Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-08
POLISH SEA FLYERS
WISDOM GETS BETTER
PART OF AMBITION
Continued from First Page

/
We had the greatest assistance from
| NJ X. Amiot builder OF the plane. and
! his technical staff and they put as
much enthusiasm into the preparations
as though they themselves we're to be
/ borne over the unknown water wastes
on its silver wings.
Sextant Proves Valuable.
| We took with us in the way of food
/ two chickens, biscuits. 10 liters of water
| and some coffee. The plane was we'll
| equipped with Morell magnetic COM
Electric compass and an improved SEX
, tant Of fave leptite, which proved Of
nestimable value during the flight.
In case of forced landing the plane
equipped with dumping valves. could
be supported for some time on the water
1 by the empty tanks. and we also had
an infiatable rubber boat.
The day before the start was divid-
ed by us between the meteorological
bureau and our friends. We went to
sleep about ii pm in order to get up
at ; am. at which time we headed
for the field. We found there numerous
cars and a large crowd. composed of
government representatives friends and
well wiShers. gentlemen Of the press
and the usual large sprinkliug of Curl
osity seekers.
Weather Misty ut Start.
AT the time of the start the sky was
overcast and the weather misty. The
wind blew across the runway and we
could not make use of it for the take
of. Nevertheless the plane lifted easily
after a 7Oo-meter run, giving lis
thrilling assurance of its power.
Confident. we pointed its nose up
ward and soon attained comparative
~ high altitude. which enabled us to
clear the hills north of Paris without
any difficulty.
This made us regret that we did not
take 500 literS more of benzine. which
NE now know csuld have been easily
done, A few minutes later familiar
faces and Paris were behind us in the
morning mist
During our fight oyer France we had
cloudy, calm weather mist and slight
tail wind. The plane proceeded at ITS
klometers an hour We were escorted
at first by one plane. which was as
signed to watch over the first mile of
our journey through the air.
Sailors Wave Godspeed.
We left land at Lorient at 7:2s am.
while numerous sailors and fishermen
were waving us Godspeed on our ven-
ture. The air was so calm that 20
minutes after the start we were able
TO reduce the revolutions per minute
by 100. Judging from the slight mo-
ton of the waves, we knew that we had
favorable wind. This condition did
not last long, though
About half an hour after leaving the
shores of France We came into a fog
bank so thick as to be totally i'm
penetrable TO the eye and extending
to the level of 20 meters above the
ocean surface. With plaEe as heavily
loaded as ours We could not risk fly
ing SO low. so we had to choose the
route between the fog and the clouds
unable to make any observations or get
our bearings.
The plane wa; flying with amazing
evenness at an altitude of 300 meters. At
am. (always Greenwich time five
hours earlier than New York or East
ern standard tiine), IdZikowski reduced
the revolutions per minute by another
100. which enabled us to make feelings
scvings of our fuel We never saw
the sun until IL am, when the fog, too.
started lifting Observations taken
with the sextant showed that we were
so kiiometers of our course due to a
brisk north wind. Our flying speed at
that time was 1870 kilometers per hour,
and our position As north, 1890 west
Visibility Becomes Good.
From hat point on the weather be-
came marvellous. We could not hope
for better visibility which was easily so
kilometers. The waves began breaking,
indicating freshening of the wind
Observations were easily taken and we
few ahead at an altitude of so meters.
We found out by that time that pilot
ing over the water was very easy and
not at all tireSonae-no matter whether
the plane Travelled through mist or in
the clear-the air in the lower strata
was Of even temperature due to the
close proximity of the water. and the
plane proceeded like a powerful auto
mobile on good highway.
Inc void around us was compensated
Oy the beauty of the blue ocean and the
me even rhythm Of the motor, working
like clock. At $50 pm. we were al
ready at the point III north 1880 west.
AT this moment instead of continuing
toward the Azores gave my comrade a
new course due west, to the crossing of
the steamship lanes. This was cutting
100 kiiometers from our route.
Fog Comes With Evening.
The weather continued glorious, the
wind came steadily from the northwest
the plane few at 100 kilometers an
nour. We We're at the latitude of the
Azores, IL north % west, at 7:3O pm.
after Is hours of flying.
About pm. the sky became overcast
ana the water was covered by a fog
blanket 300 meters thick. The wind
was weaker and judging from the
waves. came from the south. At 1890
pm. we were at 1880 north, 81 west,
flying AT IT'S kilometers an hour. We
were forced to fly through the fog close
TO the water to avoid stronger winds
In order 10 measure our DETECTION from
the course, went to the bottom of the
plane. where the drift indicator was
built In. There / noticed a consider
able flow of Oil under the ship, which
was not there before
Greatly alarmed, hailed Idzikowski,
who soon reported a falling of oil
pressure. His first words were, What