Evening star., 1935-06-16

VI,
variety of conditions. Take-off time.
set for last Monday, found uniformly
good conditions prevailing along the
4,0O0-miIe route from San Francisco
to the Midway Islands, a stride the
international date line almost exactly
in the center of the Pacific Ocean.
The clipper was held up until We'd
nesday for less favorable conditions,
including contrasting areas of high
and low pressure and possibly some
rain and heavy clouds, to impose
real test on the big $4,000 pound
flying boat and its crew of six
On the first flight the clipper few
2,41O miles, from California to Hawaii,
in 18 hours 80 minutes on April 16-
IT. The fight covered the Great Cir
Gle course and south of this area in
the 1000 TO 5000 foot altitude zone.
On the return flight. April 1928. the
big ship was held in the 6.000-8.000
foot zone from the Mercator course
through the Great Circle route and
north.
The Midway Island fight, first ven-
ture for a commercial aircraft west
Of Hawaii. represents a continuation
Of the exploratory and research work
for the trans-Pacif1c service. 1t calls
for a continuation of the fight train
ing and engineering projects initiated
on the first flight.
The flight personnel for the second
expedition is the same as for the first,
including Edwin C. Musick, captain
and chief pilot; r. o. D. Sullivan.
first oficer; Victor A. Wright. engi-
neering oficer; Frederick j. Noonan,
navigation officer: w. T. Jarboe. jr.,
radio officer, and Harry A. Canaday,
junior flight officer.
To this crew Pan-American Air
ways has assigned three separate mis-
sions for the Midway Island flight
First, training-to perfect co-ordina-
ton in ocean flying transport routine
of flight and ground crews at Califor-
mia, Hawaii and Midway stations.
Second, engineering-to collect data
of technical nature concerning op-
Grafton and navigation of long-range
aircraft under various conditions, at
different attitudes and speeds, for
verification Of specialized long-range
operating auxiliary mechanical engine
and airplane equipment developed es-
pecially for the purpose. Third, ex-
ploratory-to acquaint the fight crew
with course characteristics of the two
initial stages of the trans-Pacific
route.
The Midway Islands for centuries
have been among the widest spots on
earth. These little-known islands of
white coral sand and thick scrub were
havens for great flocks of wild birds,
especially for penguinlike goonies. a
species of. albatross.
The Midways are at the northern
end Of the Hawaiian archipelago and
the group is composed of three tiny
islands, the longest only i34 miles in
length. surrounded by coral barrier
forming lagoon. The group was un-
known until rs years ago, when it was
claimed for the United States by
Capt. c. w. Brooks. The first hydro
graphic survey of the group was made
in 1900 by the United States, and
three years later the islands became
relay station for a communications
NoOAC AAOAA1 tAlC I dI 151SI.
Since the arrival of the Pan-Ameri-
can steamer North Haven, on April
IL, nearly half Of Sand Island, largest
of the group, has been made over.
The jungle has been cleared, roads
laid, wells dug, windmills and IA
buildings erected. power plant and
refrigerating plant installed and three
radio stations, including radio COM
pass. constructed.
More than 1000 tons Of construc-
ton materials and supplies have been
Put ashore at Midway, including stores
of gasoline and oil for the big clipper
planes. and deserted Midway soon will
become the key station OF an aerial
highway between the hemispheres.
Plans for mammoth flying boat
with wing span of 400 feet and
an overall length of 200 feet, for use
In trans Atlantic air transport service,
are being drawn at the Sikorsky plant,
which produced the Pan-American
Airways flying boats for Pacific serv-
ice, according to Igor Sikorsky.
The new ship will weigh approx
mately three times as much as the
Brazilian clipper and its sister ships,
designed to cross the Pacific, Mr..
Sikorsky explained in an article writ
ten by him for the July issue of the
magazine, Esquire.
Mr.. Sikcrsky predicted that in less
than year big seaplane5 will be fly
ing across the Atlantic with mail and
passengers. The ship now being
planned in his shops, he said, will be
built around six engines Of approxi-
mately 1000 horsepower rating each.
This ship" he said, will provide
really luxurious accommodations for
crew and passengers, Is or so indi-
vidual cabins with from two to five
berths each. spacious lounge, dining
rooms for both crews and passengers,
showers and wash rooms for both.
bar, of course, and possibly a small
library. promenades anu an observa-
tion deck"