Evening star., 1928-06-19
BYRD SAYSFL|GHT
WAS NOT "STUNT"
Proves Need Of Multi.Motor-
ed Planes in Ocean Flying,
Commander Adds.
BY the Associated Prs.

bS ths Associated Press.
BOSTON. June 9.--The successful
hight Of the monoplane Friendship
was no stunt. but necessary pioneer
effort" Comdr. Richard T.. Byrd. hero
OF one transatlantic flight and OF a
flight to the North Pole. said last night.
In a statement to the Associated Press
Comdr Byrd dwelt on the value Of
nnulti-engined planes for transoceanic
flying. He said.
My heartiest and deepest congratu-
lations to Miss Earllart, Stultz and
Gordon. They have done great Job
Nor do I want to forget Mrs. Frederick
Guest, their generous backer, and
George Putnam and Robert Elmer OF
Chicago. In charge of technical prepara-
tions. They should set much credit.
Preparations were most thorough and
careful.
This flight was no stunt but nee
essary pioneer effort Equipped with
floats, as the Friendship is. 1t is the
next step that had to be made to make
transoceanic commercial flying possible.
Hopes Lesson Is Learned.
ut is my fervent hope that this fine
example of proper preparation will help
to prevent recurrence this Summer Of
foolish unnecessary transoceanic flights
in single-engined planes.
"On account of the extraordinary
emotion that has gripped the country
in connection with transoceanic flights
for many months. some OF us have been
carrying on much-handicapped fight to
prevent foolish unprepared efforts.
There has been little done or said by
the institutions and agencies that
should have taken firm stand I'm COM
batting this emotion by telling the pub
lie the real facts about transoceanic
flying. and so 1t has been extraordi-
narily difficult TO get the facts to the
public, All this hesitancy TO tell the
facts Is more or less natural. due to the
flood Of criticism that descends upon
one Who presumes to speak hard truths
about the matter.
Il have high hopes that the flights
of the Friendship and Of the Southern
Cross may bring better informed opin-
ion and that the force of this opinion
will prevent tragedies from unwarrant-
ed transoceanic flights and compel the
flyer to think before he hops.
Disaster 10 Single Engines. +,
The facts are these: Only a very
small percentage of the unprepared
plane flights that start
ed across the Atlantic Ocean succeed
ed In crossing most OF them disap-
pcared into the unknown without the
slightest trace-whereas every one Of
the three-engined planes has been sue
cessful 100 per cent--the North Pole
fight. the Transatlantic flight Of the
America the Army's flight 10 Hawaii,
the night to Australia and now this
flight to Europe -
eff fta <xR ~fv> a
plane keeps on going the pilot win
viii come down on the water. It
must come down. All depends upon
that engine-it is what makes the diff
ference between dead pilot and O live
hero On the other hand. II one of
he engines OF the three -enginad plane
stops. the plane can fIy with the re-
naming two engines and the mechanic
can get out to the disabled engine and
repair 1t In the air Very few of the
single engined planes have carried
radio. In spite of their longer cruising,
radius, which has been a big element
OF advantage In some peoples minds.
the single-engined planes cannot af-
ford to carry radio on account OF the
weight. ~
Radio Saves Valuable. Lives.
On the other hand. the three-en-
gined planes have carried radio and
have been properly prepared and able
TO locate themselves with it.
1t Is my fervent hope that this
flight. following so soon after that OF
the Southern Cross. will emphasize at
least the truth about transoceanic fy-
ing and so prevent recurrence OF last
Summers tragedies Valuable lives viii
De saved and aviation win be helped
instead OF hurt.
OF course. am making not case
against single-engined planes. which
are better than muiti-cngined planes
over areas where there are plenty Of
landing fields"