Evening star., 1921-08-14
"AMERICA is NOT DEAD IN THE AIR.
SAYS A FAMOUS AMERICAN AVIATOR

Nv lA1ON
formed upon the fog -dispelling prob
lem, although it must be admitted
that the results, while complete in a
small area, are unsatisfactory and
expensive.
Landing places are marked by
great white letters made of stone;
signaling from earth to air and from
airship to airship has been reduced II
complete science. and this makes
safe flying in fogs possible.
\ y
s.IN AMERICA we have done more
l than the public dreams, i think
We have worked out a system of sig
mailing so that directions with regard
to landings may be given to air pilots.
In this connection let me mention the
fact that in England the government
is endeavoring to educate the public
with regard to airplanes much as the
public had to be taught. in days OF
old, with regard to railway trains. A
notice which l have here is partly as
follows:
1T warns every one against crowd
ing around machines, smoking near
plane. standing in front of one about
to rise or letting children or animals
stray into the path of landing or ris-
ing planes. 1t all is couched in COM
InOnpldCS O1Icldl language, Out WOulu
have seemed a fairy tale to our
grandfathers. 1t ends with consid-
cradle list of directions concerning
what to do in case of accident.
American air service is more eff
cient than most people think: Our air
mail shows only one forced landing
for 1926 miles operated. 1 wonder
il any 10000 miles of mail train
travel have been marked by SO few
forced stops; Perhaps: do not
know Another mail rarnrd ic
better: Seven forced landings in 49,
sos miles flown! During six weeks
the mail run from New York to Cleve-
land was absolutely 100 per cent per-
fect-no mishaps. delays or inefficien-
| cies of any kind. The New York to
Washington service has been stopped
because trains make the trip between
business days and therefore seem TO
serve tall necessary purposes, but il
was 100 per cent efficient for eight
consecutive weeks
The Post Office Department is now
working the New York to San Fran
opportunity. Time could not be saved
on the short New York to Washington
run. The New York to San Francisco
flight perhaps soon may be made
habitually in twenty-four hours
Interesting problems are arising.
Many aviators with small machines
wish to carry passengers CASUALLY ex-
cursionists). but have only a little
land. Emerging from it they may
threaten persons beyond its bounds
because of insufficient rise. Thus
they must interrupt traffic The mini
mum size necessary for flying field
must be determined. And another
query is: How high is a highway?
Incidentally, at the British derby.
the years greatest horse race. traffic
on the highways round about was d.
rected from a dirigible in the air. from
which birds-eye view of earth af-
fairs was possible. And Gen. Matt
land. in charge. when this job was
his ship and then back to his coun-
try home. 1t would have made him
late for dinner While the ship
passed over his place he jumped off
with a parachute strapped to his
shoulders and landed lightly on his
parachute took down his valet and
others landed their bags. The gen.
eral could not have dined at home il
he had gone on to the hangar.
'The police possibilities of avia-
tion may be. perhaps. connected
vitality with motor car traffic regula-
tion. Air police could solve that prob
lem without effort.
."New York already is considering
police aviation. Machines and flyers
motorists and motors At present no
license is required and any one can
fly, but that will change.
uTHE United States photographic
Office now serves aviators with
special weather condition reports as
j it long has served mariners at sea.
I After the death of Miss Bromwell the
air police made a careful study of her
machine and determined what the ac-
cident'S cause was
Several thousand landing fields al
ready have been selected in the coun-
try. although few have been actually
developed. A municipal landing for
New York. and has been equipped
with a landing POST.
"The Navy is building seaplanes
with nine Liberty motors each. CIV
might cross the Pacific ocean. and
one Of them probably will. They will
be bigger than the NC planes IN. c..
by the way, means Naval Curtiss) and
will be of the giant boat class. It
is estimated that they will have a
will make eighty-five miles an hour
taxing on the surface of the water
and 110 miles in the air. The crews
will live on board in quarters COM
quarters on a submarine. with ample
room for sleep and recreation.
american aviation has declined. At
the time of the armistice we had
| 81 900 officers and 175, 1000 men In the
Army. and in the naval aviation group
5000 officers and $1,000 men. Today
| in the Army We have 1000 officers
and S.343 men and in the naval avia-
tion 624 officers and 1927 men. The
Industry employed as many as ESQ.,
about 1000. But I believe 1t has
struck bottom and will rise again.
tsteadily and healthily. It will be to
the interest of our national develop
ment IL II does So"
] (opoyrisht ,la2l.s