Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-20
LE7HBR|DCE PILOTS
START PATHFINDER
FLIGHT TO OTTAWA
Hop off Wednesday in First
Trans Dominion Trip
by Airplane.
Special to The Tribune.


Lethbridge, June 19.-Capt. Jack
Palmer and II. Fitzsimmons will hop
off on their long and hazardous flight
in their airplane, the "Lethbridge",
Wednesday,, June q. These local
boys, chaps who fought the Boche in
France and Flanders and since en-
ployed in commercial aviation, are at
tempting something unique in the way
of aerial flight. Their Lethbridge-to-
Ottawa trip via Chicago is really an
international aerial mail experiment for
their trip, which is now spick and span
and "rearin' to STEP. and will be the
first machine to embark or such an
enterprise. 1t is a test flight and is
being taken with the approval, good
wishes and cooperation of the Canada
air board and the postal department.
Palmer and Fitzsimmons have been
talking a trans-Canada flight for sew
eral years, but the expense and risks
attached to such an undertaking were
so great that they were unable to
make the venture. They have hither-
to contented themselves with short
flights in Alberta. Montana and Brit
ish Columbia. They nave flown sue
cessfully to Edmonton. over the Rock
les via the Crows Nest Pass. taking
a series of graphic pictures enroute,
and have performed at scores of fairs
and celebrations from the Peace river
to the international boundary.
Their Longest Flight
Now the filters are preparing for
the longest flight they nave yet at
tempted. I'VE realize that this is a
mighty big job-a mans job. But
Jack and l got accustomed to those
kind of jobs overseas, and are not
afraid to take a chance. We believe
we can 10 it. We believe we can
prove the feasibility of the international
aerial service between Canada and the
United States" said young Fitzsim-
mons.
In addition to this flight being an
aerial mail test. it has another mis-
sion. The enterprise is backed by the |
Lethbridge board of trade. which
means that this city and southern Al
berta. with the gigantic irrigation de-
velOpment being carried out here. will
get a lot of mighty good publicity.
Southern Alberta is out after more
farmers for its area now being opened
up by the introduction of irrigation. |
Farms are waiting for scores of home
seekers. The route of the mail plane is
through the middle and northern
states: and Ontario. and it is hoped
that the publicity gained in this UNIQUE
way vii! pull settlers to this part of +
The fliers will carry a cargo of at
t~ractive literature boosting Lethbridge
and southern Alberta. to be distributed
enroute. This is in addition to the
mail. The plane will be painted in
striking %colors, and on both sides and
on the fusllage, will be inscribed point
ed references to the opportunities of
fered by Lethbridge and district. In
a word, the world will know about
Lethbridge without putting on glasses.
The novelty of the flight is attracting
keen interest on both sides of the line
and the newspapers are watching it
and asking for Information.
His Dual Controls
At 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.
the air mail will be placed in sealed
bags and in the plane by the Lethbridge
postmaster. The boys will say good
bye. and the SKY hoboes,' as they
style themselves, will be on their long
jaunt across the continent. 1t is their
intention to travel 16 hours a day.
stopping only for oil and gas. Dual
controls have. beer arranged on the
plane so that the boys may spell off
each other, thus easing the strain of
driving. Four days they AVE allowed
themselves to reach the Canadian CAPT
tai, a distance of approximately $500
miles by air.
The letters will be carried for n
small sum, the souvenir envelopes bear
ing the words, via aeroplane." The
bags will be opened at the various
stopped at. the letters being dis
from then on in the usual
way. Mail will be carried to practic-
ally ever United States and Canadian
city enroute, also letters addressed to
people in foreign countries. The for
eign mail will be carried to Ottawa and
from there.
The going trip will be via Many
Alberta, and east through
Weyburn, Minot. Valley City. Fair
mont, Minneapolis. st. Paul. Brocton.
Madison, Chicago. Jackson. Detroit.
London, Ont, Toronto, PETERBOROUGH.
and Ottawa. While the route for the
trip has not been definitely de-
it is expected that it will include 4
Buffalo, Youngstown, Cleveland. Oma-
ha. Dickinson, Great Falls and Coutts.
Wednesday afternoon will be a holi-
in the city, when Lethbridge plans
TO assemble G n masse to bid the boys
Godspeed. j