Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-12
Europe Deeply Interested
in Success of Lawson Planes
Trans continental Flight
Editor of the Nondon) Aeroplane Gives His Opinion
as to Future of Airplane Industry-Says Trip From
England to India, for Example, Can Be Shortened
by 10 Days in Travel by Plane.

Not alone the new world, but the
old world is deeply interested in the
proposed transcontinental air line
of the Lawson Airplane company,
which expects to make Omaha the
center of operation basis for the
New York-San Francisco route.
Alfred w. Lawson, builder OF
the huge transcontinetntal airplane,
which can carry 2o passengers at a
rate of 100 miles an hour, announced
recently, that, should the New
York-Omaha-S San Francisco line
prove success, his company ex-
poets to build more than 100 planes
English See Success.
English, and especially London
sportsmen, follow with great inter-
est the developments of the Lawson
plane and are sure of its success. As
The Bee recently reported, several
English firms preparing to send
passenger airplanes to all parts OF
the globe and a regular England
Africa-Austrailia line is to be es-
tabllshed soon.
c. G. Grey, editor Of the Aero
plane, London, recently made the
following statements as to the de-
velopments of the airplane industry:
Where Speed Counts.
1T will be obvious to anybody
who thinks over the matter that the
airplane or airship as means of
conveyance of either mails or pas
sengers cannot compete on a COM
mercial basis with high-speed direct
lines of railway. 1t hardly appears
that the alrplane at its best can ever
be quite as reliable as a railway
train. 1t is true that it is possible to
fly in any sort of wind in these days,
and that even heavy rain does not
make flying altogether impossible,
but there are certain circumstances,
such as snow storms and thick fogs,
in which it is utterly impossible for
all airplane to fly, though in similar
weather a train will start off &C
cording to time table and will stick
to its schedule time throughout its
journey.
Where the airplane is really 60
ing to score on the worlds air
routes is in giving direct straight
line communication between places
so far apart that the speed of the
a;rplane has a distinct advantage
over the speed OF the best possible
train. and where the main railway
lines run in such a direction that the
direct air line is very much shorter
than the nearest railway line.
There is, then. a very distinct OPP
portunity for an aeroplane service
across America and Europe between
big cities. And it is very likely that
every big town will have its own
airdrome and air-garage from which
a person who wishes to fly across
country can hire all airplane at
reasonable price on suitable day:
In an interview with Alfred W.
Lawson, builder of the plane, the
veteran aviator said he expects to
put four or five repair shops and one
plane factory on his air route be-
tween New York and San Francisco.
He will come to Omaha soon to in
spect sites for the possible erection
Of a factory and repair shop here
Should Mr.. Lawson decide to build
a plant here 1000 persons will be
given employment.
While America is deeply interest
ed in the bridging of the continent
by airplane, the old world, most
is more interested in the
establishment of routes crossing the
European continent and reaching to
Africa and other parts of the world.
London Editors Comment.
The (London) Aeorplane's editor
comments on this subject as follows:
when one comes to consider the
air lines of certain main routes at
once come to ones mind. First of