Evening star., 1933-07-17
LOSES TINE IN GERMANY
Post Faces Bad Weather to Get Into
Russia on Flight.

KOENIGSBERG. Germany. July II
Up After being grounded here for II
hours by bad weather, Wiley Post defieo
a rainstorm this morning and set out
towards Moscow on the third lap OF
his projected world fight.
The American aviator was 10 hours
behind the fast schedule he had set
for himself. but he was fortified by
six hours of badly-needed sleep and
was we'll ahead of the mark he estab-
lished with Harold Gatty on a similar
tour in 1881.
Poor visibility forced him down at
the Koenigsberg Airdrome at 6:40 pm.
Sunday I2:40 pm. Sunday E. S. TD
after he had left Berlin at 2:l0 pm.
81O pm. Sunday, E. S. IT,. At
dawn he arose to continue. with
Novosibrsk. Siberia. as his intended
objective. only to find conditions too
bad to leave.
Faces Bad Weather.
Then he went to bed. tired and
deafened by the noise of his motor
Weather reports from Moscow were re-
assuring when he prepared for the
take-off the second time, but 1t w0
raining here. and airport officials pro-
nounced the flying weather quite bad
He would not. however. be dlssuaded
from taking Off in order to follow up
the advantage he had gained by the
record breaking flight to Berlin from
New York. whence he flew at 4:l0 am,
z. S. T. Saturday.
Just before he left here he expressed
the determination to get as far into
Siberia as can" He planned his
course by way of Moscow, where he
said he would drop some pictures Of
Gen. Italo Balbo's squadron of "a
Italian seaplanes, which last week
completed 6,100-mile fight from Italy
to Chicago
He will continue to Novosibirsk
weather permits, will go even farther.
He did not, however mention specific
destination beyond that.
Restocks Larder.
He restocked his larder with two
pounds of tomatoes. five oranges, two
sandwiches. two vacuum bottles filled
with water. and roll of peppermints
Post had crossed the Lithuanian
border after leaving Berlin yesterday.
but he was forced to return in order
to avoid electrical storms.
His breakfast consisted only of two
sandwiches munched in the cockpit of
his plane, the white and purple Winnie
Shortly afterwards he received the news
that the weather was bright and clear
in Russia.
officials at the airdrome said his
plane was in perfect condition. He had
however. encountered refueling delays
in Berlin, after the hop Of 25 hours and
Is minutes from New York.
Persons at the airport said he ap-
peared very tired and they considered
his landing fortunate. He Immediately
went to sleep in bunk at the airport.
Difficulty With Robot.
Post said he experienced great diff
Guilty with his mechanical pilot from
the beginning of his flight from New
York and he was therefore compelled to
drive his ship manually the entire dis
tance
Difficulties with the robot were blamed
for forcing the American flyer 100 miles
of his course between Koenigsberg and
Moscow and they were also said to be
the chief reason why he landed at the
East Prussan capital last night.
The robot trouble. combined with a
break in the oil feed, induced Post to
land at Moscow. he said. He hoped he
had put everything in excellent order
here before he departed
Russian officials we're concerned at
Posts small appetite and urged more
food on him. but the American de-
clined saying: Il eat only enough to
keep from weakening myself. I pur-
posely stay hungry so I can keep
awake"
The American aviator had his two
thermos bottles filled with boiled water
just before taking off for Siberia.