The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1957-01-04
Special 10 The Herald

PrestWick, Scotland delayed
One Of the unknowns In flying
which often affects schedules is the
wind. Especially in ocean crossings.
the unpredictable winds aloft, as
| they are called, can play hob with
carefully arranged flight plans,
/ Not long ago the writer was flying
from Germany to the United States
and take-off was made at Rhein
Mein, the greatest aerial traffic cen
ter in West Germany. located near
Frankfurt on the Main. The big
DC-6 got airborIfe at approximately
eight at night, on course which
/ would take US over Scotland and
! Newfoundland and then down the
New England coast to our destina-
ton in New Jersey
The flight went as planned for
the four hours to Prestwick. Scot
land. There we landed, and were to
get a surpriSe-cauSed by the afore
mentioned winds aloft While sitting
in the passenger waiting room. ex-
pecting to be told to board our air
craft at any moment. Sobertoned
voice began an announcement over
| the loud speaker
Flight number so-and-so. it was
| announced. was overloaded for wind
/ conditions fheadwindsl that were TO
| be encountered over the North At
lantic that night Unfortunately, the
announcer continued, ten passen-
gers would have to be dropped from
the flight, SO that extra gasoline
| could be taken on
| Passengers were startled. Many
! had urgent business back in the
States And this particular flight
/ had already been delayed a day in
/ Germany. because the airplane had
mot reached Frankfurt when it was
I supposed to- So here was a further
| dealy for at least ten unfortunate
! passengers.
Nine were selected or agreed to
| stay behind, and then the crewuan
/ III charge Of loading asked for a
volunteer! These were pretty tense
moments for the passengers. for any
one of them could have suddenly
been told that he could not continue
on his trip
And passengers are pretty help
| less at the terminal In Prestwlck.
where they are at the mercy of the
| transportation officials that be. It
| is lonesome sensation, especially
| for the individual who is sweating
out close connection back in the
States. or who must be home to at
tend to important business on a GER
tain date.
| A quiet developed among the pas
sereers when volunteer was asked
to scratch himself from the flight.
This was asking a lot. Everyone
naturally wanted to be on the big
DEG when it took off, at about mid
night. but ten who had landed on
the craft would not get back on.
4 volunteer was finally secured
reluctant volunteer, perhaps.
but nevertheless a volunteer. The
writer did not display any noble
example in dashing up to the desk
and volunteering. He was already
late and anxious about work await
Ing back home
But the ten were left to be
picked up later. by another plane,
at an indefinite date! They were
you might say--the heroes of tina
trip, Extra gasoline swas poured into
the big aircraft Headwinds were
blowing strongly over the North At
lantic that night. from west to east
Tho planes ground speed would be
considerably slowed by them, and
safe margin of fuel must be main
tanned on the hop from PrestWick
TO ewfoundland- there is no alter
nate landing field within easy reach
oyer this cccan Tastncss.