The Washington times., 1929-08-26

on to meet
between here and Lakehurst.
This trip has been a record of
good luck so far as weather move
ment is concerned. but it needs
great skill and good judgment to
take advantage of conditions as
obscure as they sometimes ap-
peared to those of US with linn.
tied experience.
AS a result OF foresight, ex-
perience and efficient preparation
by DIR. Eckener, his crew and
Carl Won Wiegand, who was re-
sponsible for much of the ground
organization and which turned out
so well, this trip has been a phe.
nominal success. but let me also
say that it Is no precedent for
promiscuous flights around the
world and particularly should not
encourage ill-prepared flights from
Tokyo to America with heavier
than aircraft.
A westerly wind in general
might be depended on but with
out weather reports received in
flight by wireless. without an ex-
pert to interpret them, without
the experience of an Eckener to
Judge storm conditions and know
how far advantage can be taken
OF them and, what is more
don't let heavier than airmen for
get this-withoutN a heavy, ef-
ficient gyro compass with q YER
nier attachment fixed In front
Of the rudder control mana giant
inclinometer and pressure gauge
guiding the actions of the eleva-
tor man, it is going to be diff.
cult to repeat the record perfor.
nance made by the Zeppelin.
To Become Highway
The Pacific route from Tokyo
to Seattle, San Francisco or Los
Angeles is not one to tackle
lightly but eventually, no doubt.
it will become one OF the high.
ways Of the world.
We figure that the mishap and
delay at Tokyo was no more than
might happen to even an estab-
lished service and something that
would not often happen. anyway.
The delay caused by local storms
and crcss-winds was annoying, but
was tempered by the fact that
the Tokyo-Los Angeles leg of the
journey would hold a greater thrill
for us than any other part.
Once started, our next stop
would be, God willing, on Ameri-
can soil. We expected to enter
monotonous conditions. There
would be little scenery and not
much excitement on the trip, yet
the Northern Pacific had never
been flown by airship and there
was some new and useful data
to collect.
Confident OF Success
With a safeN start from Tokyo,
full fuel bags and gas tanks,
with Eckener's knowledge and as
surance of good weather maps
from the States, we felt sure of
making the great Pacific journey.
we had no hopes then Of estab-
fishing such phenomenal record.
Nine airplanes snapped out from
the military airdrome near the air
ship hangar and accompanied us
until we left the coast behind. then
they waved their last farewell and
and turned for home. 1t was less
than two hours after they left that
we caught up with the storm that
had delayed us somewhat in start
ing. Soon the fight with old man
weather was on.
Before we left the hangar DIR.
Eckener knew of the job he had
to tackle, knew that there was
sharp change of wind or line squall
TO pass, but he had no accurate in
formation from which to judge It's
violence. Yet with courage born Of
experience he decided to push on
through 1t. He knew that the ship
could stand the strain and knew
that his crew could be relied upon.
Straight into the storm we went.
Dark angry looking clouds low
down to the surface and a troubled
sea beneath them made conditions
look fearsome.
We came through safely. Again
DIR. Eckener had shown his ex-
pert knowledge. He knew when
to take chance that looked too
great for those of us with much
less experience.
The winds broke in our favor.
we could not well have asked for
more. yet on the whole it has been
a difficult job; one extremely well
done by the zeppelin's officers
and crew.
Apart from the storm there has
been little to thrill us on the jour-
ney. AS a matter of fact the
speed with which we were ap-
preaching our destination left us
almost dumb and speechless-
g ~. 1.4... 1o..t,,., ,snOrta