Evening star., 1939-04-17
BY HAROLD E. GRAY.


BALTIMORE, April II (NAN.A).
of all the records popularity
claimed for the 11,0O0-mile inspec-
ton flight just completed by Pan
American Airways' transatlantic
flagship, Yankee Clipper, all of us
aboard can certainly agree on one.
There has never been an easier,
more comfortable transatlantic
crossing made by any manner of
transport.
From the moment we left Balti-
more, just three weeks ago, until our
return, the 83 hours spent aloft
we're the most pleasant and COM
Portable of our entire trip. The size
of the aircraft itself, the scientific
arrangement of the flight quarters
of the top deck, the improvement of
sound -proofing and the complete
equipment of all operating stations
have given the flight officers the
same degree of comfort as provided
FOR the passengers, which, in these
newest clippers, far exceeds any
previous standards in this respect
Our flight was not made hurrledly.
It was made to enable representa-
tives of our governmental agencies
to observe the aircraft in actual
transoceanic operation and to en-
able Pan Americas own flight per-
sonnel and observers to inspect ia
cilities established at the various
transatlantic bases necessary for
service operations to the continent
and the British Isles, and to enable
key Pan American personnel sta
toned at these several international
bases to give the ground crews actual
experience in the proper method
of mooring and servicing the Yankee
Clipper and her sister ships which
have been assigned for trans-Atlan-
tic service.
There are three outstanding points
to report. First is the remarkable
coincidence between flight forecasts
and the actual flight performance;
in other words, between the esti-
mated time and fuel to be needed,
based on the weather forecast, COM
pared with the actual speed obtained,
fuel consumed, and weather encount-
cred. This is the most searching test
of flight technique. For the entire
l1,000-mile circuit, our forecast was
within II minutes of actual flight
time required.
Weather Accuracy.
The record testifies to the high
degree of accuracy developed by our
rneteorologists in their study, analy-
sis and research in ocean flying
weather. Throughout the entire
eight they forecast the best course
to follow, the best altitude to main
tain where wind conditions would
he the most favorable, and routed
us through the entire 1000 miles
On the best weather obtainable in
the entire North Atlantic area,
which their reporting stations cover.
IN the entire 83 hours our flight log
shows only % minutes when we few
by instruments alone.
We found particularly helpful the
weather data obtained from Amer
na's express line steamers traversing
the regular shipping channels.
Engineer Tours Entire Wing.
In the Yankee Clipper and her
1--WE sister ships, catwalk extends
through the wing, and off the cat
walk and behind each of the big
1,50O-horsepower Wright Cyclone
engines is an engine station. In
these stations and along the catwalk
every fuel line, every control cable,
every electrical conduit is visible
and Immediately accessible. At each
change of watch, flight engineer
makes tour of the entire wing and
each engine station. In this man.
ner, all of the small items which,
heretofore closed off, could cause in
terruptions to flight plans can be
regularly inspected and corrected.
During our flight we repaired a
manifold gauge, rebuilt and in
stalled faulty cabin heater. Moth
ing more important than these de-
veloped.
At all times and at all stages we
had a great excess of fuel over and
above our requirements. On the
eastward crossing we landed at Hor-
Ia, In the Azores, with enough fuel
left for us to reach Lisbon. In
subsequent flights this unrequired
reserve can be diminished to in
crease capacity for commercial car
go and passengers.