The sun., 1919-05-04
lying to Business in Your Own Plane Not So Very Far Distant
But 1t Will Be Ex-
pen sive, as One
M a c hIne an d
Maintenance 70 r
Year Will Cost
$4,000

landing fields should preferably be
solved by the people interested or by
the State or city authorities or by
aero clubs. II is contended that while
the number of private airplane owners
Is at present very small, the existence
of landing fields would in itself be
great boom and increase the number.
thereby making the individual expense
to club members less. This aero club
plan has been successfully carried on
at Dayton, 1t is explained, and why
could it not be tried in New York;
Job for Private Enterprise.
As for the Governments part. there
are many here who believe it would be
O serious mistake for the Government
to do too much along this line for pri-
vate aviation. Automobiling developed
| rapidly, II is pointed out, because in
dividuals through automobile clubs
and through private endeavor had to
follow their own initiative. Too much
patronizing by the Government might
not be wise, 1t is commended, If 1t held
back the initiative of the individual.
Besides there are more important
things for the Government to do re-
specting aviation than to assume the
duty of providing convenient landing
| fields for the towns and cities.
1t Is admittedly of Importance that
central landing, fields, about 200 miles
apart. be established by the Govern-
ment and maintained. Many Of these
the Government has already estab-
lished. The following routes, for ex-
ample, may be followed by utilizing
these Government fields:
Starting from Philadelphia a tour
might be made to Washington, Pa;
thence to Dayton, Ohio; to Rontoul,
H.. to Belleville. H.: to Memphis.
Tenn; to Little Rock, Ark. to Dallas
or Waco or San Antonio, in Texas.
All but the first are Government land
ing fields, about 200 miles apart. The
tour 1t is explained, could be made by
easy stages.
At Memphis the aviator might turn
off to West Point, Miss; to Montgom-
cry. Ala: to Americas, Ga: and thence
to Tampa, Fla Or from Dayton he
might go to Selfridge Field, Detroit,
and thence to Buffalo, touring the
Great Lakes district.
In the establishment OF new central
fields 1t Is an open question whether
| the Government or the States inter-
ested should patronize. The Govern
ment is ready and willing to cooperate
in the matter Of supplying automatic
signalling wireless apparatus along
the main routes and to circle the land
ing places with wireless signalling sta
tons, making 1t easy to land in fog.
Wireless Like Lighthouses.
The wireless signals are invaluable
in fog. The pilot can tell the direction
of the wireless. II he hears the wire
! less from Washington growing weak
on his left, for example, and the wire
less from Baltimore getting stronger
on his right he can approximate the
course he is taking. The wfeless sta
tons for the pilot, it is explained, are
like the lighthouses for the mariner,
| and the Governments assistance along
| this line is very welcome. 1t may be
n beautiful, sunny day when the pilot
starts out, but within an hour he may
be buried in q fog. There is no more
hopeless, helpless feeling for the avia-
tor than to be lost in n fog. lie does
not even know whether he is upside
| down or rightside up. OF course, If he
can get above the clouds he Is better
situated, but in this event the wireless
| signals are increasingly important.
Wireless stations twenty-five miles
| apart over n charted course would be
| ideal, according to the air experts.
The Governments chief interest in
assisting aviation should now be, It
| ic n Si zal oil ha
of the engine, The manufacturer can
take care of the rest, but the engine
is the backbone upon which the whole
life OF the new industry depends.
No Flying FIivver Soon.
In order to encourage development
work in this important line the Gov
eminent intends to hold "A nucleus of
engine builders together. give them
enough experimental work to keep
them going and otherwise patronize
this phase of aircraft production in
every legitimate way. Steady improve
ment is looked for, though it will ad-
mittedly be a long time before the
flying fiivver will be on the market.
For a number of years at least the en-
CINE is going to be expensive, accord
ing TO present signs. Aviation is go
ing to be "A rich mans sport just rs
the automobile was at the beginning.
As TO commercial development or
aeronautics, II is expected TO come In
a number of ways. Perhaps, the ex-
perts say, It will be the mining camps
or the lumber camps establishing
quick connections between various
stations in operation. Flying boats
may prove Of great value on tho Great
Lakes, Perhaps it Will be the ste'l
corporation to make the first extensive
use Of aircraft.
Connecting up outlying towns with
railway stations for passengers or
ma il, is regarded as probability.
Aerial mail routes parallclng trunk
railway lines may not offer much ad-
vantage, it Is admitted. but mail
routes where there are no railway
connections would serve a useful pur-
pose
The twin engine airplanes, which will
carry perhaps ten persons comfort
ably, open up passenger carrying pos
sibilities from Il commercial stand
point. What would happen, army
meE ask. If later an airplane service
were established, for example. between
Chicago and Detroit, charging 500 for
the quick trip? Would 1t be patron
lied? Would 1t be commercial sue