The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16
ROCKWELL DIEGO. FROM AtoFr.
Continent Already Crossed and Many Landing Places Lo
Gated With Compass Courses and Distances Worked Out
to Minutest Detail-Nany Risks Faced by Air Pioneers
eS SEEN FROM FAR AtoFT.

Possibilities of that sort of glory were
disposed Of by the Air Service instruc-
tions in one terse sentence. The pur-
pose Of the trip is to get Information,
not speed
By March the winter programme
Of flying will have been completed.
Only the New England States and the
Northwest have not been visited by
the air pioneers. With the spring a
new campaign will be started.
Usually the map making expedi-
tons are composed OF three airplanes,
three pilots, two mechanics and a
publicity officer. Every plane which
goes out is thoroughly equipped with
compasses, navigation Instruments
available large scale maps, cameras
and tho usual aeronautical instru-
ments. The publicity officer is charged
with the duty of making n complete
report at the end of the journey In
this, mingled with the information
gathered, frequently occurs some curt
mention OF dangers or difficulties
faced. a mention which II expanded
would be an Odyssey OF the air.
All salient features. landmarks. such
as rivers. railways. woods. are shown
in red ink on the map which is for
! warded with the report to the Office OF
| the Director Of Military Aeronautics
at Washington.
That the publicity officer has no
! easy time OF it despite the fact that
he does not handle a plane may be
| seen from the following instructions
| which he must religiously follow:
Violations must be made OF all
| prominent landmarks in regard to
their distinguishing features, distances
from starting point and general drec-
ton. In landing at n field along the
! route or at the terminus report as 20
whether tho field is so situated as to
| conform to the general direction and
speed of wind at that point. In other
words. If it IS spali rectangular field
do the general prevailing winds neces-
state landing cross wind?
In regard TO meteorological condi-
tons, i'll addition to data given on
| blank form, a general description OF
weather conditions encountered en-
route will be made, with special at
tention to visibility Of landmarks.
Just what Is Being Sought.
| Under the personal descriptive re-
port which is to be made after COM
pletion OF fight the following points
must be brought out in detail: Cen
| sral direction of trip. stating difficult
ties encountered and reasons for same
whether landmarks and salient fea-
lures are numerous and easily recog-
nizable, the general nature of the
attitudes between the starting point
and objective, time OF departure from
and arrival at all detectives, descrip-
ton OF all prominent and distinguish
ing landmarks along the route ana the
exact air distances between the same
should be noted. Sketches should be
made while in the air of objective and
the most prominent landmarks, and
should be embodied in this personal re-
port. In case the map used is not to
scale, and not altogether suitable for
air work. sketches should be made as
often as possible throughout the flight
of landmarks and distinguishing fea-
lures en- route"
Beyond this the publicity officer has
very little TO do. Pilots. too. must note
down in detail data concerning land.
ing fields, including that sanguinary
question, Landing possible?" Topo-
graphical details are not the only mat
tiers with which the pioneers must con.
Germ themselves. They must also re.
! port upon the supply of gasolene avail
able in the district, and the attitude
Of the people themselves toward the
fiiers.
II Perhaps the high spot IN all the
records OF achievement is the triI
made by the pioneer from San Diego
Cal. to New York. Although the
actual flying time of the trip wal
, ffty-five hours. the aviators put IL
thirty-fiye days. mindful OF the man
ldsts Of the director. sghe purpose OF