The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-07-24
KELSO TO BLAZE
AIR TRAIL THRU
FOUR STATES
Local Aviator Takes Contract
to Map Out Aerial Route
Out of Spokane
is TO LEAVE NEXT WEEK
Will Make Two Thousand Mile Trip
and Visit Score of Cities and
Towns in Northwest

a Floyd Kelso, KennewicI's aviator,
e has been engaged to take his Curtiss
biplane and blaze the trail for pro
posed commercial aerial route from
Spokane to Butte, Montana, and re-
turn, a distance of about 1000 miles.
The promoters of the aerial flight are
G. M. Mcclellan and Thomas Belknap
of Spokane, who have contracted with
Mr.. Kelso for ten weeks flying en-
lgagement. s.
| 1t the present plans are carried out
Mr.. Kelso will leave here Friday Of
next week for Spokane with stops at
Lind, Ritzville and other towns en-
route. After weeks exhibition fly
ing and passenger carrying in Spo-
kane, he accompanied by another air
plane, viii leave Spokane for WalIa
Walla by way Of the more important
Towns in the Palouse country and
Lewiston and Moscow, Idaho. From
Villa Walla he will fly to ROise Nv
way Of Pendleton, LaGrande and Bak-
er, Oregon. From Boise he viii wing
his way east across southern Idaho
to Focatellp and thence north to Butte.
Mortana On the return trip re win
take an air line across northern Idaho
The itinery as outlined calls for
landings in 25 or 80 cities and towns.
At each stop Mr. Kelso win give an
exhibition Of trick flying, Will carry.
q limited number of passengers and
will try out proposed sites for NUM-
cipal landing fields He will be pre-
ceeded by Mr.. .McCleIlan and Mr.. Bel
knap who win travel by train and
make all necessary arrangements for
his visit. It is estimated that the
trip win require about five
weeks. Mr.. Kelso, however, is under
contract for ten weeks flying, it be-
ing the intention of the promoters to
make similar trips thru other sec
tions of the counry.
The engagement came to Mr.. KeIso
unexpectedly and unsolicited. The.
Spokane men, both of whom. are vet
sran aviators and organizers of the
Spokane Aircraft company, became
Interested in the local aviator thru
newspaper accounts Of his flying here
he Fourth of July. Mr.. Mcclellan
ast week came here from Spokane to
est out Mr.. Kelso's ability as an
'viator to ascertain whether or not
ie was open for an engagement. He
vas given ride over the valley and
yesterday Mr.. BeIlnap came. he was
aiken UP about 5000 feet and brought
Iown in series Of nose dives, tail
pins, Immelman's and falling leaves.
When he landed he was fully convinc-
d as to Mr.. Kelso's ability to fly.
Both Mr.. Mcclellan and myself
re enthusiastic over Mr.. Kelso and
is machine said Mr.. BeIknap. "He
as one of the best climbing Curtiss
lanes have ever seen and he handles
perfectly. We have been planning
his trip for some time, but we have
cen delayed because of our inability
, get competent aviators and trust
'orthy planes. Kelso and his Cur
SIS is exactly the combination we
ave been waiting for. While this
,ip viii in a measure be sort of a
oliday affair in that the coming Of an
irplane viii be quito an event "a
any of the towns we shall visit, the
'al purpose Of the trip is to map out
commercial aerial route, for the air
ane is going to come into general
numerical use mucn sooner than
ost people realize. 1t shall be our
1rpose to impress upon the citizens
the towns we visit the necessity Of
'oviding municipal landing fields and
'oviding other Accommodations for
'iators and their machines. Origin
" we had planned to blaze the afr
ute much farther east, but we have
mporarily given up that plan on ac-
unit Of the forest fires in the moun-
ms.
I'VE are sorry TO deprive Kenne-
ck OF It's aerial thrills for awhile
It I want to ten you Kennewick has
It to step pretty lively If It hangs
A. ~, ox~f~&~~ - Mr.