Evening star., 1924-08-31
BY LIEUT.. ROBERT J. BROWN, JR.,
Chairman, World Flight Committee.

During the last few months the
writer has had the opportunity and
pleasure OF presenting each week his
Interpretation of the progress of the
world flight during the preceding
week and a forecast Of the progress
for the ensuing week. A close
knowledge of how the flight was
planned and an intimate acquaintance
with the flight personnel has enabled
reasonably accurate opinion to be
advanced on each stage of this epoch
making voyage. There has been SO
much material in the bare facts of
the flight story that little or no space
could be devoted to the significance
and purposes of the expedition.
Now as the flight is rapidly draw
ing to a successful conclusion and
the main actors in the piece, /. e.
the flyers themselves. will have an
opportunity to tell of their unusual
experiences and hardships. these men
will properly occupy the center of
the stage to the exclusion of all
others. Their own story of the flight
will be stranger than fiction and one
of the most thrilling tales in the
worlds history. AS they tell their
story they will reach the largest and
one of the most Intelligent audiences
ever assembled, consisting of prac-
ticalT every American citizen. as
we'll as many of our foreign neigh
hors. Many of these people. are for
the first time interested in aviation.
Many Of them have hitherto consider
ed the airplane toy or an imprac-
tical means of transportation at best.
AS their interest centers about the
unparalleled exploits of these intrepid
American airmen, officers of the
United States Army. there naturally
arises in the minds of many numerous
questions concerning our air service
and this world flight.
Questions Answered.
The most pertinent of these ques-
tions which have come to the atten-
tion of the writer are herewith sub
mitted with his answers in the hope
that a more active interest may be
taken in aeronauticS in our country.
both commercially and as an arm OF
our national defense.
Q. Why is this flight being made?
A. Maj. Gen. Mason NJ. Patrick. the
chief of the Army Air Service. has
stated that, The purpose Of this
flight is to demonstrate the feasibil-
ity of establishing aerial communica-
ton with all the countries of the
world. the practicability of travel by
air through regions where surface
transportation does not exist or at
best is slow, tedious and uncertain;
to prove the ability Of modern types
of aircraft to operate under all ci-
matical conditions: to stimulate the
adaptation of aircraft to the needs of
commerce; to bring before the people
of the world the excellence of Amer
lean products in the interest of our
American aircraft industry, and last
ly to bring to the United States the
honor of being the first nation to fly
around the world"
The lessons learned from the world
flight will be many. The experiences
of passing through the torrid heat of
the equator as well as enduring the
frigidity of the Arctic regions have
been severe test of personnel and
equipment. New aerial navigate ion
instruments are being given practical
test. The reliability of the Liberty
engines is being further demonstrated.
Aside, however. from all the techni-
cal and scientific data which will be
obtained from this expedition and
deposited in the lap of science, there
is another far reaching consideration
which every American should bear in
mind and that is the need for a
stronger air force in our Nation, for
we are now tagging behind every
great nation of the globe in this
respect.
Lack Of Air Policy.
Although military and naval de-
fense policies are now laid down,
there is still a total lack of policy
for air defense in our country. Other
great nations with larger and more
bitter experience in the World War
are active in building up the aviation
defense Of their respective countries
and in establishing a definite policy
OF air defense for their nations.
Tagging behind the other great
powers OF the globe our Army Air
Service finds itself today with it's
small annual appropriations for the
procurement and operation of air
craft practically demobilized.
In spite of the small appropriation
Tor Government aircraft and of the
failure of commercial aeronautics to
develop and support our aircraft in
dustry, American ingenuity and in
vention have contrived through the
direct efforts of the Army Air Service
to place the United States foremost
among the nations of the world in
development and progress in the sci
ence of aeronautics. There is no
doubt that the combat airplanes de-
Veloped by the United States Army
Air Service are the fastest and most
efficient combat airplanes in the
world, but unfortunately very few Of
these airplanes can be purchased each
year with the small amount of money
made available by Congress, and as a
result not only have we not a single
full strength combat unit in our
small air force but our aircraft in
dustry, dependent as it is for its exis-
tence on Government support, is Lam
gushing and may soon disappear.
Regular Air Schedules,
Useful in peace as we'll as in war,
the Army Air Service has established
airways throughout the country over
which airplanes now operate on reg
ular schedules. Secretary of War
John w. Weeks has said that good
airways must precede the develop
ment of commercial aviation in the
same way that good highways were
forerunners of the expansion of the
automobile industry.
The airplane is no longer a toy.
1t is practical means of transporta-
tion that knows no coast lines or
boundaries. For the same reason it
is highly important weapon of war
fare. In the hands Of an enemy it is
undoubtedly a most dangerous factor
in modern fighting and the only prac-
tical defense against aircraft is su
perior aircraft.
The United States air mail is also a
concrete example of the practicability
of airplanes operating on regular
schedules with great efficiency. The
air mail, originally established by the
Army Air Service and now a part Of
the Post Office Department, carries
mail from coast to coast on a regular
36-hour schedule.
Airways are operating in Europe with.
great success and practically no cas-
n CQClQIfipC
quently in the military services because
ia<a Of A1xiaSx is,