The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-01
PLANE SCARS
TO STAY TILL
ENGINES FAIL
Army Craft to Take Fuel in
Air, Trying to Set
Endurance Record.
FIVE AvIAT0RS in SHIP
Cruise viii Be Over Course
of 128 Miles Out of
San Diego.
FIVE AvIAToRs in SHIP

BIZ United PFess
LOS ANGELES. Cal, Jan. L.
The arny's attempt to bring the
worlds endurance flight record back
to the United States started here
today when the tri-motored plane
Question Mark took off with the in
tent to remain aloft until its en-
gines failed.
The crew which was quartered at
Van Nuys Metropolitan airport last
night. was on the field early and the
plane was TAXED to the head of the
runway for inspection by aeronauti-
cal officials at a. m.
Success Of the attempt will depend
greatly on the refueling ships, which
viii take gasoline. oil. food and
other supplies to the Question Mark
as they are needed.
Make Fuel Transfer
After one transfer of fuel above
tan field, Refueler No. l
will return to San Diego, continuing
its operations there, that army me-
chanics may check it regularly at
Rockwell field. The other refueler
will be stationed in Imperial valley
and will be used if weather does not
permit transfer near the coast.
The Question Mark will cruise
over 128-mile stretch between Van
Mugs and Rockwell fed, San Diego,
at an average speed of seventy-flve
miles an hour.
Captain Ira Eaker, chief pilot, will
be at the controls whenever con-
tact is made with supply ships.
When the crew splits into shifts
!, for the night he will pair with
lieutenant H. A. Halverson, relief
Major Carl Spatz. in COM
and Lieutenant Elwood
ada, win be on the other
"a. Sergaent Roy w. Hooe,
,echanic, will attempt to make
1ecessary repairs while aloft.
Carries $50 Gallons
There were only $50 gallons of
gasoline in the Question Marks
tanks this morning. with $50 gall
Ions to be put aboard by the refueler
as soon as the endurance craft
reaches an altitude Of $500 feet.
No further contacts were to be
made for three hours, when another
2sA gallons of fuel and fifty gallons
OF water will be taken on.
This craft will circle over Pasa-
6sGa staging its fortieth Tourna-
mentof Roses, shortly after noon.
AT 3:15 p. m, $50 more gallons of
gasoline will be received, giving it
supply Of $40 gallons. Dinner will
be put aboard at the same time and
after eating at S o'clock, the crew
will divide into shifts.
Major Spatz and Lieutenant
Quesada will have a p. m. to mid
night watch and Captain Eaker and
lieutenant Halverson one from mid
night to a. m.
During refueling the Eaker-Hal-
verson combination will operate the
ship. Major Spatz will be on top
of the plane making the contact and
Lieutenant Quesada and Sergeant
Hooe will assist with the refueling
apparatus inside the plane.
Planes Close IOgetner
The fuel will be transferred at the
rate of Seventy-five gallons a
minute, with the planes flying only
seventeen feet apart.
The longest sustained flight for
heavier than air craft is siXty-five
hours, twenty-five minutes, made by
Ristics and Zimmerman, two Ger
mans, in 1928.
In addition to this record the
Question Mark viii seek TO break
the mark of the ill-fated French
dirigible DixInude. which set new
record for any lighter or heavier
than air ship when she flew 118
hours, or longer than the Graf
Zeppelin on its fight to the United