The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-02-13
AIRPlANfS ARE
VALUABLE IN THE
FOREST SERVICE
WIDE RANGE OF VISION AND
SPEED OF REPORTS ARE FEA.
IT RES OF VERY HIGHEST
EFFICIENCY.

'"Nt"~ ''i'NA IItS. 30 uellnltelN mas
the enormous monetary value of aer-
ial reconnaissance in conservation
work been demonstrated that the
now year sees great extension Of
the work Of the future Airplanes
are aS necessary now to the Forest
Service as boats to the Navy.
During the period from June to Oc-
tober Of last year in Oregon and Cal
ifornla, airpane patrol covered 202.-
600 miles, discovering 442 fires.
twenty-seven of these were reported
in advance of the regular forest pa
troll and were entirely independent of
them.
Advantages of Planes.
The airplane patrol has many ad-
VantageS over ground observation. 4
man in the air in an airplane, can
easily discern certain portions of the
forest which are very inaccessible,
and seldom. if over visited by the
regular patrols or observed from the
present iuokoul stations.
In the case of deep canyons where
the smoke drifts in from adjacent fire
areas. and obscures the view from a
lookout station, or the patrolman on
the ground the airman is able to see
above and around tho smoke and
readily detects the origin of the fire.
In addition to locating fires the air
plane has been of greatest assistance
IN fighting them. At a sucicient alti-
tude above the ground an experienced
man who knows how to fight fires is
able to direct his forces with much
better result than if he We're there
himself. From his point of view he
is able to take in the entire situation
instantly and inform his men just
how far the fire has gone. how seri-
Gus it is and how best to control its
progress, or how much Importance
one section bears to the rest of the
fire.
\ third great advantage of the air
plane over the ground observer is in
economy Of time. There have been
Instances during the past year where
In thirty minutes the airman has To-
Gated and reported certain fires which
would have required four or five hours
for a man on horseback More than
100000 acres We're covered by one pa
trol twice a day, an impossible record
foI the best lookout from the highest
observation station
1t is claimed that at an altitude Of
5000 feet gives an effective operating
radius of not loss than 30 miles
Wider Scope of Usefulness.
1t should also be mentioned that
the aerial patrol Of the forests not
only benefits the National Forests Of
the United States but also the state
and private forests adjacent to them.
Again. airplanes flying over forest
areas are constant reminder to the
inhabitants that the United States
Government is maintaining vigilance
over its forests and is always on the
lookout for uneXtinguished camp
fires.
one Of the greatest handcaps to
the aerial patrol has been the scare
ity Of landing fields. Up to date
there have been available only a few
established at the air service stations
To- the section of the country concern
od. a fewestabliShed by the villages
and cities within the area and others
by the Forest Service
The success Of the airplane forest
patrol Is remarkable considering the
fact that it was started a an expert
ment Cooperation between the air
service and the forest service has
been excellent and the benefits have
been self-cvident
Ranger Chartrand reported the ad-
yantaees of Leavenworth as loca-
ton for aerial forest patrol, several
months ago. and recommended that a
station be established here.
Loavenworth lies at he centor Of
the Wenatchee National Forest and
of an immense forested area. Several
Forest Service telephone lines radiato
from here to different parts of the
forest, which would make this an ex.
cellent place for the establishment If
a wireless station and the headquart-
ors Of the aerial forest patrol
According TO reports. Seattle IS 70
have 2i airplanes next season for
coast and forest patrol. It has not