Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-01
ATLANTIC WEATHER
OBSTACLES CITED.
NungeSser and Coli Chose
Best Day in 10 Years,
Naval Officers Write.
By the Associated Press.

-~O0ON~~NSN
NEW. YORK, September 1.-Illumi-
mating comment on obstacles the st.
Raphael may have faced over the
North Atlantic is covered in a weather
analysis Of the flights of Nungesser,
Lindbergh, Chamberlin and Byrd in
the United States Naval Institute Of
Proceedings, September issue. The
article Is by Lieuts. Logan G. Ramsey
and Earle H. Kincaid. U. S. N.
They point out that between May 1
and July Is Of this year, when the
flights were made, favorable weather
conditions for Eastward flights have
existed on only four days. As to the
reverse direction. bad as the weather
was which Nungesser and Coli en-.
countered. it is the conclusion Of the
authors that the day they chose was
the most favorable in 10 years.
Nevertheless, the Navy experts on
transatlantic flying believe that with.
in Is years regular air route across
the North Atlantic will be Travelled,
but 1t viii be far below the path fol.
lowed by Lindbergh and his sue.
Weather Difficulties Described.
cessors.
If the French aviators. were not
forced downs following is a ,descrip-
ton of conditions probably encoun.
tered, the article says. After leav-
ing Paris gentle following wind Of
approximately IL miles an hour aided
them for about the first third of their
journey. In about longitude 81 de-
grees west. the wind began shifting
slightly to the southwestward and in
creased N d,,o
ness. Up until this time a navigator
OF Coils known ability would be TAX
ing into consideration the northward
drift due to the wind and would make
allowances for 1t, thus maintaining hts
exact course.
May Have. Changed Course.
"At about darkness they began to
come under the influence of atmos-
pheric depression off the coast of
Newfoundland. A little while after
darkness, still assuming them to he
carrying out the modified great circle
course. they would have changed their
course to the southwark. However,
a gradual increase of wind which
might have been imperceptible in the
darkness and which was encountered
about this time, may have blown them
off their intended course to the north
ward. If the flyers continued they .
would have come close to the center
OF the depression, but would have still
had favorable winds.
From G2rkness to dawn they en-.
countered freezing temperatures, sleet
and snow. The increase in the veloc-
ity of the winds. the lowering clouds
and intermittent squalls might have
prevented them from following the in
tended course, or they may have
shifted the course at this point to the
northward purposely to avoid the
storms center. In addition, they had
announced that in case of bad weather
they might change their destination
from New York to Montreal"
After reviewing the possible causes
of the failure of Nungesser and Coli.
the naval experts quote as a belief.
which is gaining many adherents, that
the French aviators were forced down
by sleet and ice forming on their
wings.
Wind conditions vary so greatly
over the North Atlantic that, with the
extra fuel that can be carried on the
planes Of today. the margin OF safety
Is so small that 1t can be easily wiped
out by unfavorable Winds" they say.