The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-02-02
u. S. MAINTAINS
AIR LEADERSHIP
Good Performances Offset De-
creased Production and
Contraction of Industry.
LONG FLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL
Clear Federal Policy to Aid Progress
OF Commercial Flying Is Still
lackinQ-Year's Feats Are
Recorded.

New York.--America has success
fully maintained her leadership In the
navigation of the air, so far as heavier
than air craft are concerned, despite
the lack of aerial laws, landing fields
and other such handicaps, according
ito a review of the year 1920, issued
by the Manufacturers Aircraft asso-
citation. The review says:
Decreased production and gen.
eral contraction in the aeronautcal
industry generally is offset by the
more encouraging records of perform
ance made in American aviation this
year. While the last twelve months
have not brought the carefully out
lined policy of federal Jurisdiction re-
CURED to assure steady and economical
progress in commercial aviation, they
have witnessed many remarkable
achievements by American pilots in
American machines"
Years Performances.
Then follows long, detailed list
of performances. among them the fol-
lowing:
Commander A. c. Read, hero of
the transatlantic flight in the NC-4
commanded the same flying boat on
noteworthy expedition from Rock
away, l.. L., down the Atlantic coast,
along the gulf coast and up the Mis-
sissippi river to Cairo, Ill. When the
NC-4 returned to Rockaway January
E27 last it had flown 7,740 nautical
miles. Three of the four Packard
Liberty engines had operated without
trouble during the 11S hours in the
air, the fourth more than eighty-two
hours Along the Mississippi the
motors were run on commercial gaso-
line picked up from point to point en-
route. Read reported that the great
est difficulty encountered was lack of
proper maps.
Compared to long-fiight attempts
conducted by European governments
the American ventures were particu-
ilarIy successful. No less than four
expeditions attempted to fly the 5,206
miles from Cairo to Capetown, South
Africa. Colonel P. Van Ryndveld
and Major c. J. 0. Brand finally COM
pleted their flight on March 20, 1920.
In DH-9 plane sent up by the gov
eminent of the Union of South Africa
after their Vickers-y imy machine had
crashed. They had set out from Cairo
February 10. None of the machines
that started reached Capetown.
Different success attended the
flying expedition of the Unit
ed States Army Air service. -Four
Gallaudet remodelled DH-4-B planes,
each powered with a single Liberty
motor, and each carrying two per-
sons flew from Mitchell Field. l.. l.. to
Nome, Alaska, and. return in liz hours |
flying time, a total distance of 5000 |
miles, without q motor missing fire or
other accident serious enough to de- |
lay the party. Rain and fog caused |
most of the difficulty in flying over |
not even charted on the maps. |
Operation of Air Mail Service.
1.-THE Air Mail in 1920 operating be-
tween New York and Washington,
New York, Cleveland. Chicago, Omaha,
Salt Lake City and San Francisco,
approximately one hun
Ired million letters at ordinary pos
age rates. The system was extended
II 1920 from Chicago to San Francis
o. from Key West Fla. to Havana,
Juba. and from Seattle, Wash. to vic
oria B. G. About thirty-fiye air mail
lanes are in the air each day flying
totaI in r0upl trims of obout & (,(0