Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-09

NEW YORK, July 9 P.-Up
to 8 pm. today, about 80 hours
after the departure of. the
monoplane Pathfinder from
Old Orchard, Me-, on a 1882
mile flight to Rome, no new
word had come from the craft
which, barring accident, should
be nearing the Spanish coast.
BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 9.-The
Rome-bound monoplane Path
finder, aided by tail-winds and
near-perfect flying conditions
otherwise, presumably was ap-
preaching the European coast
today, flying high and with speed
increased by a lightened fuel load.
Although the craft carrying
Roger @. Williams, former aviation
instructor for the Army, and Capt.
Lewis A. Yancey, master mariner,
had been unreported since $3.50
am. yesterday, when an escort
plane said it was going fine" rs
miles off Portland LightShip, no
anxiety was felt for it.
Expect to Arrive Tomorrow.
Transatlantic planes generally fly
high and the airInen in the Pathfinder
had a ceiling" of 5000 feet, which If
attained would keep them out of ear
shot and sight of any ships at sea.
The plane carried no radio.
Yancey, who is the navigator on the
flight, estimated they would complete
the 4.232-mile flight IN from As to AZ
hours, which would bring them to Rome
Wednesday forenoon.
Clear weather prevailed between Old
Orchard and the ship lane junction
1000 miles out, which the Jairmen
would cross on their route, then along
the forty-first parallel to Cape Ortegal;
Spain; across to Bayonne, France, and
over the Mediterranean to Rome.
From Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, on it
was partly clear, and similar conditions
obtained over Spain, Southern France
and the Mediterranean. Following
winds continued, although they were
not as strong as they had been yes
terday.
Although the start was made through
q fog, DR.. James H. Kimball, me :.
weather conditions over the ocean were
favorable for the fight.
Wind Averages 20 Miles.
"Up until midnight last night, while
they were over the ship lanes, they
probably encountered good deal OF
rain and low ceiling" he said. But
the tail wind, about 20 miles an hour,
was still steadily helping them forward.
There were no severe storms.
AT midnight they must have come
out of the clouds, and by 8 o'clock this
morning, Eastern standard time, they
should have been north of the Azores,
with nothing but clear weather ahead"
The start was made after two fall
predecessor of the Pathfinder, was
wrecked in attempting to take off.
The Pathfinder is a Bellanca mono
plane, equipped with 220-horsepower
Wright whirlwind motor. Its cruising
speed is 80 miles an hour, with a
maximum speed of 1876 miles.
The plane carried 445 gallons OF fuel,
estimated as sufficient for As hours
fiying at it's normal consumption OF ~
gallons an hour. At the last minute
SIS gallons were left behind to llgnten
the take-off load, the flyers calculating
that favorable winds would reduce the
fuel consumption.
Williams is a mechanical engineer
and has been associated with aviation
since a youth, when he and his brother
built and few a plane near their nome
in Brooklyn. He is 35 years old ana
married. During the war he served as
an instructor, afterward becoming q cl-
william instructor for the Curtis Flying
service. In 1927 and 1928 with Clar-
ence Chamberlin he made several un-
successful attempts to set an endurance
flight record He first became identlneo
with a Rome flight project last year
when he was chosen co-pilot by Cesare
Sabell. whose proposed fight was
abandoned.
Capt. Yancey. who is SO, was borr
his way from cabin boy to master mar
iner A few years ago he left the sea te
enter aviation as navigator and teach
er of navigation to pilots. Mrs. YanceJ
was at Old orchard to witness the star,
yesterday
Mrs. Williams Is Confident.
with the calmness acquired In II
years as the wife Of an aviator, MRS
williams plans to while away the TIM
pSnying bridge while her husband hie'
D Rome. :
"yox see, I'm perfectly confident II
him" she explained. I'VE have talket
"A about this for three years and I wa
|A thoroughly prepared. Wives OF aviator
must feel confident. Unless you are un
happy with your husband, you'll alway
want him to do that which VIII max
him happy
Mrs. Williams disclosed her ambition
Is to learn to f1y and would but for he
mothers objection.
Asked If She would go to Rome, sh
answered: "I doubt it. have seen to-
much of these plaudits for aviator'
wives"
French authorities have given instruc
tions at all points along the west coas
to keep a sharp lookout today for tn
Pathfinder. according to Associate
Press dispatches from Paris.
The admirals at Cherbourg and Bres
were advised to inform shipping OF tn
flight and to report promptly tn
plane was seen. Air fields were to hav
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