The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-06-30
CIRCLE TO MILES CITY
IN AN AEROPLANE
Banner Editor "Takes To Air" For a
Spin To Miles City With Earl
Vance, Noted Aviator.


The Banner editor has often
thought that cross country flight in
an aeroplane would be about as inter-
esting trip as one could make, but
we had no idea as to when the oppor-
tunity for such a trip would present
itself.
However, last Tuesday noon such
an opportunity suddenly presented
itself, when Earl Vance, the Miles
City aviator stopped in Circle for din
ner, being on his way to Miles City
from Lambert and Richey where ne
had been doing passenger work, and
desiring to have some one go along,
we hoped in."
Promptly at 80 Tuesday afternoon
Mr.. Vance started up his Curtis bi-
plane which is driven by 200 horse
power German motor, and the writer
crawled into the front seat for what
was to US ''the trip of our life" and
it certainly was the quickest ride we
have ever had to Miles City.
Leaving Circle at l 80 in the after
noon, we followed the course of the
Redwater and it was but a few min
utes and we had already passed the
city of Brockway. The Redwater was
| followed up past the Watkins country,
passing to the east Of Crowley and
then on past Crow Rock. At Crow
Rock we could see the derrick of the
oil well to the left of us few miles.
From Crow Rock we travelled straight
south and it was then but a little
while until We commenced to see the
timber line along the Yellowstone,
and Miles City loomed up in the dis
tance The trip was made travelling at
an altitude of about 1900 feet but in
going over the bad lands north of the
| Yellowstone river at Miles City we az
/ tanned height of $500 feet above
ground 1t took just an hour and fif-
teen minutes from the time we left
Circle until We reached Miles. Reach
ing Miles City, Mr.. Vance extended
the courtesy of showing us the city
from above, and about fifteen minutes
was spent circling around the city,
which is a most wonderful sight from
an aerOplane. To view the Yellow
stone and Tongue rivers, whose wind
ing course could be seen for many
miles, the bad lands and fertile plains
and the city of Miles with its thous-
ands of beautiful trees and Fort Keoh
formed a most picturesque view and
70 WI 1n-r re-7 amber
Going up Redwater gave Oh = Cal-
derful view of what comprises the
upper Redwater Valley, and we en-
joyed very much seeing all the farm
homes of people we know personally
up the Redwater as far as the Wat
kins country. The Heron-Bird farm
where several big outfits were seen
summer following formed a splendid
view from above. The Fairview school
near Watkins was the last place we
could recognize, as the country be-
yond there we have never had Occa-
sion to visit before.
The day was a most beautiful one,
but the breeze became strong when
We got over towards Miles City. When
we were up about $500 feet, the
clouds seemed to be considerably
closer. To get an idea of the speed
we travelled one had but to look
down and watch how fast our shad-
ow Travelled over the ground below.
Mr.. Vance it will be remembered
passed thorugh Circle last week, and
while at Lambert his plane was part
ly damaged by hail storm, which
passed over that section, and punched
holes in some of the planes covering.
He patched it up sufficient to get
back to Miles and after he gets a
new cover on the planes again will
return through Circle and go on up
along the Missouri river towns and
do passenger work. Fare for short
sight seeing flights are now only
$500 and well worth the price to any
one who has never made the trip,
especially with fellow like Vance
for pilot, as he is known as one Of
the best aviators in the northwest
and thoroughly knows his business.
Mr. Vance has cut out the stunt flying
believing in safety first" and an
aeroplane ride is therefore as safe as
getting into flivver.
1t only took little better than an
hour to make the flight to Miles City
distance of about ninety miles but
1t took us twenty-five hours to get
back home, going up to Glendive on
the midnight choochoo, and then to
Circle from Glendive on the mail
stage, reaching home at noon We'd
nesday.
To us it was the most enjoyable
trip we have ever taken and one that
will long be remembered. If you ever
have an opportunity to take a cross
country flight we say "go"-you'll not
regret it.
INJURED IN AUTO ACCIDENT