NC4’s FLIGHT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16503, 2 August 1919, Page 8

NC4’s FLIGHT.

THE COMMANDER'S STORY,

PRAISE FOR THE ENGINE,

(From Lieutenant-Commander A. C. Read, of jS.O.-I.)

We tinvc reached Lisbon. Me hare crossed the Atlantic. i always tnougnt we should, but there were so many possibilities ol things going wrong mat even wiicu wo ruing over me Tugjis and were circling down to drop smoomly upon the water i was not sure wo had none, it until. J. left tile water catch us underneath, 'this last leg was uuovciulnl compared to others, anil that is the best part of it. It shows now natural it is, alter all, to bung a living boat across the Atlantic.

From Ponta Dclgada (Azores) a start was planned for 6 a.m. ((.<iccnwicii mean time), hut was delayed on account of dirt in tiie petrol and the carburettor. A start, was finally nnuu, at 10.18 a.m. The, swells were quite : strong, but as N.C.I was nearly lUcul. j load, sue took the air very easily, tlio | favouring wind was about. 33 knots, visibility was good, with clouds covering ihe mountains. Auer leaving Sail Miguel behind tne dost rover on the course was picked up dead ahead, hut Just where it was picked up 1 have not discovered, ueeause at the time wo were making some 8 to 10 degrees to right of course. In account ot this No. -pwas barely visible when abeam about ro miles, and No. 3 was missed altogether. i. could not figure out what the. trouble was, lint headed back towards where the hue should be with aid of the radio compass, and finally; picked up No. 1, much to the relief ol the. pilots and myself. Tlio rest of the crew were too busy to notice whether we were picking up tlio destroyers or not. Later 1 toumi the compass had ja in lied out ot the gimlial rings, probably at lac start when we bounced on top of several waves. After this, unpleasant experience the remainder oi the run was uneventful. At one tune a rain-squall of considerable area was directly in our course, and it was necessary to head 40 degrees to the left, for about eight minutes in order to pass around it, but the next destroyer was picked up exactly where, it was supposed to he. FIRST SIGHT OF PORTUGAL. Then, while passing over No. 1, which was our old friend the Robinson, this making the fourth time N.C.I had passed over her on the T rans-Alhmtic flight, there were two rain-squalls, one kolF the. starboard and one off the port bow, but we. passed between them without having to change course. Visibility, became very poor, and altitude, which had boon about 1000 ft., was re. dueed to 600 ft. Up.to this lime the speed made had been' about 88 knots, and the. air was comparatively free of "humps.” No. 10 destroyer was missing. and Nos. 0 and II had bean moved" together to equalise the intervals. This made the runs between 60 and 67 miles between 1 ' the destroyers. That, however, was a small mat ter with the compasri working properly once more. As wo continued eastward the wind gradually dropped, tlio "white, raps” disappeared, and no disturbance of the water could be seen except a long ground swell. Smooth water is much to lie preferred to a strong favouring wind because there is always the possibility of having to land that keeps tlio flyer more or less in tension. At last No. 14, the last, destroyer in the lino was passed, and a few minutes later we picked up the rocky coast of Portugal. Everything about the seaplane was functioning perfectly. Our speed had come down, but 88 knots was too much to expect for the entire run. During tlio latter part, in order to make, up for the falling wind, we speeded up the engines from 59 knots air speed to 65 knots. We preferred not to roach Lisbon after darL although the pilots were perfectly ready and felt confident of landing without mishap. At 7.30 p.m. we were nearing the entrance ot the TagufC still carrying a slight westerly wind. Then we circled and landed astern of the Rhawmut at 8.1 p.m. The time, elapsed was 9 hours 12 minutes, and the average speed about 81 3-10 knots. During the run we had become so accustomed to travelling long distances through tlio air that I drew up my report to the Navy Department beioro landing, and the engineer shaved in readiness for the reception which wo heard was going to be held in the Rochester, the flagship of the destroyer force. Immediately after .securing we. were, taken on hoard the Rochester, and with great ceremony were decorated by tlio Portuguese Government. The personnel were a little tired, but otherwise in fine shape. In fact, some of us decided to go ashore and see the town, ns it might bo our only chance. N.C.-E was in usual tip-top condition, ready for another day's run. FLIGHT TO PLYMOUTH. N.C.I left Lisbon at 5.29 in tlio forenoon of May 30. The weather was favourable except for small rain squalls. We skirted tho coast 10 miles oil. Everything was normal until at 7.5 we discovered a, water leak in the port engine, and it was necessary to land for repairs. Wo headed for the shore near Figucira to find smooth water, and found it in tho Mondcgo River. Wc found it necessary to wait for high tide for a sufficient depth of water to get away. Two destroyers arrived and arranged the details for tlio remainder of the trip. It was decided to .stop at Ferrol Harbour, Spain, as it was impracticable to make PlymomTi before dark. The repairs completed, wo left at 1.38 in tiie afternoon, and with a slight favouring wind and fine weather, except two more squalls, which it was necessary to dodge. Wo kept near the coast, where there was clearer air and the scenery was more enjoyable. The engine was in excellent condition, the leak being entirely stop, ped. 'The radio was working fine as usual. We intercepted much air conversation. At Cape Finistorrc wo encountered a strong, favourable wind, and beat the estimated time of arrival at Ferrol, made two hours previously, by 15 minutes. Wo circled over tho town, pe.oplo by tho thousands flocking to tho docks and seawalls.

Wo loft at 6.27 on the morning of May 31. After clearing the hnrbour_wo encountered rain for 40 minutes, 'mo weather was thick, requiring frequent changes of course, and presenting our seeing four of the six station destroyers. The water was smooth, and tho French coast handy, so there was no ■worry in failing to sight the destroyers. We edged to the right of the course in order to be sure not to miss Ushant. We sighted a point south of Brest and turned oil to get a look at

Brest, never having seen it, and circled and continued for Plymouth. WARM BRITISH RECEPTION. Wp came down to a few feet above the wain- for better visibility, and leit France behind, running into an increasing head wind and thick haze, clearing slightly at mid-Channel. Wo hit Plymouth almost square. British seaplanes were aloft to meet us. Wo climbed to 1500 feet to pick out a. landing place, and landed at 1.26 (Greenwich moan time), 2.2 b p.m. local time, A wonderful reception by the officials made a fitting climax to the entire trip. The heartiness of the congratulations proved the. sportsmanship of the British." The crew was in better health than at. the start from Rockaway. The present vood condition of N.C.4 proves the excellent serviceability of the type. The J.'lbertv engines gave a marvellous performance.