The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-08
FOR "AIR ROUTE"
Eight Pioneer Airmen Are To
Take Up the Work.
Complete Ocean to Ocean
FIight-Going Back.

New York, Feb. Slight pioneer
airmen are on their way back 10 san
Diego, completing the great labor OF
building a transcontinental hlgnWay
thru the skies The squadron which
completed the first ocean-to-ocean
flight in New York City, January u
left Washington February on the re-
turn trip to the Pac1flc coast. types
of the four ships and motors-aH
American built-which figure in TINS
remarkable pioneering expedition, are
to form an important part OF the an
nual aeronauticaI exposition of the
Manufacturers Aircraft ASSOCIATION IN
New York March 1 to Is.
The transcontinental flight. begun
under the direction of Maj. Gen VIII
liam L. Kenly, is the most AMBITIOUS
effort yet attempted by any govern
ment for it entails the passage or
5000 miles of difficult territory ana
the gathering of material out of which
new maps for the aerial navigator or
tomorrow are to be evolved more
than half of the work has been sue
cessfully done.
Now on Its Way.
The party that is now on its way to
the Pacific is commanded by Nal Al
bert D. Smith and includes I1euts.
Robert S. Worthington, H D. Mclean
and Albert F. Pyle, pilots, and MAJ.
James H. Mckee, surgeon; Lieut.. John
w. Evans, photographer, and two
master electricians.
The eastward transcontinental
flight, says a statement from the owl
sion of military aeronautics, was mace
from Rockwell Field, San Diego, TO
New York City in fifty-five hours fly
ing time, and it is Major Smiths hope
to reduce this time considerably. II
took the squadron tnirty-five days TO
complete the first trip ana IL IS tne
present plan to spend as few nights as
possible en- route. On its first trip
the squadron proved, by a series or
short flights. that it was possible 70
span. the continent and at the Same
time gather p-maklng materia a.
On the return, an effort will be MADE
to utilize the information gathered
thereby establishing shorter. quicker
but absolutely safe aerial route from
New York to San Diego via the Atlan-
tic and Gulf states.
In connection with the return 1llgnt
of Major Smiths squadron, the d1V1-
sion of military aeronautics has mace
public information illustrating the
difference between pioneering in aerlaI
navigation and surveying and con-
struction preparatory to land trans
portatiOn.
The four airplanes in Major Smiths
squadron cost about $4,000 each, a
total of $4,000. Between San Diego
and New York City four propellers had
to be replaced and there were other
repairs which came to an estimated
total of $500. Each plane consumed
fifteen gallons OF gasoline an nOuTI
making a total of 1920 gallons for the
four planes for the SIS flying hours
This fuel cost an average of SO cents
a gallon, making the gas" cost, ST.
645. One-half gallon of oil was con-
sumed each hour, or a total of ITO
gallons, costing $3.50. For the 35
days the eight men were on their
way they paid q total Of SLIGO for
board and lodging. 1t is estimated
that each motor deprecated one-fifth
and each plane one-tenth. The motor
that was taken out was not removed
because of deficiency, but to save time.
Therefore the depreciation on the mo-
tors may be reasonably estimated at
$3.50 and the depreciation on the
planes at $4,000. The total cost for
their pioneer flight was $S,S27.5O, or
an average of So a mile for the four
ships and eight men. This is remark
ably low when the time is considered
and when it is remembered that the
squadron literally blazed a trail thru
the air. 1t took the place of the rail-
road pioneers, the surveyors, the right
of way appraisers, the track layers
the communication constructors. The
aerial right of way that has been
mapped from coast to coast will be
open to all future flyers when the
maps and data are complete. There
will be no maintenance. That is one
great virtue of aerial navigation, in
so far as the routes are concerned.