and navigator, was confident
that the flight would succeed.
IT have every confidence in
George" she said, t'and I know
that he'll come through. I'm sure
that Ruth will help him, and /
know that in an emergency my
husband relies on her Judgment
and GOODNESS"
Asked whether she would like to
b. in Miss Elders place, Mrs.
Haldeman, who has often flown
with her husband, replied: Ger
tainly, but I'm afraid lack the
ability"
Miss Elder was prepared to look
her best when she landed in Paris.
Over the costume in which she
had been seen at the field all day,
comprising plaid sweater, golf
stockings to match, gray knickers.
and low Oxfords, she wore a brown
leather flying suit lined with gray
fur, under her helmet, which
matched the leather suit, she still
wore her brightly colored hair rib.
bon. She declared that she in
tended to divest herself Of the fly.
ing suit and helmet in the plane
before getting out at lie Bourget,
so that the crowd would see her in
her brilliant sports costume.
Captain Haldenan wore a regu-
lar army winter flying suit lined
with black fur, and under this a
blue business suit.
Wear Safety Suits
Unlike Byrd and others who used
rubber boats for emergency landings.
to keep afloat on the ocean until
aid should come. Miss Elder and
Captain Haldenfan viii stake their
lives on two ruher suits, lined with
q, wood composition. which are ex-
pected not only to keep them afloat,
but to keep them warm, as well.
Water carbide flares which ignite
when they strike water are carried
as distress signals.
The rations carried on the flight
consisted OF three quarts Of hot
coffee in thermos bottles. one quart
of hot beef tea, turkey sand.
witches. Swiss cheese sandwiches,
s bars Of milk chocolate and 3 half
dozen oranges.
One Of the last things Miss Ell.
der did before she stepped into the
plane was to kiss III. b. Cornell.
q wealthy orange grower OF Flor.
ida. and T. d. McArdle. two Of the
hackers Of the flight. She kissed
each one several times.
8 BacIxers Of Flight
Miss Elders principal hackers
are eight business men OF Wheel.
ing, w. Va. All the hackers tried
in vain to persuade Miss Elder and
Captain Haldeman to give up their
alpns for a transoceanic flight this
year because of the recent disas.
trous attempts of other filters. Miss
Elder and Haldeman took the re-
Rponsibility of making the flight.
"Tha American Girl. n easily