Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-13
Naval Speed Ace Had Com
pIeted Plans to Send Ship
Over Measured Route.
NATIONAL AERONAUTIC
OFFICIALS AT ANNAPOLIS
Capt. Richardson, Who Helped De-
sign Pontoons, to Advise
in Handling Plane.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Aviation Editor Of The Star.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, August 13-In the
face OF threatened thunderstorns, Lieut..
Afford ]. Williams, Navy speed pilot,
this afternoon made hurried prepara-
tions for the first trial flight of his new
Mercury racing plane. Owing to the
unsettled weather, he abandoned plans
to put the ship over measured speed
course at Kent Island.
Lieut.. Williams probably will not be
able to make the speed test over the
course before tomorrow or Thursday,
although plans for the run had been
practically completed this morning.
Od1cials of the National Aeronautic
Association, among them Frederick r.
Nicely. general manager; Maj. Luke
Christopher, secretary of the contest
committee, and two observers, who will
time the speed attempts, arrived here
this afternoon and were In conference
with Lieut.. Williams.
Seeks Richardson's Advice.
Capt. Dick" Richardson. former as
sistant chief of the Navy Bureau of
Aernonutics, who assisted in designing
the pontoons for Williams racing
plane, arrived here by air from Buffalo,
N. Y, at Lieut.. Williams request to
advise him in the handling of the ship
to obtain the best results on take-of
and landings.
Although the morning was hot and
clear, CLOUDS began rolling up shortly
before the time set for Williams first
attempt. Flashes of lightning and dis
tant rolling thunder indicated that q
storm would break before the plane
could be carried on boat to the Kent
Island course and flown safely
II there is time before the storm
breaks. Lieut.. Williams probably will
make short test hop over the Severn
River In front of the Naval Academy.
Flight Will Be Short.
The flight is expected to be very short
and no turns will be made. williams
is not expected to do more than lift
the plane OF the water, fly it a mile
or two above the surface and then land.
The trip will be made largely for the
purpose Of enabling him to feel out"
the controls of the ship.
I want to make two or three short
hops OF this character before taking
tne plane over the speed course" Lieut..
Williams said.
The Mercury racing plane has stood
Idle on the wharf here since taxing tests
on the Severn River late Friday after
noon. Since that time the propeller has
been checked in special jigS at the Ana
costa AIR Station and trued up after
being slightly bent in the taxing.
Yesterday and today were spent by
a force OF mechanics in making last
n10mPnf fpf1nnn1nnt iE1
the man-made lightning bolt. Fridays
test revealed defects in the lateral
stability OF the plane owing to the
torque erect Of the power motor and
racing propeller. This tended to pull
one wing under water. and Lieut. Will
ilams was forced to fight with the con-
craft.
Shift POntoon Loads.
Torque action has been concentrated
by shifting weight in the two pontoons.
Wnlcn not only support the plane on
the water, but which also carry the
gasoline load and radiators for cooling
water and OIL
Whlle the mechanics were at work
Lieut.. Williams was in Washington in
company with Rear Admiral William A
Monett, chief OF the Navy Bureau of
Aeronautlcs 1t is understood here that
sAAeJ AousHI Ddttle against Official red
tape which for a time threatened tn
prevent Lieut.. Williams entering the in
ternational race
Williams appeared before Secretary
OF the Navy Adams, it is understood in
brief but dramatic conference. which
also was attended by Earnest L. Jahnke.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy: Rear
ADMIRAL Charles Hughes, chief of naval
operations, and Admiral Moffett.
Just what transpired at this confer
ence Is not known, but today Lieut.. VIII
llams, who has been wearing monde
script civilian togs while working
around the plane, and multi on the
streets OF the Naval Academy. appeared
with Navy uniform cap above his
flying togs.
While the venture is a private enter
prise, 1t Is believed that as the result of
yesterdays conference Lieut.. Williams
Will enjoy whatever backing the NAVY
Department is able to give him. 1t also
Is understood that high Navy officials
are In favor of bigger and better pub
licity" for the brilliant Navy pilot. Not
only will press correspondents be grant
ed every possible assistance it was indi-
Gated, but special demonstrations will
be arranged for the benefit of newsreel
and movietone cameramen.