Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07

expert operator 1t has been proved
several times that radio bearings may
be obtained for navigating when the
weather Is such that an astronomical
observation or even observation Of the
water to obtain the rate Of drift Is
impossible, A navigator and complete
set of the best navigating instruments
are essential. The pilot must be capa-
BILE of flying many hours by his instEl-
ments alone, for undoubtedly many Of
the fatalities have been due to lack
of this experience. A~collapSible boat
with an emergency radio set should be
taken so that it would be possible for
the crew to stay afioat and indicate
their position.
Need Careful Data.
And, above all, no plane should take
off for a flight over the ocean without
proper meteorological information,
which at the present time is often all
too scanty. Despite the great efforts
made by the Weather Bureau officials
and the radio corporations last year
to obtain data on the weather at sea
it was often most incomplete This Is
service which must be built up, and
will be in time. The Weather Bureau
deavoring to obtain the necessary funds
from Congress. It will be valuable to
shipping as well as to airplanes.
The flights of last year showed that
there were any number Of pilots who
were anxious to extend the radius of
activity OF the airplane. The great
trouble was that their preparations and
experiences did not in all cases match
their enthusiasm. It Is obvious that
there are certain standards to be met
both by the plane and the pilot In such
difficult flights. Many of them took
of in a hurry without testing their
planes thoroughly, many of them had
done almost no flying by instruments,
and many planes used were entirely un-
suited for such work.
Trimotors Safer.
In looking back over the history of
ocean flying, certain facts stand out
clearly. Every trt-motored plane got
across the ocean and landed safely.
Several flying boats, not yet developed
to the efficiency of the multi-motored
land plane, have been forced down in
the ocean, but believe that the crews
OF every one have been saved. But the
story OF single-motored planes is trag-
ically different. At least SO per cent
OF them have been lost and several
more have come down in the sea, al
though their crews have been rescued.
This shows Enthusiastically the great
superiority Of the multi-motored plane
for overwater flights, and the far greater
safety Of flying boats. If those who
attempt such flights in the future would
bear this fact in mind and make their
preparations accordingly, the accidents
In ocean flying would be far less and
the cause of aviation would advance
There are definite limits to ocean flying
at the present time, and they should
not be exceeded.
When ocean flying becomes a com.
mercial possibility-and it undoubtedly
VIII in time-it will probably have to
be done in flying boats, big cargo ships
with many motors. There Is no reason
for trying to develop commercial flying
over water in land machines at present
as the engine has not been built which
always runs without failure.
Need Bouyant Hull.
1t is probable that ocean planes will
have so large reserve of power that
Two or three motors could be cut out
II necessary and flight maintained. but
there is always the possibility of failure
OF some part of the machine which
would bring it down, and in that case
hull which will float safely on the
water, which might even be propelled
in some way, must be developed. :
The Germans are doing good work