Evening star., 1928-06-04
HOPS OFF FROM HALIFAX.
Friendship Makes Perfect Take-off for
Newfoundland.

Friendship Makes Perfect Take-oh for
Newfoundland.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, June 4 LAp).--
The monoplane Friendship hoped of
this morning for Trepassey, Newfound-
land, on the next leg Of contemplated
fight across the Atlantic to England.
A perfect take-off from the Eastern
passage airport, on Halifax Harbor. was
made at 1886 o'clock, Eastern daylight
saving time. The plane win be re-
fuelled at Trepassey. Just before the
hop-off from here 100 gallons Of gaso-
line were put aboard.
Wilmer Stultz, who was pilot for Mrs.
Francis Wilson Grayson on her first
attempt to hy the Atlantic last year. is
pilot Of the plane. The co-pilot is Miss
Amelia Earhart amateur aviatrix and
director or Denison House. HOStuns
oldest settlement center She Ii uf fair
complexion and bears q striking fesern-
blance To Col. Charles a. Lindhcrgh,
whose traii-hlhzing path across the
North Atlantic she hopes TO follow.
Louis Gordon Of San Antonio, Tex. IS
flight mechanic.
Purchased From Byrd.
The plane. equipped with pontoons. Is
trin1otored Fokker purchased from
Comdr. Richard z. Byrd. The expedi-
ton is backed by the Mechanical
Science Corporation, represented by the
New York publisher and explorer.
George Palmer Putnam.
With no advance publicity, the plane
took of from Boston HarbOr yesterday
morning for Trepassey. Running into
fog of Halifax, Etultz turned back and
landed in the hafhOr here
Present plans call for stop at Tre-
passey only long enough to fuel the
plane. then she will head out across the
Atlantic for London, her destination.
The flight Is the first attempted by
plane equipped for landing on water
and is expected to prove the practica-
bility Of airplane service to Europe.
Called Scientific Experiment.
cit is understood that the backert
Of this enterprise are interested pri.
air transportation over water" said o
statement from MFR. Putnam.
For the first time In tranoceanic
flying a tri-motored ship Is equipped
with pontoons, making 1t possible tc
land anywhere In water. 1t Is tI1i:
type OF equipment that Comdr. Byrc
has favored from the first as the in
evitable development for long distance
commercial flying over water"
Had Not Told Of Plans.
How well the secret was kept Is shown
by the fact that even Miss Earhart's
superiorB In the Boston social service
work seemingly were unaware or hei
plans. She had asked for leave ol
absence, which was granted, but had
| not told Of her plans for the ocean
| flight.
stuitz, month ago, announced that
| he had been retained by Comdr. BYRD
| to aid In tests for the forthcoming Ant
| arctic expedition. He went 10 Boston
and has been making tests.
The take-oH In Boston. shortly after
dawn, was made without benefit oi
newspaper reporters. Even Miss Ear.
hart's mother and sister were not pres.
ent, being informed OF the take-ofi by
telephone. A fourth member of tho
party. Lou Cover who had Intended tc
accompany the party TO TrepaSsey tc
aid In refueling and servicing the plane
for her ocean flight. was left behind
Difficulty was experienced In taking
of, and he got out Of the plane. Minus
his weight tho big Fokker finally goi
off the water.
When the fog became dense of here
Gtultz turned back and landed In the
| harbor, which he saw through hole
in the fog. When the weather cleared
| later in the day he made another at
tempt 70 get through TO Trepasaey. but
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