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14 SATURDAY MORNING. Los Angeles Times FEBRUARY 23, 1935.-[PART Wiley Post, Forced Down on Continental Stratosphere Flight, Escapes Unhurt [[image]] THE "WINNIE MAE" RESTING ON BED OF MUROC DRY LAKE AFTER BROKEN OIL LINE FORCED SHIP DOWN Here is Wiley Post's famous plane, the "Winnie Mae," as she lay on shores of Muroc Dry Lake, 100 miles from Los Angeles, after being forced down by a broken oil-line less than one hour after Post had taken off from Los Angeles on an attempted stratosphere flight from New York yesterday. Practically the only damage done to the ship was the ben[[?]] propeller, as seen in this photo. Post had expected to fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet and hoped to reach Long Island in seven hours. This exclusive photograph was taken by Bill Snyder, "Times" Staff Photographer, and rushed to Los Angeles by airplane. [[image]] "MAN FROM MARS" Wiley Post in his high-altitude suit looked like "man from Mars" to prospector who first found him following his landing. [Wide World photo.] [[image]] AIR VIEW SHOWS HOW POST'S PLANE SKIDDED This exclusive picture, taken from an airplane, shows how the "Winnie Mae" skidded on the smooth dry lake bottom. Note the long trail left by the fuselage on the sand. Post dropped landing gear shortly after take-off, to cut air resistance and had intended to land on his fuselage at the end of his hop at Floyd Bennett Field, Long Island. Photo taken by Bill Snyder, "Times Staff Photographer. [[image]] WILL ROGERS, beloved figure of stage, screen and radio, before his tragic death last year, was the theme of the Union Oil Company's float. The entry received grand prize for commercial divisions. A riderless horse featured the exhibit. In the background was a mammoth floral star. Wiley Post famous aviator will have his request granted. Post, in a letter to the City Council, declared that the city was negligent in leaving a seven-foot stick, about an inch thick, on Hollywood Way, where his car ran over it. The stick flew through the windshield-it probably wasn't made of unbreakable glass-and damaged it beyond repair. City Manager Stites said today that an engineering gang probably had left the stick in the road and that it should have been marked with a red flag. If this proves to be the case, indications are that Burbank will buy the flyer a new windshield. this fellow was working "He didn't see me land and I had tapped him on the shoulder before he realized there was anyone near. "The sight of me in this rubber suit and oxygen helmet was too much for him. His knees buckled and he almost fell over as he ran or the rear of his car, where he [[?]]eered at me in amazement. HELPS HIM OUT "I finally convinced him that everything was all right and he helped me out of the suit, and he drove me to a telephone, where I notified the airplane factory in Los Angeles of my plight." "An' listen, buddy," the prospector said to Post, "don't let that happen again. You scared me stiff. I thought you had dropped out of the moon or Mars or somewhere." "Over-optimistic" is the w Wiley Post, famed 'round-the-wor flyer, discounted reports last night that he will hop off within a week in his Lockheed Vega, Winnie Mae, to shatter the Los Angeles-New York flight record. At least ten days, and possibly two weeks, must elapse before the airplane can be reassembled at the Burbank aircraft factory where special stratosphere radio equipment and motor superchargers are being installed, Post declared. Flying through the rarified upper atmosphere at an altitude of from 30,000 to 40,000 feet, Post hopes to break the West-East record of 10h. 2m., set by Col. Roscoe Turner last year. aboard Wiley Post's plane, in which he is scheduled to fly through the rarified-air stratas to New York-possibly late today or early tomorrow-occupied the flyer's time yesterday. Heaters were being installed in the Lockheed plane engine's carbureters to assure fuel vaporization at high altitudes. An altitude test will be made over Union Air Terminal prior to his take-off for New York. Successful completion of the test together with favorable weather reports for a landing in New York, will determine the start of the flight. "Will return Wednesday, I hope." Studio officials were wondering last night just what manner of drollery Will Rogers could have been up to when he sent them that wire yesterday from Chicago. With a two-day vacation on his hands, the irrepressible Will took flight Sunday for the East to meet his wife and his daughter Mary, who has just concluded an engagement on the New York stage. He is due to report again for work at Fox studio tomorrow morning in "Doubting Thomas." or 28,000 feet, Wiley Post shot his Winnie Mae to Needles and back at an estimated speed of 295 miles an hour yesterday in another test flight preparatory to taking off his week on his high altitude dash across the country. Post took his Lockheed monoplane up from Union Air Terminal, Burbank, in midafternoon and was gone about two and a half hours. COMPASSES UNSATISFACTORY On his return he reported that his compasses had not given satisfactory service and his radio had not measured up to the standard he had hoped for. Mechanics went to On the whole, however, the flyer said, performance of plane and motor had justified his prediction that he will fly to New York at 35,000 feet in eight or nine hours. FROST ON COWLING All the way on yesterday's flight, Post encountered strong winds. The temperature at the higher levels was so low as to cover his plane cowling with a coating of frost. Post said he has not set a date for the take-off to New York, adding that even after equipment adjustments have been made, it will have to await favorable weather conditions.
