Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-11
WORLD AIR FLIGHT
COST 50 MUCH
PROGRAM SUSPENDED

Hope chest" of the Army Air Serv-
| ice, containing suggestions for new
conquests Of the air in many parts
OF the world, has been smashed. Its
condition now Ia such that at least
six or seven months viii pass before
its top can he lifted and a scheme OF
any sort extracted for serious con-
sideration.
| Major General Mason NJ. Patrick.
chief Of the Air Service and promote
er Of the successful world flight
recognizes the existing situation and
is willing to wait awhile before he
approves a new expedition by army
aviators into still unexplored air
routes. This decision.- in part. at
least. was compelled by results Of
the world fight.
While the books have not been
completely balanced, officers familiar
with the financial phases of the globe
! encircling fight estimate that the
costs of that record breaking
achievement, expressed in dollars,
will total 100000. Indirect costs,
including expenses Of naval patrols
and cooperation. fuel, transportation
OF supplies, and material used by the
f1iers themselves, will amount at
least to another 100000, and prob
| The money outlay caused much OF
the damage to the "hope chest" con-
gress must provide again before any
extended plans for new eonquests
can be approved. Then, too. there is
! a general feeling throughout the
Army Afr Service that 1t has demon
strated its fitness and given=A prac-
teal exhibition Of its Willingness to
try hitherto impossible things such
as encircling the world. negotiating
non-stop flights across the continent.
piercing the ceiling of the sky M
altitude tests and setting up Its full
share<of speed records.
Nevertheless there is a continuous
movement on the part Of air service
personnel to have such experiments
carried forward regularly. From
these sources, suggestions for all
sorts of flights are reaching those in
charge of the air service headquar-
companied by volunteer offers in
writing. transmitted bn the origina-
tors and requesting Permission to
attempt whatever project has been
suggested.
One OF the suggested projects
which will be found close to the top
of the Chest when 1t Is reOpened,
as it probably will be some day, is
that of a proposed flight from tho
West Coast to Hawaii. 1t may be
that this proposal will be given seri-
Gus ksttldy next spring, or summer.
Army fiiers realize, however, that the
Pacific, because of the order OF
things existing between the land ana
naval forces, Is essentially "a navy
problem. Therefore, they may leave
the Hawaii flight to the navy avia-
tors, If the latter wish to undertake
it.
Army pilots interested in the pro-
ject believe it would be both a prac
teal and valuable undertaking.
Greater distances than that from
| the California coast to Hawaii al
ready have been successfully negoti-
ated by air, but never over q water
expanse of that size, without a stop.
1t has been claimed that the distance,
great as it is, would be discounted to
the fliers advantage by favorable
trade winds and that this condition,
| together with the assistance of a sur
face patrol along the line Of flight.
would go far toward removing much
, of danger from u project that other
! wise would be more or less hazard
| GUS.
AHOlucF TtSuIucQ DIS u pOS~
sibility but admittedly more re-
mote venture involves Il trip from
some point on the East or West
coasts of the United States to Cape
Horn and return. SO far as is known
Cape Horn has never been circum-
navigated by air. nor has any aviator
yet taken q machine down either
, coast of South America and return
ed by way of the opposite shore line.
Such venture would be more
than q novel affair. The success OF
the fight made last year from the
! Canal Zone to the five capitals of
| Central America aroused widespread
interest throughout the Pan Amer
lean republics and officials of the
Washington government have said it
demonstrated in practical and
striking way the the close relations
! and means of communication be-
tween the countries of North and
Central America.
! In the event 1t is ever decided to
attempt the Pan American air expe-
| dition, 1t Is felt the results would be
even more widespread and the ap-
plication more general. linking as 1t
| would the Central, South and North
American republics into one project.
All of the American countries
! 1t is certain, would be included in
the itinerary and, it is believed, all
/ would readily pledge their coopera-
f'tiOn whenever approached on this
/ Syhierf nv tho State Doro - want