The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-07
F0GS UNNERVE
OCEAN FLYERS,
AIRMAN FINDS
Lieut.. Davis, Who Navigated
Goebels Plane, Tells of
Difficulties


knowledge Of atmospheric condi-
tons over the ocean may be put
down as one Of the principal causes
Of failure in many Of the long dis
lance flight attempts Of recent
months, believes Lieut.. William v.
Davis; Jr., who navigated Art
Goebel's "Woolaroc." the prize win
ming monoplane, in the Dole race
from California to Hawaii.
Conditions over the ocean are
quite different from those found In
land flying, he says, and demand
quick and accurate action in con-
troll of the plane. Ocean flyers thus
far also have taken off without the
important weather information
which comes from high altitude OBJ
servations at sea, guide long avail.
able to the land pilot.
Fog Prevails
'Fog prevails much of the time
and storms arise suddenly over the
ocean," Davis explains. 1T is not
strange in The least that a pilot
who is expert in flying over land
might find himself helpless at sea
because of unfamiliarity with ocean
atmospheric conditions. The mat
ter of pilots judgment and abil-
ity in selecting the right altitude
at which to fly under prevailing con-
ditions Is most important.
ITO me, the other causes Of fail
ure in these attempts were improper
navigation; the ever present danger
of material failure in the engine,
such Is the breaking Of m oil or
gas line, and the use Of land planes.
"From these mistakes, however,
will come multiple engines In sea-
worthy planes, experienced pilots
and navigators in sea-flying, and
complete and accurate information
on flying weather over the ocean"
Low Ceiling Causes Trouble
A low ceiling is one of the most
dangerous conditions confronting q
pilot in land or ocean flying. Lieu
tenant Davis finds. Ceiling Is the
aviator's term, generally speaking,
for the maximum height which pre-.
vailing atmospheric conditions with
permit his plane to attasn-the
maximum altitude Of clear, flying
air. Heavy clouds and fog close
down to cause low ceiling.
my personal opinion is that sew
eral Of the missing flyers in the
Dole flight were lost trying to climb
out of fog" he says. 1.-THE Woolaroc
flew at 5000 feet over fog most OF
the way, in perfect flying weather,
with the exception Of few squalls.
living in fog, pilot may easily
lose u sense Of balance and direc'
ton. The natural inclination 10 t.
climb out Of it, and before one
realizes it the plane may be littee
too sharply and 60 into . spin. i
takes nearly q thousand feet to re-
cover and if flyer Is close to thu
sea, he hcs no chance.
Dererds on Instruments
1.-THE fa and the navigator arr
entirely l dent upon instruments
If the ligf go cut on the instrumen
board, the :. in a dangerous pre-
dicament.'
The radio beacon, he believes, Il
one of the most important Of recen
Developments. Extremely accurate
the beacon indicates a true cours,
never exceeding % miles in width
II the plane veers to the right OF
left, the radio message changes u
form and the flyer is warned OF tn
wrong direction in which he y
travelling.
"But even with all my Instrument
and with constant checking with tn
stars and sun, and with confidence
IN my long study Of navigation, 20,
can not imagine the feeling tina
came over me far out at Sea-" he re
lates. 1.-THE great bank Of fog ant
later the open, objectless sea an
the limitless space into the heaven
no definite object anywhere--al
create an ocean Of doubt.
Sticks 70 Instruments
"Despite the fact l was sure 0
my instruments, thoughts that per
heps they were wrong, that per
haps they were wrong, that perhap
something was wrong with the "a
do beacon's direction, came up.
Va sure had made no mistakes u
my checkings, yet a strange douo
wss there. The strain continues I'm
iii you are almost willing to believ
the sun has changed its position
But I stuck to my instruments.
6Imagine what this strain mean
"a the pilot with little knowledg
and experience in navigation.
e enough to drive him crazy an
into fatal wandering from HI
course"