Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-18
ARMY HAWAII HOP
TO BRING NOPR
Proposed Flight Has No Re-
Iationship to Financial
Offers, Says Dawson.

The projected fight of the Army
Air Corps from the Pacific Coast to
the Hawaiian Islands, preparations
for which were announced yesterday
by the War Department, 'will be
strictly an Army project and has no
relationship to any prize or any other
offer made by private individuals for
a successful fight across the Pacific"
according to r. Trubee Dawson, AS
sistant Secretary Of War for
Aeronautics.
Definite decision to undertake the
fight will be made following COM
pletion of tests now being made. by
Lieut.. Lester ]. Maitland Of this city.
Mr.. Davison's aide, and Lieut.. Albert
+. Hegenberger Of McCook Field, Day
ton, who have been selected for the
project.
The fact that plans are going for
ward toward such an undertaking,
now that prizes and monetary rewards
are being offered for such flight, lis
purely a coincidence" Mr.. Dawson
explained. adding that the Army prof.
offers.
hopes IOT GuCCeSSs
IT sincerely hope that the final tests
will be successful" said Mr.. Dawson.
1T would mean much to aviation If
the flights over the Atlantic by Col.
Charles Lindbergh and Clarence
Chamberlin could be duplicated over
the Pacific.
There is no doubt in my mind as
to the efficiency Of the plane selected
for the proposed Hawaiian flight. 1t
has been tested in every particular as
to it's load capacity and aerodynamic
qualities. 1t has met those tests.
Lieut.. Maitland and Lieut.. Hegen-
berger are splendid pilots. The for
mer has flown nearly 5000 miles in a
sister ship Of the plane slated for the
Hawaiian flight, SO he knows it
thoroughly. Lieut.. Hegenberger, be-
sides being a pilot, is a competent
navigator"
The Assistant Secretary declared
that Lieut.. Maitland had been plan
ming the Hawaiian flight for "at least
six years" When the three engine FOX
err monoplane transport was ordered
from the Atlantic Aircraft Corpora
ton, along with two others of the
type. this particular project was In
view. Lieut.. Maitland, while on duty
with the Air Corps in the Hewa1ian
Islands, made study Of the poSsi-
bility Of such flight and was one of
the first to file an application with the
chief Of the Air Corps to undertake 1t.
Navigator One of Best.
For a navigator. Lieut.. Maitland
will have one of the best in the Air
Corps. Lieut.. Hegenberger has been
chief of the instrument division OF
McCook Field for several years. One
of his outstanding duties was the de-
velopment of the earth inductor com
pass, used so successfully by Col
Lindbergh on his New York to Paris
flight. The compass reached its
present stage of efficiency as the re-
suit Of long and tedious flight tests
made under Lieut.. Hegenberger's
supervision. In addition to the COM
pass work, Lieut.. Hegenberger has
been identified with experiments on
other navigational aids.
Lieut.. Maitland was born In Mil
waukee in 1898, while Lieut.. Hegen-
berger was born in Boston in 1895.
Both entered the aviation section OF
the Signal Corps soon after the out
break Of the World War and have
remained in the flying branch Of the
Army since.
The Fokker monoplane has a wing
spread of II feet and has flown in
various tests with gross load OF
12,715 pounds. Should it depart for
the Hawaiian flight 1t will have
gasoline capacity of about 1,10O gal
Ions, regarded as ample to reach the
objective.
Starting Point Selected.
In contrast to the Navy's attempt
to reach the Hawaiian Islands. the
Army plane will not be equipped with
gear suitable for water landings, but
will retain its wheels. Further, as
far as could be learned today, Lieut..
Maitland will not have the advantage
of bridge of Ships" although war
and merchant vessels plying between
the two points undoubtedly will be
asked to keep q sharp lookout for the
plane.
The monoplane will undergo its
final tests at Rockwell Field. North
Island, San Diego, and probably will
take off for It's big lump from GrisSy