The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-10-27
R. B. CH|LDS TELLS
HOW It FEELS
TO TAKE A TRIP
IN AN A|RSH|P

The editor of the Lakeland Adver-
tiser, R. B. Child, says: Since Sat-
urday of last week Lakeland people
have been treating themselves to rea.
joy rides. We mean the genuine ar
ticle.
1t was on that day the Intercity
Airline Corporation got their first
plane into commercial operation, and
from the moment when the first three
rides were auctioned off at two
o'clock to the present time there has
been healthy rivalry who should be.
next to take the properly conven-
tional "joy ride Those who have
tried it claim that joy ride in the
air with either one OF our pilots is
"the ride worth WHILE and that they
are going to "do it again. every time
opportunity offers.
Saturday afternoon was a little
rainy, but outside of that everything
was lovely for the grand opening of
the Air Line.
The little child from the Adver-
tiser had the honor of being the third
person from Lakeland to ride in a
commercial plane. And, take it from
he enjoyed every second Of the twenty
or more minutes he was up in the air
with the machine and Lieutenant
George Haldeman.
There is no disagreeable sensation
accompanying straight ride with the
pilots of the Inter-City Air Line. The
Imp" is a smooth-hying plane and
takes to the air as calmly and natur-
ally as does the duck we have all
heard about to the water.
The first noticeable thing about the
air ride is the dropping away of
mother earth as the wings begin to
take effect and lift the plane up into
the blue heavens. Then a picture un-
folds itself before you that can be
compared to nothing else that you
have ever seen. In the case Of flying
over Lakeland, it is then a person
realizes what really delightful pref
ty little town this is in which we live
Yes, little" describes it we'll, for YOU
lose all sense Of distance. having none
Of the usual things by which we fudge
1t by. And the picture unfolds itself,
thing Of beauty and splendid color.
automobiles and people assuming the
proportion of ants and smaller ants
upon the table where has been spread
the doll town Of the toy shop. The
railroad yards take on the appearance
OF converging lines, all worked out in
an approved pattern, and the streets
become lines Of darkness between the
brilliance of the green of the trees
ana lawns that surround the, pigmy,
houses.
The houses from their tops assume
IN unfamiliar look that whole charm
ing is decidedly different. y But pref
test of all is the big bearing orange
grove, with its we'll defined rows Of
green lunches, which meet in the
middle Of each square.
1t Is astonishing to the novice the
amount Of water to be seon from
above. We knew we were in the midst
OF lakes Of unrivalled beauty, but
their extent and number becomes an
parent when you get up to where
you can literally count hundreds of
them OF all kinds Of sozes and>shapes.
But the real thrill Of this Joy ride
came when we did the "loop the
loop which was taken in approved
style.
There is the first sensation similar
to going down in an express elevator
when the pilot heads down to gather
sufficient momentum to send you ''oy-
err. Then before you get the hang of
the down the plane comes up under
You, and then before you get straigh-
tened out you are completely upside.
down with nothing but couple OF
thousand or so feet of good air be-
tween you and terra firma. Before
you have time to think on the un-
usualness of the situation, you are
sitting upright and serene, perhaps a
LITTLE hrnotbIoos fronn A. u..Is..n