The New York herald., 1922-12-31
AMERICAN AVIATION
LEADS WORLD IN 20
Government Backed Flyers of
Europe 0utdistanced in
*, Every Branch.
MANY NEW RECORDS SET
AeronauticaI Chamber Tells of
Progress in Design and
Construction.

Contrary. possibly. TO ser eral opinion,
The United states led the world IN lsz-
ia practically all phases of aviation.
The survey made by the Aeronautical
Chamber OF Commerce contains the
statement THE year has been char
acterized by remarkable progress in de-
sign. construction and operation. No
where else has there been such startling
improvements American pilots IN
American machines powered with
American motors have obtained such
results as TO warrant the assertion that
theirs has been tNc most significant
series Of achievements in the world his
tory OF flight
The chamber concluded that other ma
tions. while losing no time i'm fostering
air transport have. nevertheless, been
hampered by economic and political con-
ditions, and have not been able to out
hy the United States despite strong sup
port from their governments. In this
country commercial aviation, unsup-
ported by Government policy or air law,
has managed to carry on an active and
constructive program. Other countries
have had the benefit of strongly defined
national aerial policies. backed by sub
sides and air codes. There Is hope
of getting an air code from the next
Congress
Many Records Made
Many additional worlds records came
70 the United states in 1922. including
Brig. Gen. William Mitchells great flight
at an average of 224.5S miles an hour
over a straightaway course in an Army
Curtiss bplane. He wrested the record
from Sadi Lecointe. Frenchman, who
had held 1t at 2l3.575 miles an hour,
average.
Mere than 500 civilians learned to
pilot their own machines students reg
istered at civilian flying schools located
In dozen states. At least twenty new
types of airplanes were completed or
started in as many factories. Great
progress was made in design and con-
struction methods. Aerial photography
has become important and practical by
means of special equipment developed
during the year. Radio communication
has progressed under control of the
Federal bureau and experiments by the
Radio Corporation of America.
The United States Air Mail has con-
tinued it's demonstration of practical
flying. BY July the mail planes had
completed fourth year OF flying. and had
traversed 1,750.O00 miles In twelve
months. carrying 100000 letters with
out fatality
Parachutcs Dependable.
The worlds altitude record, made by
Lieut.. j. A. Macready in 1921, has not
been surpassed. Parachutes, known as
aerial life preservers, have become de-
pendable. Last June Capt. a. w.
Stevens, breaking the official record,
used one in safely dropping 24.2o6 feet.
on April II. Clifford Webster flew
from Palm Beach to New York, carry
ing a passenger, between daylight and
dark--9 hours and So minutes. Lleuts
Kelly and Macready flew 1850 miles
without stopping between San Diego
Cal. and indianapolis. Ind. in Septem-
ber.
Naval aviators mapped and surveyed
tie coast lines, mapped the Mississippi
Delta, and patrolled with the war feet
units. Eghty-seven planes equipped
with radio protected the national forests
IN fire patrol. saving many millions OF
dollars worth of standing timber by
means of their swift location of fires
Naval aviation reached high degree
of efficiency in defensive work. Naval
planes operating off the Virginia Capes
demonstrated the practicability of tor
pedo attack from the air. The expert
mental aircraft carrier Langley was
commissioned early in 1929. and in Au-
gust two other ships. the Saratoga and
the Lexington, were started. Launching
methods have been perfected.
The army air service patroTed the
Mexican border. IL established reg.
ular routes throughout the country.
Army fliers made many long flights.
Lieut. James Doolittle on September )
made one stop flight of 2,275 miles
from Jacksonville. Fla. 10 Coronado
Beach. Cal. in 81 hours and ~ minutes