, 1923-08-21
NIGHT FLIGHTS
|NAUGURATED As
HOP OFF,
ON BOTH COASTS
from Pacific and
Atlantic Scheduled to
Pass in Nebraska; New
Epoch Marked Today

OMAHA. Neb., Aug. FL
(By The Associated Press).-
Somewhere between Omaha
and Grand Island, Nebraska,
the two aircraft which started
today, one from San Francis
&C. the other from New York, inaur.
urating the s0-hour trans-continentai
air mail service viii pass each other.
The one started from San Francisco
at $50 n. m. one from tho EAST coast
at 11:01 a. m. -
By mid-afternoon "wednesday. re
the schedule goes through as arrang.
ed. each should reach its terminal.
thus reducing the United States tn
terms of transportation to one fourth
its size. anestablishinEa new phase
of aviation which, 1t is predicted by
officials. Will have a profound effect
on the development of the art thru.
out the world.
At the mir mail field here there arc
gathered in anticipation of the event
several scores of individuals. inciud-
ing Colonel Paul Henderson, second
assistant postmaster general; Carl It.
Egge. general superintendent: d. b.
Coyler. superintendent of the Iowa
City-Rock Springs section; members
of congress-. representatives of for
eign governments, and officials of the
Ae%ronautical Chamber of Commerce
Of America. Omaha is Headquarters
for the night. flying divisions and from
the field here orders win go east and
west. governing by radio the move.
ments Of the two history-making air
craft. At this station also tho sec
ond assistant postmaster general will
receive reports from all tho controls
between New York and San Fran.
cisco.
The trn%nscontinental route, New
.York-San francisco. easur 1850
miles. Three mountain ranges-Al.
leghenies. Rockies and Sierras-are
crossed. At the five regular fields,
Chicago. Iowa City. Omaha, North
Platte and Cheyenne. the huge 6oo;-
100000 candle power arc beacons OF
Elmer A. Speery are installed and to-
night will revolve the circuit OF the
horizon every twenty seconds. At
these fields also are huge lamps flood
ing the landing runways. illuminated
cones to reveal the direction of the
winds, and ~incandecent lamps out.
lining the boundaries of the field,
buildings. etc.
At Rock Falls. Des Moines, Grand
Island n Sidney and thirty points
of less size and Importance are install.
ed beacons whose rays keep the pilots
lighted continually from one point
to another. Further to guide the
pilots on their way. at distances-o
every three miles. are flashing acsfy-
lene gas beacons. set on six foot pn-
lars. thus literally laying out a trail
of light for practically 300 miles which
will be covered by the flyers between
sunset and sunrise.
At the repair and supply depot OF
the air mail service at haywood, III
inois. Superintendent Z. @. Richards
has placed in commission STANDARD
De Havilands. powered with the Lib
erty motor each capable OF carrying
from 500 to 700 pounds of mail and
each equipped with regulation might
navigation lights to avoid collisions.
and In addition powerful wing tip
search lights to enable the pilot 10
mike n landing, ever in n small field.
Pilots Page, Lewis. Garrison, Hop
son.. d. C. Smith. wager. Moore.
White. Allison and KnIght-all vet
Grams of years experience in flying
hav been selected as the flyers who
Continued on Page Seven)