Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-16
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and Two later rOared across
the first Of the several international
boundaries separating him from his
goal.
Tampico was Eaker's first sched-
uled stop. He intended r~efuelling
| there and also at Minatitlan, Mex
leo; Guatemala City, Guatemala;
Managua, Nicaragua, and David,
Panama. Under the flier's care
fully arranged plans, his haltS in
volved more than a sudden dip to
earth and an almost simultaneous
takeoff. Other American army
aviators went to the stopping
points two days ago to make prep
arations for the speediest servicing
possible.
Eaker Confident
The early morning vas rather
chill and the captain had with him
a fur-lined flying suit when the
small ship, its 460-horsepower mo-
tor humming, sped across the al
most deserted airfield here.
The famous pilot, whose hands
were at the controls of the Cues
ton Mark when that craft demon
strated the feasibility of refuelling
without landing, sought nc aid from
luck in his attempt.
Weather and my motor will de-
eide the result" he had said la
c~onically. 81 have, great faith in
the motor and hope for favorable
weather"
Capt. Eaker planned to eat Sat
day dinner in Panama, spend 10
hours there, take off for the re-
turn to Brownsville and San An
tonic, Tex, and begin from San
Antonio at 4:30 a. m. Monday in
an attempt to reach Washington,
D. c. before dark. He plans to
have Sunday dinner in Brownsville
and leave Immediately for San An
tonic. On the return to Browns
vile, Captain Eaker planned to fol-
low the same course, making the
same stops.
Glad to be Away
The Pan American was to fly
along the coast of the Gulf of
Mexico to Minatitlan, the Tampico
stop intervening. From the Guate-
mala City sector. the ship must
seek the "ceiling"-altitude of
around 5000 feet-because Of
mountainous topography.
The captains lunch was right at
hand III the cockpit-chicken sand
witches and a bottle Of orange
juice-for immediate use that no
precious moment might be lost.
Eaker seemed glad finally to get
away on his venture. The flight
originally was scheduled for last
Sunday but the government order
ed it postponed as a result of the
revolution in Mexico.
Late Friday afternoon Geographic
reports were received from each of
the five points between Browns
vile and Colon, Panama, where the
plane will stop to refuel, assuring
the flier that everything was in
readiness and that the plane would
be serviced without delay.
Weather Reported Good
Before retiring Friday night Cap
tain Eaker checked over all wea-
Their reports available and stated he
was well satisfied with the outlook
for clear skies and light winds. He
expects to encounter a light head
wind part of the distance. Wea-
ther reports indicated northerly
winds Sunday, and he announced
he would take off from France
Field, Panama, at 4 o'clock to make
W. for such retardation of speed as
the head wind may cause He added
that he expected to make the
southerly flight at an altitude OF
$500 to 1900 feet and the return
flight at 5000 to 10000 feet to
escape the force of the winds.
From Brownsville to Minatitlan
his route will follow the Gulf
coast, and from the latter point he
will fly direct to Guatemala City.
which has an altitude in excess of
5000 feet. From Guatemala City
to France Field his route will be
over a partly mountainous section.
In addition to bulk packages of
mail, which will be delivered to the
American consuls at . the various
stopping points, the flier carried
only three chicken sandwiches and
a quart Of orange juice.
To Travel 5000 Miles
Il am travelling light the cap
tain said, land I am confident I
will eat a dinner at France Field"
Commenting upon the condition
Of his plane, Captain Eaker SAID:
"The success Of the three flights
depends entirely upon weather con-
ditions and the motor. OF course,
weather conditions are uncertain;
but / have utmost confidence in
that motor. I am confident it will
carry me over the 5000 miles with
out missing"
On his return from Panama
Sunday the flier will make the same
stops to refuel and expects to ar
rive at the Brownsville airport at
7 o'clock. He will eat dinner at
Kelly Field.
the airport and then proceed to
Captain Eaker will take off on
the last of the trio of dawn-to-dusk
flights Monday morning, leaving
Kelly Field for Washington. d. c.,
at 4:30. According to his tentative
schedule he will arrive at Shreve-
port. La, at 1880; Montgomery, Ala,
1870; Greensboro. N. c., 8 D.. m,
and Washington, D.. G. between $50
and 6 p. m.
Confidence that Eaker would
complete the trio of dawn-to-dusk
flights was expressed this morning
by Erik Nelson, former army avia-
tor and close friend of Eaker, now
chief of the sales department Of
the Boeing Airplane Co., of Seattle,
Wash, designers and manufacturers
of the Pan American"