Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-23
CHAMBERL|N PLANS.
HOP Off LEWATHAN.
Test Will Decide Feasibility of
Taking Passengers and
Mail From Liners.

AS the first step to determine the
feasibility of speeding up transatlantic
mail and emergency passenger service,
Clarence D. Chamberlin, holder of
the world endurance and long distance
flight records, will fly off the Levia'
than as the big liner nears the Euro
pean coast the first week in August.
An invitation to make this expert
ment was rendered Chamberlin by
Chairman O'Connor of the Shipping
Board at a conference in New York
Thursday, and the Shipping Board
head said the noted airman was en-
thusiaStic over the proposal
Chamberlin will make a test hop
from the Leviathan's decks after the
ship leaves Boston, where she is now
undergoing repairs, for New York.
Confer i'm New York.
II had a conference Thursday in
New York with Mr.. Chamberlin," Mr..
O'Connor said, with a view to provid'
ing airplane transportation of mail
and possibly two or three emergency
passengers in connection with the sail
ing of the Leviathan for Cherbourg
and Southampton on August l and
subsequent dates. Mr.. Chamberlin ac'
cepted the suggestion with enthu'
siasm.
THE Leviathan is now in Boston.
Mr.. Chamberlin has just returned on
the Leviathan and is thoroughly IA
miliar with the physical dimensions
and deck accommodations for an air.
plane When the Leviathan returns
from Boston to New York Mr.. Cham
berlin expects to fly from her deck in
an airplane."
If weather conditions are propitious,
Chairman O'Connor said, Chamberlin
will leave the Leviathan in his plane
some hundreds of miles from Europe
with Oh or two passengers if they
can show urgent reason for haste.
Details to Be Arranged.
"Of course the details cannot be
thoroughly worked out until a more
careful study has been completed" he
said. 1--WE shall have the benefit OF
Mr.. Chamberlin's advice and his as
sociates whose experience best quail
fies them to be of service"
The Leviathan has height Of 6412
feet from her top deck to the waters
edge, and aviation experts point out
in favor of a successful test of the
idea.
All Of the Governments mail-carry
ing ships are believed to have room
for at least one plane, while some OF
the larger passenger liners, like the
George Washington and her sister
ships, can accommodate more.
Big Help to Mail.
Commissioner Teller Of the board
has been requested by Chairman
O'Connor to look into the feasibility
of launching such a service from the
Pacific Coast, and while officials OF
the board believe few passengers
would seek such an emergency on the
seas, it would be of tremendous value
for speeding up international mai
transportation.
Should the Chamberlin eXper1
mental fight prove a success, and Il
contractors can be found willing tt
bid on such an air mail service, which
would involve meeting ships 500 OF
l 900 miles at sea and oVerhaullne
outgoing ships with last-minute mai
and passengers, the Post ONCE lie
partment will ask for bids.
For nearly two years the depart
ment, according to w. Irving Glover
Second Assistant Postmaster General
has been trying to interest aviation
concerns in the proposition, but al
vet has not received sufficient en-
| enlargement to warrant the calling
| of bids.
Time Saving Pointed Out.
It has been the desire of Mr.. Glover
to inaugurate such service out o.
New York, using seaplanes, whicf
could land in the water far out a
sea and take on mail and passenger!
from incoming ships and overhau
outgoing vessels with foreign-destlne(
letters and passengers.
Similar services have been in opera
ton by the department for foul
years between New Orleans and the
mouth of the Mississippi and fol
seven years between Seattle ant
Victoria, British Columbia. Each o.
these routes saves from "a to Al
hours in the handling of mail, and IL
| the case of outgoing mail which
misses steamer in either of thu
ports the airplane service, by catch
ing the vessel, often saves a week Oh
more in time.
u -