Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-13

start out and follow the Yellow Birds
course
Two men who were standing about
the French plane as the motor was
being warmed up said they saw a young
stowaway climb into the cabin. The
report could not be confirmed and
no radio message had been received
from the plane.
The Coast Guardsman in charge of a
portable short-wave receiving set here
said that Malka had reported the yell
low Bird at 100 miles out, was 1000
feet up and going strong
The French plane got away two weeks
ago, but was forced to return after 20
minutes. because OF leak in the main
fuel tank.
The Yellow Bird today was using a
mixture of benzol and gasoline. The
benZol was put in the fuel to reduce the
detonation and vibration which caused
the leak on the first take-off.
The mixture will be about 40 per cent
benzol for the first hours of flight, it
then will be cut to 80 per cent and later
10 20 per cent.
Plane Lifts Slowly.
The big yellow plane sped down the
beach for mile and three quarters and
lifted slowly from the sands. She new
to the south about a mile and q half
and reached a height of about 500 feet.
Then she circled and came back over
the beach and sped away on her course.
The plane then headed eastward in .
great circle.
The Coast Guard amuhibian stayed
close beside the French plane until
they were lost to view in the haze which
overhung the coast.
The Coast Guard cutter which had
laid of shore started steaming at full
speed 10 the Southeast.
commercial flying boat with friends
of Pilot Williams of the Green Flash
aboard. accompanied the yellow Bird
for q short distance.
Ten minutes after the take-of Malka
reported by radio that the Yellow Bird
had gained height of 1000 feet and
was progressing nicely
The Yellow Bird, as its name would
imply, is painted bright yellow. A
narrow band Of the French tricolors
runs diagonaly across the underside OF
each wing and across the midsection of
the fuselage on both sides.
The bfrdlike emblem of the Cigsgne
Escadrille also appears on either side cf
the fuselage.
The only numbers are Bernard 1871"
on the rudder, and those are so small
as to be practically indistinguishable
when the ship is in the air.
Frenchmen In Good Spirits.
The Frenchmen, Armeno Lotti, jr.;
Rene L'efevre end Jean Assolant, came
down to breakfast just as Yancey and
his wife were leaving for the hangar.
They all seemed in good spirits.
Assolants bride of three days whom
he wed after a weeks courtShip here.
accompanied them.
The crew Of the Yellow Bird were
called at 7 O'Clock as they had in
structed last night.
Williams who was up earlier than
Yancey, breakfasted alone, then went
down the beach to the place where the
Green Flash and the yellow Bird rested
their prows pointed toward the
Fueling of the planes was completed
at 9 O'Clock by mechanics who labored
all night.
Mechanics clambered about the
French plane, making last minute tests
and adjustments.
Spectators Gather.
Crowds of spectators began TO gather
on the beach near the planes at
o'clock. Yancey and his wife arrived
from the hotel and she chatted Bayly
with a group Of friends while the navi-
gator put some personal belongings In
the cockpit of the Green Flash.
The plane was loaded with Sal gal
Ions of gasoline, 1t was announced. This
includes five f1ve-gallon cans which
we're slowed away in the tail OF the
fuselage.
Assolant, who Is but % years old, and
Mrs. Assolant drove to the hangar near
where the planes stood. The young
bride seemed more serious than the
wife Of the navigator Of the American
plane. No smile crossed her face as
she talked with her husband and
friends.
The commander of the French ex-
petition, it was learned, had ordered
100 gallons taken from the plane when
his mechanics told him they had put
in / 100 gallons.
Representatives Of the National
Broadcasting Co, who will send the &C
count of the flight out over Nation
wide network. set up their equipment.
For three weeks the planes have been
held to the sands here by unfavorable
weather reports. Conditions for this
morning we're said to be the best in that
time. Thick weather was expected for
the first $50 miles.