The Washington times., 1922-06-06
HUGE INCREASE
|NM|L|TARY AIR
SERV|CE|SSEEN
Rickenbacker Forecasts Enor-
nous Aerial Development on
Eve of Longest Flight.
BY JOSEPH 8. ROGERS.
Universal Service.


GARDEN CITY. L. J.. June g.
Doubling of the United States Army
air force, commercial aviation on a
nation wide scale, and a reduction
in the price of airplanes that will
nut them within reach OF the aver
age mans pocketbook are forecast
lust before the start Of the longest
flight ever attempted in this country.
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. pre-
nier American Ace during the world
war. hero Of many automobile races,
hops off today to make a complete
business survey OF the country. His
itinerary will include sixty-siI OF the
prtncipal cities from the Atlantic
10 the Pacific and from the Canadian
TO the Mexican borders.
Captain Rickenbacker is extreme
ly reticent concerning his aeronnuE'
cal survey. The man who gave up
n bomb-proof Job as General PERISH
ine's chauffeur to become later tie
most successful aviator In the Amer
lean army indicated that his mission
would be a personal one. although
he said a report would be made to
the military authorities concerning
his observations.
Captain Rickenbacker continued:
I'm the future cities will be rated
by their airdome facilities as well ~
by their highway, river and railway
equipment.
1T is especially desirable that an
exhaustive study be made OF air
routes and landing field, and will
make a report OF this phase Of Inv
trip to Major General Patrick. chief
Of the army air service
Favors Big Increase.
While Captain Rickenoacker would
make no statement as to the perm
anent results he expected from the
trip, he made IT plain that he was
highly in favor Of a greatly increa sed
air force for the army. pointing out
that II costs less to build and main.
tain 5000 airplanes thIn n modern
battleship.
Officers at Long Island Aviation
fields. freely predicted that Rlcken.
hackers flight was the harbinger Of
the doubling or trebling OF the pres.
ent army air forces. One officer who
brought down three Boche planes
during the war asserted that mill.
tary etiquette forbade the giving out
of unauthorized interviews. but com.
menting informally he said
The development Of radio tele-
phony has done more than anything
else to put aviation on a practical
basis, both for military and COM
mercial purposes.
Previously. commercial aviation
has been hampered in this country
because of the lack Of capital.
Moneyed men were afraid to take
risks. The psychological affect OF
radio and the fortunes which kHve
been made In that business even
at the early stages of the game,
has done more than anything else 10
unloosen the purse strings.
Too. radio has greatly decreased
the hazards Of flying. A pilot carry
ing sending apparatus can now talk
with an excellent degree Of certainty
to the ground and receive informa.
ton as to why or why not he should
land at a certain place.
Big Boom Forecast.
airplane factories will be booming
III a VI pioIiNo'
Recent events have made II possible
for the civilian to get along with a
very small landing field. A self
starter has been devised. which,
when perfected. will do away with
the trouble Of spinning the propeller
by hand.
ITO my mind. aviation in this
country is on the threshold Of an
advancement that will rival that OF
radio telephony"
Eddie Stinson, who established the
worlds endurance flight record In
December Of twenty-six hours in the
air without landing. will be the pilot
on the trip. Steve Hannigan, a
writer. will help Rickenbacker in
preparing the log. A mechanic will
be the fourth member of the party.
The Junger sirplane, which is 10
be used, has ample room in its cabin
for six passengers. but luggage and
extra gas tanks will be carried in
place Of more men.