Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
Says Efforts Should Be Bent
Toward Making Trips
Safer.
MANY RISKS ARE USELESS
Stresses Need for Careful
Data and Worth of Multi
motored Craft.
BY COL. CHARLES A. LINDBERGH.


~ CEAN flying is still in its pio-
neer stage, but ocean flights
IL have already become divided
~ into two clasSes-those by pi-
lots who wish to fly the ocean
merely to satisfy their own desire, and
those by pilots who in using new types
of planes are trying to advance the
cause of aviation and bring nearer safe
transportation by air over the sea.
No one can quarrel with the desire
of any man to fly the ocean, no matter
what his motive, unless he completely
misrepreSents what he wishes to do. II
he goes alone or with companion In
a single-motored ship, he Is taking
desperate chance and his venture be-
comes a purely sporting affair. have
every sympathy with men who wish 70
do this, but If such pilot fails he
harms aviation, and If he succeeds he
merely proves at present that what has
been done can be done again.
But If pilot talks of advancing avi-
alton, and by careless preparation and
insufficient training jeopardizeS his life
and the lives of those with him, he de-
serves cenSure. Flying over the ocean
will not come as the result of more
flights of this nature, but from the eff
forts of those who go a step farther
and use multi-motored ships, flying
boats or planes of new type which
will give pilot and passengers reasonable
assurance Of safety.
Fly for Purpose.
think It might be laid down as a
good general rule at present that no
body should fly the ocean except with
such a definite purpose in mind. Many
of the flights now being planned, par
ticularly some of those abroad, meet
this condition. The transatlantic
flights Of 1927 were undertaken to show
that the modern airplane and the mod
ern airplane engine could, under favor
able conditions, fly $500 miles across
the land and sea and link America and
Europe by air in nonstop fight. We
knew the dirigible could do it, for three
dirigible crossings had been made in
safety.
We knew that flying boats could make
the passage with a stop at the Azores,
for one NC boat of the American Navy
had done it, and two which were forced
down were brought safely to land. AL
cock and Brown had made the passage
from Newfoundland to Ireland in
land plane successfully. It remained
to be proved that the modern airplane
was so reliable that it could make a
flight of $500 miles, and that was done
last year.
My plane was single-motored plane
because it was the best one I could get,
and it was we'll suited to my purpose.
But If were to fly the Atlantic again
it would be in a multi-motored ship.
The pilot who does not use a multi
motored plane now over the ocean,
where 1t is possible for him to use one,
is not being fair either to himself or
to aviation. The risk is too great.
Single Motors Speedier.
There is one exception to this. of
course. The single motored plane is
still best for attempting speed and dis
travel farther and at higher speed
than the heavily loaded multi-motored
ship. The multi-motored plane Is best
for crossing the Atlantic. but for flying
a much greater distance nonstop, and
where obvious chances must be taken
to obtain maximum range Of flying.
Single-motored plane Is better. The
ngle-motored plane may be looked
upon as the pioneer plane; the multi
motored ship follows in its course as
its performance Is increased and greater
safety required.
But no ocean flight can succeed I'M
less " Is prepared WIN the greatest
care, and this, of course, includes the
selection Of the plane, personnel and
equipment. The flight Of the Southern
Cross from California to Australia was
an excellent example of what can be
done after careful preparation. I think
that Is the best flight accomplished UP
to the present. The plane was well
chosen, the navigating and radio equip
ment were good and the members of
the crew carried out their various duties
perfectly.
Had Plenty Left.
The plane, no matter of what type,
should be so stable that 1t may be flown
with the rudder alone, so that the strain
on the pilot will not be too great. It
should be so efficient as to get of the
ground safely with enough gasoline to
give wide margin of safety in the
cruising radius. My plane still had suf-
ficient fuel for nearly 1000 miles when
/ reached Paris. 1t should be equipped
with dump valves, so that it can be
made light in the event of a forced
landing on the water
It Is wise to provide the best radio
equipment possible to obtain, and an