By the Associated Press.
MARSEILLE, France, May 13.
M. de Gasenko, French aviator, accompanied by Mechanician Bion, left Marseille at 9 o’clock this morning in his water glider, the Sea Flea, for Barcelona, Spain, and Oran, Algeria. The weather was unfavorable but the apparatus worked satisfactorily.
If the voyage is successful, de Gasenko will continue to Dakar, West Africa, and then across the South Atlantic to Buenos Aires. The aviators hoped to arrive at Barcelona within two hours and to reach Oran this evening.
The Sea Flea darts over the water like a flying fish, making a speed of about 60 miles an hour. Its hull has a draft of only 3 inches. At top speed the wing expanse is sufficient to keep it clear of the water for about 65 feet and thus it skims along, alternately in the air and touching the water. It is equipped with two rudders, one for guiding it through the water and the other through the air.
Evening Star, Washington, DC, May 13, 1926