Flying the Atlantic in Sixteen Hours

Jo

eft this

ar as we were driving back to St. John's from Ferryland on the evening o

ynham?"

efore he could get

to make an attempt on the eighteenth, although the conditions were definitely unfavorable. The news of the American N. C. 4's arrival at the Azores had spurred them to the great adventure, despite the weather. The United States flying boats were n

was the best possible feeling among the small colony of British aviators who had congregated at St. John's for the transatlantic competition. In any case, if Hawker su

ded as our lucky number. The construction of our transatlantic machine was begun on February thirteenth, it was number thirteen of its class, and it reached Newfoundland on May twenty-sixth (twice thirteen). Our p

countryside through which we passed held out no hopes; and the company we met that evening at the Cochrane Hotel (Hawker, Grieve, Raynham, Morgan, and various officials

She came in a fog, after wandering over the neighborhood of Newfoundland for some hours, having lost herself, it was reported, owing to an error of 180° in the directional wireless bearings given her. She attracted large crowds, ourselves

t the Azores risked exceedingly their chances of success by agreeing to start immediately, in a whole-hearted and plucky effort to gain for Great Britain the honor of the first flight across the Atlantic. The result w

s of a?rial navigation, and I tried to secure from Washington a Byrd sextant. The United States Naval authorities promised to forward one from Washington; but unfortunately, owing to transport difficulties, it

strict around St. John's is especially difficult. Some of the country is wooded, but for the most part it shows a rolling, switchback surface, across which a?roplanes cannot taxi with any degree

owing tired of hiring cars, we bought a second-hand Buick which registered a total mileage of four hundred miles at the time of p

ide by three hundred long; whereas the Vickers-Vimy, fully loaded, might need five hundred yards of clear run into the wind

ring film theaters. St. John's itself showed us every kindness. We explored the town pretty thoroughly, and were soon able to

ned of Hawker's disappearance into the Atlantic mists. Excitement and anxiety about the possible fate of Hawker and Grieve spread all the world over; but nowhere was it more intense

ation. Before it was possible to know whether or not Hawker had succeeded, he made arrangements for repair and decided to try again. He also invite

sporting offer, and arranged to build up the Vickers-Vimy, which was expected to arrive any

ts erection. This was carried out in the open air, amid many obstacles and with much improvization, she

n being on strenuous duty from twelve to fourteen hours a day. Two mechanics remaine

ceived none of the glory. Even those who were but indirectly concerned in the venture searched for opportunities of helping us. The reporters representing the Daily Mail, the New York Times, and the New York Worl

ced some new difficulty. Alcock kept his head and his temper admirably, however, and his in

machine. Even that did not keep the curious at a distance. We remained unworried so long as the crowd contented itself with just watching; but the visitors forced us to take special precautions against damage. The testing of the fabric's firmness with the point of an umbrella was a favorite pastime of

secure it; but when he returned in the evening his one-sided grin told me that we were still out of luck. "The ideal a?rodrome" was a meadow about one hundred and fifty by three hundred yards-

ble conditions, at a place called Monday's Pool. We found it to be a large meadow, half on a hill and with a swam

in we could obtain a full run of five hundred yards. The owners of this additional ground

rome by removing hillocks, blasting bowlders and leveling walls and fen

tion equipment, and having rigged up a receiving station on the roof of the Cochrane Hotel, with the consent and help of Lieut. Clare, of

onditions arrived the body of the Vickers-Vimy grew slowly into the semblance of a complete a?roplane, spurred thereto by our impatience and the willing work of the mechanics. The wings being in place, the Rolls-Roy

n that we were boiling the gasoline so as to remove all water. Several asked whether we filled the planes with gas to make them lighter. Others were di

at same afternoon. We had meant to keep the news of the forthcoming trial as secret as possible, so as to avoid a crowd. I

nippy as a single-seater scout. We headed directly westward, passing over the sea for some fifteen minutes. It was a clear day, and the sea reflected the sky

o be O. K.; but not a spark could be conjured from the wireles

housand feet. Newfoundland from above looked even more bleak and rugged than it did from

fect landing, in an uphill direction. The Vimy ran on, topped the brow, and was heading straight for a fence on the roadside;

it down, and roped off a space round it, to keep spectators at a safe distance. The

next day took it to Mount Pearl Wireless Station, where L

ecipitate, like a very soft resin. It was sticky, and had the consistency of India rubber wetted with gasoline; but when dry it reduced to a powder. Naturally we could not afford

red use none that was doubtful, and we decided to substitute pure gasoline for the mixture. The problem was how to find enough of the quality required-S

He is a rabid optimist, with the power of infecting others with his hopefulness; and we we

factory. The transmitter worked well for a short time, but afterwards the insulation on a small transformer in the tr

ajor Partridge, official starter for the Royal A?ro Club of London. As such he had to place the club's official seal on the Vickers-Vimy. This he did wit

ght, and we prepared to make the attempt immediately. At no time were the reports complete, however, owi

across the Atlantic. We worked at high speed on several last-minute jobs. The compasses were swung, the wireless apparatus repaired, mo

g could not be ready by Friday the thirteenth, and that a

-SETTING UP THE FLIE

ES-ADJUSTING T

e-saving suits, which we were expecting from the United States. Long afterwards we discovered that these had been deliver

chine, completing the filling of the tanks and moving it to the position chosen for the start. W