The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-13
Paris Bound AViatorS Are
Estimated More Than
500 Miles at Sea.
STOWAWAY is REPORTED
Youth May Have Been Hid
den Aboard Yellow Bird
for Flight.
BvUnited Press

BIZ United Press
OLD ORCHARD, Me, June
13.-Plans for the first trans
Atlantic race in the history of
aviation were upset here today
when the American monoplane
Green Flash plowed into the
sand of the beach IN an at
tempted take-off on its project
ed flight to Rome.
Eleven minutes previously, the
French monoplane Yellow Bird had
made a perfect take-off on its pro-
posed flight to Paris. At 2 p. m.
the Yellow Bird was estimated 800
miles at sea.
After the Yellow Bird had taken
off reports spread that an 1S-year-
old stowaWay was aboard. Two
Portland youths said their chum,
Alexander Jordan, had secreted
himself in the planes cabin.
The Yellow Bird, piloted by Jean
Assolant and carrying navigator
Rene Lefevre and radio operator
Armento Lotti Jr., took off at 1910
a. m. after beautiful run down the
mile-long stretch Of sand.
Yellow Bird Take Off Perfect
Pilot Rogar G. Williams had
guided the Green Flash only third
of mile down the natural runway.
heading toward the water, when the
6,5Oo-pcund craft nosed into the
sand.
The Green Flash was only fifteen
yards from the waters edge when
the nishap occurred.
1t was the second accident to the
American plane, for it became stuck
in the sand in somewhat similar
manner when it made a false start
May %.
AS the wheels ploughed into the
sand, the heavily-loaded plane
dipped sharply, and beach spectators
feared for an instant that it would
oYerturn.
The Yellow Birds take-off was
perfect. It surprised the big beach
crowd, as the American monoplane
Green Flash had been expected to
start first on its proposed flight to
Rome ahead Of the French f1iers.
Pilot Is Newly Wed
Racing down the beach, Pilot Jean
Assolant kept the plane edging to-
ward the sea. After travelling three
quarters of mile, the plane, weigh
ing 1900 pounds, lifted slowly into
the air
Assolant was married three days
ago to Pauline Parker, New York
Showgirl
Accompanying Assolant were
Rene Lefeyre, navigator, and Ar
memo Lotti Jr., radio operator.
AS their huge Yellow Bird scared
over the sea, spectators noted it was
experiencing difficulty in gaining al
titude, but within two or three
minutes it had climbed to an alti-
tude of about 300 feet.
1t pursued an easterly course, then
swung onto a northeast course and
headed toward Cape Sable.
Five minutes after the hop-off it
was out Of sight.
The decision to start was
prompted by a weather report re-
ceived from DR.. James H. Kinball,
New York weather expert, Wednes-
day night.
Dr. Kimball said that heavy
weather over the Atlantic was clear
ing and that favorable conditions
could be expected, with westerly
winds prevailing almost all the way
across.
The task of fueling the two big
nonoplanes kept mechanics busy
most Of the night. One thousand
gallons we're put aboard the Yellow
Bird and $50 gallons into the tanks
Of the Green Flash.
Flight in 30 Hours
Members of the French crew an-
nounced they would use a mixture
of 60 per cent benzol and 40 per
cent gasoline at the start of their
flight It was a faulty mixture
which. forced them back on Nav %
after l0-mile flight toward Paris.
Just off the beach, coast guard
patrol boat 179 was moored ready to
put out to sea as soon as the plane
took off.
AS additional safeguards, coast
guard patrol boat 1872 was stationed
fifty miles at sea- and farther out
was the ice patrol.
With continued favorable weather,
the Frenchmen expected to make
their flight in about thirty hours.
Indications we're that the French
crew would be largely on fruit diet
during their fight. Their supplies
consisted Of twelve oranges, twelve
bananas, twelve lemons, six chicken
sandwiches, three quarts of black
coffee, one quart of milk and quart