A TRIAL FLIGHT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21423, 15 March 1935, Page 11

A TRIAL FLIGHT

AMERICAN MACHINE WITH "ROBOT PILOT" FUEL FOR LONG TRIP CARRIED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BT ELICTKIO TELEGRAPS—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 14, 7.30 p.m.) OAKLAND, March 13. An army aeroplane equipped with a "robot pilot," the description of which has been kept a complete secret, started a mystery flight into "nowhere" at dawn to-day to test the equipment. It is rumoured that the aeroplane might be on the way to Honolulu. Previously it was subjected to short tests, which .were apparently satisfactory. The fuel carried was 1600 gallons. . A later message says that officials explained that the aeroplane was on a final test flight preparatory to a flight to-Honolulu within a few days. A new type of compass director will be used. The present flight will extend far enough to pick up the radio beacons from Hawaii, If this is successful, an automatically controlled flight to Honolulu will easily be accomplished. Meanwhile, the Navy Department has authorised Pan-American Airways to establish bases midway between Wake and Guam Islands. Thus it appears that the experiments with the robot are closely connected with the establishment of a trans-Pacific air service. The navy order stipulated that the bases could be taken over in the event of war. I