Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
Fort Worth Bests Question
Marks Time-Passes
157.Hour Mark.
TWO MORE PLANES TAKE
AIR IN QUESrOF HONORS
One Seeks Colo Laurels and Second
Will Attempt to Beat
Texans Flight,
Rv the Associated Pres!

By the Associated Press
FORT WORTH Tex. May 26.-Seven
hours ahead of the old record for sus-
Mark the monoplane Fort Worth flew
across Meacham Field here shortly
after midnight with her motor func-
tioning perfectly.
Late Saturday night the pilots, r. l..
Robbins and James Kelly, were forced
to fly east to Dallas. 80 miles away,
lodging rain and electrical storms.
When the plane reached the 157-hour
mark at 12:13:39 this morning, light
ming was flashing on the horizon. an
intermittent rain was falling and there
was strong surface gale. but observers
thought that the pilots would have lit
tie difficulty riding out the storm.
Had Feared for Safety.
Shortly after the plane reached the
154-hour mark, it returned to Meacham
Field here, flashed its lignt twice to
watchers and headed south looking Tor
better flying conditions.
Apprehension had been felt here
for the crew of the Fort Worth when
the plane was not seen over the n1u-
nicipal airport for As minutes during
the storm.
Should they be forced down away
from the field they would lose the rec
ord hey established earlier in the day
because the rules specify that no rec
ord is made unless the plane lands on
the same field and its landing timed by
the same timepiece used at the take-ofi.
The Fort Worth set its new record
for sustained flight at 7:l3:l5 o'clock
tonight.
A mighty cheer rent the air from
the throatS of thousands gathered at
the airport. and whistles in the city
and along the railroad tracks and out
lying industrial plants added to the
demonstration. The plane few high over
the flying field as the old record fell.
Refuel Sixteenth Time.
At that hour, the single -motored
Ryan mofloplane had surpassed BY one
hour the previous record OF 100 hours,
20 minutes and IS seconds, established
last January 2 by the Army monoplane
Question Mark on the Pacific Coast.
Pilot Reginald L. Robbins and his as
sistant, James Kelly. tired but un-
daunted, refueled for the sixteenth
time from the supply plane. shortly
after the record was equaled, and
scared on as night closed over the air
lanes, IN an attempt TO remain aloft
another so hours at least. The partly
rebuilt Wright Whirlwind motor showed
no signs of failing.
Capt. Eaker Is Spectator.
Capt. Ira C. Eaker, chief pilot of the
Question Mark on its long flight, was
one of the spectators earlier in the
afternoon. He sent message to the
men wishing them luck and predicting
that they would stay in the air 10 days.
When I passed through here Mon
day I wished you luck" the message
said, "and no one wishes more than l
to see you break the record. Ride that
old J-5 until there isn't a revolution
left in her"
Lady Mary Heath also sent the flyers
a letter of congratulation during the
day Capt Eaker did not stay to see
the record broken, as he was flying to
San Angelo to see his father and had
to take off we'll before dusk.
May Fly Until Wednesday.
Port officials said that Chief Pilot
Robbins planned to continue flying as
long as possible. In note which Rob-
bins dropped today he said he would
fly 200 hours.
Robbins and Kelly let it be known
that they would not be satisfied by
exceeding the time of the Question
Mark.
Robbins and his co-pilot were hopeful
that they could continue the flight until
next Wednesday.
The single Wright Whirlwind motor
of the Fort Worth was roaring as
sweetly as when the plane took off at
the Meacham Airport here last Sunday
morning at 1888.
Wouldn't Change Motor.
Robbins reported he could tell by the
action of the motor that it was capable
of doing 200 hours and possibly 800.
Apparently Robbins knows his motor.
He refused to permit it to be rebuilt
for the endurance test, despite the fact
Continued on Page 5, Column A.