The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-08-24
MAKING A MAP
FOR AvIATORS
Aero Club to Chart the Best
Routes For Filters.
MARK SiGHPOSTS ALONG WAY.

The Distinguishing Lights of Cities
Will Be Shown-Germany Already
Has Elaborate Maps, and France is
Preparing Them.
pared in this country for the guidance
Of aviators is in process of being
drawn and charted under the auspices
of the Aero Club of America The
map will show all the air currents and
air routes of this country most favor
able to aeronauts. Landmarks, includ-
ing not only lakes and mountains. but
also the distinguishing night lights of
the different American cities. will be
explained in fOotnOtes on sections of
the map, just as buoys and lighthouses
are explained in foOtnOtes on ocean
charts.
The map will also show the exact To-
cation of all recognized aerodromes or
landing places where airships can
come to earth safely. All the public
hangers or sheds in which balloons or
aeroplanes can be housed for the night
will also be shown.
Like Lighthouses.
Every aerodrome or airship harbOr
in this country either has already or
soon will have its own individual
emblem or signal enabling aviators to
identify it at distance, just as the
revolving or stationary signals of
lighthouses enable ocean navigatOrs to
tell where they are.
The air buOys marking these air
harbors will consist of spheres, cones
and balls of cOlOred cloth, which will
be anchored from sheds and float high
in the air. Some of these air buOys,
as has already been done I'm different
European countries where there is
much aviation. will be flown from bal
looms or kites and will be rearranged
constantly to signal different messages
TO passing air men. According TO the
Aero club plans, air men coming from
Chicago to New York, after the map
has been completed and the air buOys
anchored throughout the country, will
be enabled to steer the straightest and
safest course even at night and will
also be able to tell where TO put up
their airships during darkness or
storms.
Sectional Maps Too.
Sectional maps, showing different air
routes or sections of the country,
are also to be made. according to the
Aero clubs present plans. These will
be printed on long strips of parchment
and fixed to rollers. The rollers, in
turn, will be fixed in a permanent
place in the airship. just as a ships
compass is. As the air man passes
over each part of the country he will
thus be enabled to identify it without
moving in his seat. merely by unrOll-
ing the map. These sectional maps
will represent areas about ten miles
wide, thus making an allowance for
the aviator being blown off his course.
In making an air map for this coun-
try the Aero club is merely following |
the example which has already been |
set by the Aero Club de France. The !
latter organization, with the assist /
lnce of the French war department. is |
a very elaborate air map, |
which is TO be used for the first time !
BY the French military pilots in the |
naneuvers this summer.
All ordinary geographical landmarks |
which air men ought to know about |
will be put in. On the other hand, the
lir map will contain much informa-
ion which geographical maps leave
tut and will leave ont many facts
which ordinary maps display promi-
lently.
The height of mountains will be put
Il so that ayiators may gauge the
heights at which they are flying. Peo-
de who travel on foot identify distant
titles by the perpendicular shapes of
heir buildings. But to the air man
Who passes above them cities have no
dimension at ALL They
re perfectly fiat, and he can only
IDENTIFY them by their horizontal con
ours. On the Aero club maps these
Orizontal contours will be described.
he shapes Of lakes will also be
marked, because they are good marks
or high flying air men.
Lights as Night Guides.
At night air men can only tell where /
hey are by the light of cities and it
the plan of the Aero club to com
lie elaborate data rs TO these lights.
very city has some building or street
,hich is lighted differently from the
Iildings or streets of any other city, !
nd this fact will be noted
The air maps already prepared in
ermany show the different light
buses, and the Aero clubs new map
to show them TOO. Germany has '
)ne so far as to construct a series of 6
inland lighthouses" for the guidance
night flying airships The air maps I
Germany are elaborate and have as t