Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-08
TWO TEXAS FLYERS
START FOR TOXIC
Robbins and Jones Hop Off
From Seattle on RefueI-
ing Trip to Japan.
Continued From First Page.)

chocolate. Neither cigarettes nor cigars
were carried as neither man smokes.
Robbins and Jones are gambling
against death for different reasons.
For Robbins. one time endurance
flight hero it is a business proposition,
its goal the $4,000 purse offered by
the japanese newspaper Asahi.
This farm boy from the corn and cot
ton black lands near Fort Worth. Tex
has "hoed a hard row. to obtain adj
vancement in aviation. He was spurred
by determination to succeed for the
sake of his wife and son.
Jones Out for Adventure.
Jones greatest love is adventure. any
kind, Just so there is thrill In 1t. and
the bachelor sportsman. flyer and oil
man undertook the trip as a vacation
jaunt. He is unmarried.
Robbins and Jones have been bud
dies" since 1929, when Robbins and the
late Jim Kelly broke the refueling en-
durance flight record set by the Army
plane Question Mark. The success of
that flight was largely due to the II re-
fueling contacts negotiated by Jones
from his own ship, piloted by K. K.
Hoffman.
When everything was in readiness for
the present fight Robbins merely said,
Lets CO." There was no ballyhoo. He
had refused all public statements for
many weeks beforehand. saying. Some
thing might happen. Then they'd think
1 was yellow"
Have Quick Breakfast.
Robbins and Jones left their rooms
at the Washington Athletic Club here
at sos am
At a downtown restaurant they had
quick breakfast with State Senator
Billy Connor, governor for this State
for the National Aeronautical Asso-
citation.
They took to the air II minutes after
wheeling their plane from the hangar.
The plane ran the full length of the
field and rose very slowly. They made
one attempt to leave the field at 1000
feet. About 200 persons saw the take
of.
Robbins, Texas colonel-he holds a
commission in the National Guard of
his native States % years old.
Taught Self to Fly.
He has been flying eight years. ever
since he bought decrepit wartime
Jenny" and laugh: himself to handle
It, Before that he dug bitches or
anything else to earn dime"
Flying has been hobby with Jones
for about six years.
After the refueling endurance flight
of ITO hours and 80 minutes in 1929
Robbins was presented with new plane
by the makers of the ship which set
the record. So many persons wanted
to ride with him on aerial rubber
neck" tours that he bought a tri-
motored transport to accommodate
them.
1t is this plane thst is being used
for refueling contacts on the present
trip.
Jones Praises Pilot.
Jones vouched for the story that
Robbins taught himself to fly. He said
the pilot of the Fort Worth had never
had any instruction before he took of
in the old Jenny.
Jones, said Robbins flew" the plane
on The ground several times to get the
swing of things" and then hoped off
and landed safely and has been doing
it ever since.
He is one Of the greatest pilots in
the country" commented the navigator
of the Fort Worth. Il feel perfectly
safe riding with him whether 1t be over
mountains and straits of the north. -
Whenever Robbins talked about the
Japan trip he said he was going to
start for Toxic" The navigator always
spoke of flying to Toxic"
When this was brought to their at
tention Jones remarked that it was
"only bashfulness" on the part of
Robbins.
CONFIDENT OF THEIR LUCK.