Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-09

sisht articles se on 't sss life ot WHY fess
air-dreamipg farm lad through barn
storming days and aviation factory eE;
Gatty and his opportunity to circle the
Copyright, 1881. by The Associated Presso
was smoothed for the opportunity to
make real the biggest thing he could
think of-that bug to 60 around the
world"
with assurance of the financial back
ing of r. c. Hall. his Oklahoma friend,
and the spontaneous cooperation of his
navigator. Harold Gatty, Post went to
work in earnest shaping things for the
argosy he had dreamed Of for over
four years"
The big moment had arrived for the
young man who, as q farmer boy. had
expressed his aviation bent by whiting
out airplane models.
Conditions Winnie Mae.
To Post the task of getting his sleek
monoplane Winnie Mae In condition
was the main objective He himself was
riding the crest of Health's wave Nor
did he feel misgivings about his ability
to handle the plane as long as her
motor SoOthlngly sang.
It was primarily the job Of the me-
ticulous Gatty to fuss with maps,
charts, logarithms and all those things
a good navigator relishes.
To make perfect his plane. Wiley
spent q month at the air factory on
the Pacific Coast, where he once worked
as chief test pilot. The 425-horsepow-
cred, supercharged motor Of his Winnie
Mae was to be what he termed both
his mascot ane good luck charm" 1t
was the Romsny rib and OF favorable
fortune around his neck.
Upon its throbbing nine cylinders ne
lavished the mass of mechanical lore
cleaned from his working on all sorts OF
engines. He even reached back TO
utilize that experience born OF barn
storming days when he thrilled country
crowds with his wing walking and para
chute leaps, and gave the right click TO
cratic motors.
Shell Of Derby Engine.
It was only a shell of the engine that
carried him to victory in the 1880 ma
tional nonstop air derby from the Pacific
Coast to Chicago. Parts had been re-
placsd oniy after they had been X-rayed,
etched and microscopically studied.
I'VE spent as much money on 1t,
Post said, "as a new engine would cost,
but We wouldn't trade it for two new
ones, I'm sure"
To gain more speed he worked out
his own fuel-carrying arrangement and
altered the wing adjustment. The
fuselage and five wing tanks served as
gasoline receptacles. This moved the
weight sufficiently to the front to per-
nit what Post said would be easier
handling evener balance and better
Sreed dvin1 n0SitiOn
A slight negative angle Of incidence
to the wings was made to give more
speed and at the same time balance
the load better"
Weighs 5000 Pounds.
Fully loaded, the ship weighed about
5000 pounds with range of 3,400 miles
on the $40 gallons of gas and 81 gallons
OF oil which she carried.
Spare parts assembled were valve
springs, bearings for engine rocker arms
and spark plugs.
Post saw no need of carrying either
parachute or life raft. The food was
limited to just few bites" Wiley
sized up the situation this way:
, If we come down in the ocean
well, it'll be all over. Food won't do
US any good"
Compasses for pilot and navigator
were packed, as well as other conven-
| ttonal instruments. There was also an
artificial horizon and a "directional
gyro" to aid in fog and other blind
| flying. Above the place for Navigator
Gatty in the back, a classified hatch
| was cut In the wing to let in the sky
Satisfied the plane was nearly per-
feet, Post and Gatty headed for Roose-
welt Field after about days sojourn
In Washington.
Wiley went to the Capital seeking
permission to fly over Russia. This
had been granted, however. while they
were en- route Wiley jokingly said
upon hearing this information, there
was not much for them to do but to
let President Hoover have a chance to
look over couple of ambitious men.
They did talk however, with Secre-
tary Stimson of the State Department
and proudly posed for pictures with the
ranking cabinet officer.
To Capital reporters Post said they
were going to fly around the world in