The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-04-19

follow the shortest distance between two points
through the air with mail and fast express matter
than a train without stations and switches
at each end of the route
At these air route stations must be landing
fields, hangers for the machines. gasoline supplies.
spare parts, charts, maps. weather forecast sig
nails, engine mechanics receivers for the quick
transfer and delivery Of mail. express matter or
whatever it is. What types of la ling fields? And
where shall they be located-outside city limits
In city parks cleared of buildings and for the
purpose?
Another point: Special charts will have to be
prepared for the pilot to follow. For instance.
crossing the Atlantic. going east, the airpane
would. am told by engineers have to follow east
a little by south Similar charts would have to be
drawn to guide the pilot during prevailing trade
or seasonal winds. The Chinook winds of the
Rockies. for instance, would add from 20 to 80
miles an hour to pilots speed coming east and
impede his flight to the same extent going west.
The deserts. the Mojave Arizona, Mexico, Utah.
have their dust storms from March to June. Which
way do they blow? Montague think it is, says
the brown fOgs Of the Atlantic be surmOunted
at from 10000 to $4,000 feet, but while the arplane
will take the flyer above the dust, will it take him
above the hurricane that creates the dust?
The meteorological bureau of Washington and
the chamber Of commerce Of San Diego have done
most up to the present time In charting air
rents for aerial flights. 1t is entirely new
world. and it is puZzling one; for remember, the
airplane may drift from its course, just as ships
drift in ocean currents without the compass giving
an inkling of it, and here again the army and navy
could an they would, tale unfold.
But 1t is in the region of the mountains that the
lighthouses with powerful lenses are most needed
for aerial routes. This air region Is entirely
unknown world, and it is dangerous as reefs Off
Labrador for a landing place Cases rec
ord In which fighters in the war interlOcked wings
much as a scratch on the skin of either pilot.
But quite dangerous treetOps and rocks
coming up to meet you through the floor OF your
car are the gusty air pockets above all mountains.
1t is not known yet whether the air above noun
tains is gusty at night when the is not
creating upcurrents but If by day the sun creates
Niagaras Of air, and if by night you may run into
a blizzard of snow, say. above Pixies Peak there
is lot to do in charting air roads above the Rock
les before get that section Of transconti-
mental air route safe flight above the ocean.
STILL as late as $780, the fur traders Of the noun
tains secuted the possibility of even wagons ever
crossing the Great Divide. Today, trains. motors
and wagons cross all sections Of the Divide with
less thought and danger than pedestrians cross
Fifth avenue. New York; and by 1880. it is safe
wager with your that alrpanes will do the
same.
But this is not all there is to charting the air.
not by a long, long shot. How about direction sig
aalsr
Rules Of the Road Needed.
Each machine must always be given its own,
space, or twice Its space, to pass or meet
another machine, but how about direction signals?
Do you pass to the right or eftf What the
penalties and who pays them, If you don't take
the correct side and collision results? Who has
the right Of way, the coming-in machine tho
going out? What rate Of speed Is to be allowed
for certain levels and who is to police the air and
regulate the traffic?
Did you ever think what a gorgeous streak Of
adventure air robber. Captain Kidd of the sky
route could have If he made off with plane good
for eleven tons cargo and 1877 miles speed2 You
might catch him on a peak Of the Rockies, or he
might have cached his loot in the moon. You may
SMILE but any of these possibilities more un-
likely than were the actual achievements Of the
airplane in the war?
The apprehension Of the arplane In industry be-
Ing clancy because its engine may go dead or its
controls go out Of whack does not alarm the dir,
man. Dual engines, dual controls and two pilots
will minimize that risk; but there is very def
mite apprehension in the airman's mind. He knowsi
the airpane is going to leap into industry as spec
taculariy as the mOtorcar, all right
He wants the air charted and the rules Of the,
winged fleets in the air. He wants all ele
ments Of danger and confusion and antagonism re-,
moved before the argosies Of mail and exprcss and
flying freight go up in the air,