The Washington times., 1919-12-28

the pilotLwhich in the case OF Curti3s,
pilots range from $50 to SIS per week.
cost of upkeep, depreciation, insurance
gas and OIL consumption.
1t is interesting, therefore, to make
comparison as to what it costs person
to take 1oo-mile trip by air and by auto
mobile and rail, respectively.
The operating cost of 1oo-rnile journey
by air would be $50. A concern would
, have to charge at least so per cent OF this
sum additional in order to net q profit and
pay overhead expenses OF maintaining
terminals and their complement of en-
ployees. The total charge then would be
1925 for the trip. Dividing this sum be,
tween the seven passengers the fare would
be s32 each. - -'+r 'sas'-
BY hired automobile New YORK COM
pany renting large motor cars estimates
over good highways it would cost thirty
five cents per mile The 1Oo-niile TRIP
would, therefore, stand each OF the SIX
passengers, in sevenpsssenger car wfths
chauffeur, about SO, 'i5'- - - at.,g SD
A 16o-mfle journey y5s Srsfnosa esseB
three cents per mile. te which adding the
Government tax and Pullman charsesthe
total amounts TO s4 49, - 'sa'l- =
The air journey would. therefore, cost
about eight times that OF the rail and hves
and a half times that OF the motor trfp.
However, the trip by air can be made in
less than half the time Of the rail and
three times quicker thanSby motor
II must be remembered also that the air
ticket costs more than the Others because
of the fact that aeroplane construction Is
not yet standardized; that motors. cost
ing $1,000 and $4,000 have to be run
until worthless by way Of -experimen.
tation, and entire planes broken up to de-
termine their various breaking poinks.-
Some time in the near future, when a
great deal more flying knowledge is &C
quired and various construction materials
have been definitely proven, then builders
their machines and bring the price down
to figure considerably below that of such
types as The Eagle, which now stands at
$4,000.
Those passengers who have been aboard
The Eagle on some of her 50 flights
have been enthusiastic over their expert
ence. Some of these are Otto Praeger
Second Assistant Postmaster-General and
head of the aerial mail; General Charles
T. Menoher, director Of the Air Service;
Benedict Crowell. Assistant Secretary OF
War; Mrs. Newton D. Baker, wife Of the
Secretary of War; Mrs. George. Barnett,
wife Of the commandant of the United
Charlton. British Air Attache; Herman
Lundquist, Speaker of the Lower House of
Sweden; Lieutenant Commander p. n. l.
Bellinger, of the NC-1, and representatives
from practically sll the foreign embassies.
II is said that the outstanding impress
sion in riding is the almost total absence
of the feeling that one is speeding throYgh
the air While the roar from the motors
is slightly disturbing at first this grad
Ually disappears as one becomes sccuS-
toned to the noise. II is possible TO read
and write comfortable, and a game =
cards may even be INDUCED in 10 vh''2
away the time. The enclosed cabin shuts
out the rushing wind.
When the machine is starting and while
running along the ground the wheels ara
so well equipped for the absorbing OF
shocks that one does not experience any
discomfort from Earring. II is lust like
riding in an automobile on a smooth road
In the air there is absolutely no vibia-
ton. The sense OF stability is said TO bg
very strong and one feels quite secure.
The absence OF side swaying and the noise
from pounding on rails, as experienced in
railroad coaches, make the air journey far
more enjoyable. There is also no danger
of losing ones equilibrium, as people ire
ouently do when a train is rounding a
curve, for in the air limousine the plane
banks and thus attends TO the superlevat-
ing of the outer rail-