The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-29
HENDERSON ON
VISIT TESTING
PLANE ENGINES
Postmaster III. p. Simpson and CO.
lionel d. N. King Greet Second
Assistant Postmaster's Party.

Averaging a speed of 120 miles
an hour, Second Assistant Postmas-
Ter General Paul Henderson, accom-
panied by Colonel o. H. Fogg, ar
rived at the Wallace flying field,
Bettendorf, the nearest landing
point TO Rock Island, shortly after
/ O'Clock yesterday afternoon, on
test trip with two large type 400
horse power United States mail air
planes.
The officials were welcomed at
the field by Postmaster Harry P.
simpson, Rock Island, and Colonel
D. NJ. King, commandant of Rock
Island arsenal. Assistant Postmas-
ter General Henderson and Colonel
Fogg will remain at Rock Island
arsenal several days before return
ing. the guests of Colonel King.
with whom they served in France.
The journey was made from May
wood, distance of $50 miles. Post
master Simpson received word at
1850 o'clock yesterday morning
from c. F. Egg, superintendent of
the air mail at haywood, by long
distance telephone that the fliers
had Just started and would arrive
about l o'clock in the afternoon.
Plane on Maiden Cruise.
This was the maiden cruise for
plane No. 222, and no trouble of
any kind was experienced.
Assistant Postmaster General
Henderson, piloted by R. G. Paige,
rode in the rev machine, and Colo
mel Fogg, piIoted by E. H. Lee, rode
in plane No 268, which has been
in the United States mail service
two years.
The planes operated smoothly
the entire distance and are a fine
type of machine" Assistant Post
master General Henderson said
after he alighted.
The pilots returned with the
two planes at $50 O'Clock yester-
day afternoon.
The two airplanes are alike in
every respect, all of the mail car
riers being of standard make.
They are capable of attaining a
speed of $50 or 40 miles an hour,
but the regular cruising speed is
around 100 miles. Originally the
machines were De Haviland makes,
but they have been redesigned by
the government for the service.
They are propelled by 40O-horse
power u cylinder motors.
Never Forced to Land.
Plane No. 222 was built by Mr.
Paige. who is chief test pilot of the
haywood field. The older plane,
No. PCS. has carried mail two years
and has never made a forced land
ing, according to Pilot Lee. The
machines are two of 81 which are
in the United States mail service.
Regular route of plane No. 26S is
between Chicago and Omaha. Only
first class mail is carried and the
pit for the mail sacks has a ca
Pacity CT 27.5 cubic feet. Ten full
racks are carried as the regular
load, which averages a weight of
more than 500 pounds.
The machines are built to carry
only one passenger pilot-and
Assistant Postmaster General Hen
derson and Colonel Fogg made the
journey in the mail pit which is
located directly in front of the
driving pit.
A large crowd of tri-city people
visited the field in the afternoon to
inspect the government ships. Pilot
Lee was in the tri-cities Tuesday
TO make arrangements for a land
ing place so no trouble would be
experienced in yesterdays visit.
While the mall airplanes were at
the field the crowd was entertained
by a number of stunts by Lock
wood, well known airplane dare
devil. The stunts included an es-
cape from a straight-jacket and
hanging from the lower section of
the wing while the machine was in
the air
Guests Of Colonel King.
Soon after the arrival Assistant
Postmaster General Henderson,
who was a major during the war,
and Colonel Fogg and Postmaster
Simpson were driven by Colonel
King TO his quarters on the island.
where the party dined with Colonel
and Mrs. King, and later the Off
GERS made a tour of the tri-cities, |
including a stop at the Rock Island |
pOstOffice. which Assistant Post |
master General Henderson inspect |
postofice. which Assistant Postmas- |
Ter General Henderson inspected.