Altoona Mirror/1930/08/15/Eddie Schneider On His Way West

by Altoona Mirror

Eddie Schneider On His Way West. Boy Flier, Seeking to Break Junior Transcontinental Record. Hops Off From Tipton This Morning. Repairs Made To His Plane At Stultz Field. Next Stop Is Columbus, Ohio, From Where He Will Continue to St. Louis, Wichita, Kansas, and Los Angeles. Hopping off from Stultz field, Tipton, at 11:30 o'clock this morning, Eddie Schneider, 18-year-old flier of Jersey City, New Jersey, is winging his way west in his efforts to break the junior transcontinental record. Young Schneider remained overnight in this city after his way was blocked yesterday by rain and fog and made necessary his landing, first at Huntingdon, next on a farm near Water Street and then at Stultz field, where he arrived at 5:30 o'clock last evening. The boy flier narrowly escaped crashing at Water Street and damaged his plane when, blinded by intense fog, the fuselage of his craft was brushed by the limbs of a tree, due to the fact that he was unable to ascertain his altitude and was traveling too low to the ground. Immediately following his rather harrowing experience with the tree, he landed on the Clair Harnish farm near Water Street and remained there until 5 o'clock last evening when be departed for Stultz field, where his plane was kept overnight and repairs made this morning to the fabric on the underside of the fuselage. Left Yesterday Morning. Schneider left Westfield, New Jersey, at 4:55 o'clock yesterday morning on the first leg of his transcontinental flight. It was 8:15 o'clock when he arrived in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and landed there to await better weather. Leaving Huntingdon at noon, bound for Bellefonte, he encountered more trouble and, after barely missing wrecking his craft, landed at Water Street. Spending the night at the Penn-Alto hotel, Schneider went to Stultz field at 10 o'clock this morning. In company with an Altoona Mirror representative. After looking over repairs that were made to his plane by Stultz field mechanics, he immediately launched plans for his departure. Inquiring of weather conditions in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, the young flier was informed that conditions were favorable for his flight to Columbus. He filled both gas tanks in his plane and after saying farewell to The Mirror man and attaches of Stultz field, hopped of on his westward course, which was planned to take him over Indiana, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh and other points west, en route to Columbus. He is flying a Cessna cabin monoplane, which is jointly owned by him and the Atlantic Air Service, Inc., of Westfield, New Jersey, which concern and Emil A. Schneider of Jersey City, father of the young pilot, are sponsoring the transcontinental flight. Tells Of Narrow Escape. In describing hias narrow escape from crashing his plane near Water Street, Schneider said that he never before traveled through such fog and haze as ho encountered shortly after entering Pennsylvania yesterday morning and which grew worn as he approached Altoona. "I was forced to fly as low as 75 feet from the earth due to the dense fog as I traveled over Pennsylvania." declared Schneider. This of course, hindered my speed and I was unable to make a speed of 100 miles per hour, which is my schedule for the westward flight. "I had planned to leave on Wednesday from Westfield, New Jersey, but at the last minute decided to wait another day. In doing this. I ran Into had weather which I expect may continue for me until after I leave Columbus. Prior to leaving Westfield yesterday, all reports indicated fine weather for flying over my course. "I'm out to break that record set by Frank Goldsborough. He flew from east to west coast in 33 hours and then made the eastward crossing in 28 hours and 55 minutes. Upon arriving in Wichita, Kansas, I expect to have an emergency gas tank installed on my ship to provide for my long hop to Los Angeles." Carries Much Fuel. Seats in the rear sections of the cabin monoplane operated by Schneider have been removed to provide room for a large supply of gasoline, oil, spark plugs, etc., which may be necessary in an emergency. He is somewhat crowded in his pilot's seat, duo to the large supply of fuel, but said that he is very comfortable. despite this fact. He is a tow-headed boy with a determination to achieve fame and fortune in the realms of aviation. He is about 5 feet, 4 inches in height. Discarding the usual aviator's clothing, he is wearing a blue suit for the entire transcontinental journey. His frankness and grit, as exhibited to The Mirror representative and also others gathered at Stultz field this morning, are big factors in his makeup. He has no fears whatever for any obstacles in his path in going to the west coast by air and when he took off this morning ha ran the length of Stultz field and immediately swung west away from the airport without making the usual swing around the field for altitude. The boy flier's mother is dead. His father is engaged in business in Jersey City, New Jersey. He obtained his pilot's license at Roosevelt field, New York, late in 1923 and since has been engaged in piloting plane about Westfield, New Jersey. Has Much Experience. With more than 300 hours of flying time of flying experience to his credit, he is regarded as a capable pilot and so demonstrated his ability in making his landing at Stultz field yesterday and also in his departure this morning He likewise showed unusual skill in avoiding the crash after running into the tree near Water Street yesterday. In announcing his schedule this morning for the westward flight, he expects to arrive in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon and, after remaining there overnight, will leave tomorrow morning for St. Louis, Missouri. At Wichita, Kansas, he will be delayed several days during which an emergency gasoline tank will be installed in his plane for the long hop to the Glendale airport, near Los Angeles. In his return trip over the continent, he expects to leave Wichita in the hopes of making a non-stop flight to New York. While only 18 years of age, he seems years older and his only interests seemingly are in aviation and his successful efforts in this field of endeavor. Frank Goldsborough, aged 19, who set the present record which Schneider is aiming to break, was killed in a plane crash in Connecticut recently. Schneider recalled this tragedy this morning when telling of how the fog bothered him yesterday and how Goldsborough crashed, due to such conditions.