The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-03
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BUREAU
PUT xoUR roMN ON AIR ROUTE

flights which are now being made al
most daily from every American avia-
ton field. for the purpose of making
air-maps and gathering air statistics,
mark the beginning of a great peace
time development of flying.
IN this development the United
States government asks the co-opera-
ton of every American city and town
of any commercial importance. For 1T
expects within the next few years to
have a well-equipped landing field in
every such town, and two or three
hundred landing fields are urgently
and Immediately needed The towns
which establish them will naturally
gain prestige as pioneers in the devel-
opment of this industry of the future.
And it will not be long before land
ing field will be almost as indispen-
sable. to an up-to-d date town as rail-
road station, in the opinion of the gov
eminent airmen.
"A landing field must be level, free
from Instructions. and about the size
of the ellipse enclosed by a mile race
track. 1t must be provided with a
shed. open at one end. and there
should be q caretaker, and gas and oil
supplies near at handy The equipment
of such a field need not cost more
than $500, and waste land can gen.
orally be used.
The permanent plan for maintain
ing such landing fields has not yet
been determined upon; but the pres
ent plan is for live municipal organi-
cations to co-opeJate with the govern
ment. Chambers of commerce, Ro-
tary clubs and like civic bodies are
quested to come forward with offers
of assistance-to obtain the use of
suitable fields and raise the funds
wherewith to equip and maintain
them. Any such organization which
wishes to cooperate with the govern
IL -. 1t, ~. Nr1I6
dress the director of military aeronau-
tics, training section. navigation
branch, Washington, D. G.
1t is a fact not generally recognized
that the government now has in its
hands the legal powers the men and
the machines to promote a great de-
velopment of the airplane as means
of travel and communication. Now
that the war is over, and planes and
flyers are coming home, it is to just
such a development that the division
of military aeronautics is devoting its
energies. The present government
control of flying is of course war
measure. Congress will doubtless be
called upon to pass some legislation
providing for the development of fly
ing in time of peace.
At present, however, the govern
ment has absolute control both of the
manufacture and OF the flying of air.
planes. Furthermore, the army has
now in this country $4,000 combat
planes and $500 training planes. Be-
sides these there are thousands Of
American planes in Europe, and the
United States will get a share of the
German planes. This does not include
the planes attached to the navy and
to the marine corps.
In the way of personnel, there are
S,53S reserve military aviators trained
tn, fIatc ,frxy ND lot I've rs
now in schools The total number OF
those who have been admitted to
schools is 22,5c0. Up to October 8,
], soc aviators had been trained broad.
The army alone has about 900 air
plane mechanics.
This aggregation of men and equip
ment. combined with the broadspowers
which the government has over the
use and manufacture of planes, af-
fords perhaps the greatest opportunity
for a unified development of flying on
a peace basis that has ever existed.
European nations. of course, also have
flyers and machies; but they are ex-
hausted, both as to finance and as to
manp0wer.- The United States, there
| fore, is in a position to lead the world
| in the development of the airplane in
| dustry.
| This establishment of air routes, and
landing fields, which is the purpose
of the present series of cross country
| flights, is the most immediate and
pressing need. 1t will go further thar
anything else to make flying safe. ac.
| cording to the army aero-experts.
At present a flyer in the air is COM
parable to a pioneer plunging into ar
unexplored country with a compass
and an idea where he wants to go
but without a map or a trail. He i.
still more like mariner sailing a sea
| which has never been charted, anG
| without any knowledge of where hi
| could make port in case of storm.
Travel in the air, like travel or
earth and on water, must have recog.
| nized routes and stopping places be.
fore 1t can be made safe. The bird.
have instinctively recognized this fact
and in their migrations always follow
the same general lines of travel ant
stop at the same places.
! The airplane has already become 8
stable and dependable machine. i
Is no more liable to mechanical trouble
than the automobile, and is in mucf
less danger of collision. The risk il
flying comes chiefly from two sources
In the first place, unexpected change.
lof weather may cause disaster, and ir
the second place, If the aviator has t.
land on account of engine or other me
chanical trouble. and has no good
lpidCe " lie Is up against {.
The knowledge of meteorology
(which will enable the airman to avoid
storms and unfavorable atmosphere.
conditions. is a matter of scientific re
lsearch which will take years, ant
which is now being carried on by oul
weather bureau and by our military
flyers. 1t will be greatly aided ans
Isystematized by the establishment OF
recognized routes of air travel.
The provision of abundant landing
fields, properly equipped, will consti
ltute factor of safety in flying which
will make the airplane no more dan.
lgerous as a means of cross country
travel than the automobile. When al
laviator has mechanical trouble OIL
meets with dangerous conditions no.
his only expedient is to select the mos
favorable landing spot he can see ant
descend He may have the good for
tune to reach an open field; but it II
inst as likely that he Sxili haze. to laui