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September 15, 1924 / Aviation / 991
[[column 1]] The End of a Gallant Attempt
  Maj. A. Stuart MacLaren's own account of the accident which terminated his attempted world flight near Nikolski, Komandorski Islands, Siberia, has been given by the British aviator to the Associated Press.
  A dense fog and visibility so poor that only part of the right wing of the plane could be seen was encountered by the fliers after leaving Petropavlovsk, West Kamchatka, Siberia.
  Forced to descent to within 100 ft. of the ocean and making 100 mi./hr., a disaster was narrowly averted by Flying Officer W.N. Plenderleith, piloting the plane, when he avoided by a few feet an island which appeared suddenly in the path.
  Fearing that the plane might dash against the cliffs of Bering Islands, a forced landing was made. Both wing tips /

[[image]] Photo Kadel & Herbert / The Portuguese airmen who flew from Lisbon to Macao / (L. to R.): Maj. Brito Paes, Maj. Sarmento Beires, Lieut. Mannuel Gouveia /

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were shattered and wrenched off and the fabric torn off the lower port wing, Major MacLaren said. He continued: 
  "My first order was for lifebelts, which were packed in Lieutenant Colonel Broome's seat in the forward cockpit. I then examined the hull, but there was no sign of its taking water. The fog was so dense we couldn't see land. My watch stopped at 10.55 a.m., the time we hit the water Saturday.
  "We saw hundreds of birds flying in two steady streams. We thought they were leaving their nests for the open sea fishing and would return to feed their young. This tallied with my calculation that land should be east-southeast and fairly close.
  "The engine was then started and we attempted to taxi, but it was almost impossible to steer the plane, as the wing tips buried themselves in the water, alternately swerving the plane around. Colonel Broom and myself spent two hours running back and forth on the lower wings as the plane see-sawed and the weight of the engine threatened to capsize the ship.
  "We had to stop the engine repeatedly as the water boiled and sprayed over the plane. The machine threatened to dive under the waves when the tail plunged. The wings then started to break. In our last desperate minute aboard the plane Colonel Broome pointed east, where a patch of fog lifted. We could dimly see land. We started the engine with difficulty, as every one was getting exhausted. We were all cold and wet. Plenderleith left the pilot's seat to help start the motor. We then saw a sandy beach about two miles ahead. 
  "The engine was started and we ran close to the breakers. The engine then failed us and was useless. A sprocket on the starting magneto was broken. We then dropped anchor, but a high wind blowing straight on dragged the plane northwest-ward.
  "Every one jumped into the cold waters and held the plane heading toward the sea. The wind and the heavy sea finally slackened and we beached the plane. Plenderleith and myself unloaded the equipment. The fog began to lift and we rested in the afternoon. It was bright, warm and clear.
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  "The island we saw for a few minutes in the fog and which we narrowly escaped proved to be Sealime Rock, 150 ft. high and 77 mi. northwest Nikolski. Colonel Broome then recognized our position as Buckeye Rock. He said he remembered the location from his trip here last April, when he was laying supply bases.
  "Finally Rungall Miles, a man who lives on the island, ran across us. He obtained aid and two boats were manned. The boats reached the plane, which was pulled ashore out of the water.
  "The Russian wireless operator on Bering Island then got in touch with the Thiepval at Petropavlovsk. The Thiepval sailed immediately under forced steam and arrived Sunday morning. They took us aboard and we sailed at midnight for Dutch Harbor.
  "Maj. Tanaga Ija and Lieutenant Commander Tokunago, Japanese officers, and Russian officers of the Thiepval did commendable work in salvaging the plane." /
[[heading]] Plans for Schneider Cup Race /
  At a conference between a committee of officers from the Bureau of Naval Aeronautics and officials of the Flying Club of Baltimore in charge of the Schneider Cup Race, the program for the Schneider Cup Race was approved and immediate action is being taken to put all plans in action.
  Admiral Moffett was appointed as a committee on general arrangements and cooperation with the Flying Club and the National Aeronautic Association for the Schneider Cup Race, the following naval officers with Cape. E.S. Land as Chairman: Lieut. Comdr. H.B. Cecil, Lieut. Comdr. M.A. Mitscher, Lieut. W.D. Thomas, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Anacostia, D.C.; Lieut. F.W. Wead, and Lieut. T.T. Patterson.
  On Oct. 24 at 10:00am, the Jacques Schneider Navigability and Seaworthiness Test will be held.
  Event No. 2, on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. will be the Baltimore Sun Trophy Race which is opened to civilians only. There is no limitation based upon the engine or plane. This race will be a handicap event and the committee appointed by the Flying Club of Baltimore and the National Aeronautic Association will decide the handicaps, which will be based chiefly on the performance speed of the ships in question.
  Event No. 3 has been changed from a civilian race to a race for torpedo planes of the Scouting Fleet. The contestants will be chosen by the Naval Committee on the Schneider Cup. The matter of prizes has not yet been decided. The distance, start, position of start, method of start, etc., will be the same same as outlined in the previous description of this event.
  Event No. 4 will be held at 10 o'clock Saturday morning, Oct. 25, and will comprise an air demonstration of all types of naval aircraft. The Naval Committee on the Schneider Cup advised that while the details of this demonstration cannot be yet made public, it is sufficient to say that it will be the greatest spectacle ever seen in this county.
  Event No. 5 will be the Jacques Schneider International Seaplane Race on Saturday at 2 p.m. Previously issued bulletins describing this race are now official.
  On Sunday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. the straightway speed contest will be held over the 3 km. course which has been installed at Bay Shore Park. 
  Entry blanks for the civilian races may be obtained from the office of the Flying Club of Baltimore, 711 Keyser Building, Baltimore, Md./
[[heading]]  Italian Air Budget /
  The Italian Air Budget for the fiscal year 1924-25 is 400,000,000 Lire (approximately $20,000,000 at the present rate of exchange, but much more than that if the purchasing value of the Lira in Italy is considered). The main items of the budget are as follows: Aircraft equipment, 245 millions; pay of personnel, 78 millions; air stations, 30 millions; training of personnel, 18 millions; civil aviation, 10 millions.
  As Italy's 1923-24 air budget was 200 million Lire, or one half the amount allowed for next year, the importance the fascista government accords to air matters will be appreciated. /