Evening star., 1926-08-22
Speeding u. S. Aviation

off his course to the left. he hears the
code for the letter "a, and again cor
rects the plane back into the course
he wishes to follow.
This radio beam is the guide to the
pilot, regardless of weather condi-
tions. of fog or cloud, and is avail
able by night and by day. At inter
walls OF probably 100 miles will be
placed radio telephone transmitting
sets for communication to the pilot.
He will there receive changes in
weather conditions ahead, proximity
Of other aircraft, etc.
Information as to fog below his
plane will thus be afforded the pilot
prior to his effort to land, thus saw
ing a certain percentage of landing
difficulties. In the future 1t IS hoped
that there may be developed an air
plane transmitting set by means of
which the lost pilot may at once COM
municatc with the nearest radio sta
ton for directions.
At present the transcontinental air
ways are lighted as far west as Salt
Lake City, but they are "black' from
there to San Francisco. The mail
pilots do not fly nights on that final
stretch, which is by far the most
dangerous of any on the long route
The plane leaves Cheyenne. Wyo.,
early in the morning. around 4:45, and
arrives at San Francisco that after
noon at 4:30 if the schedule is main
tained.
This means that the air mail takes
two days and a night from New York
to the Pacific, whereas it is hoped
that in time a schedule of two nights
| and day will be maintained when
the entire route across the continent
is solid lights along the aerial mail
route.
No actual time in point of hours
will be saved, but such routing
would save a day in point of bust
ness.
THE Department Of Commerce is
going ahead as far as it can un-
der the new commerce air act. and
conferences are daily held with CO.
operating department bureaus, in
cluding the Lighthouse Service. Coast
and Geodetic Survey. etc.. In order to
start the ball rolling at an early date
toward the aerial supremacy of
America.
In this connection, at the cross
roads of the new era in transporta-
ton. it is interesting to recall the
story told by Col. Paul Henderson.
general manager of the National Air
Transport, and former Assistant Post
master General in charge of air mail.
TIe says that in 1882 there was "a
sort of railroad running from Phila-
delphia toward New York" A certain
postmaster of that day had a contract
to carry mail by horseback and was
paid so much per trip.
Having conceived the bright idea
Of travelling by the new vehicle-the
train, instead of by horseba ck-all was
we'll until he was reported to the Post
master General, who promptly issued
a stern reproof. In a letter which is
on file in Washington 1t was stated
that nobody had so little sense as to
think that trains would ever run regu-
larry enough and fast enough to afford
the kind of communication that the
Post Office must secure. and that If
the postma ster in question did not &c.
off trains and stick to his swift steed
he would lose his job.
Which certainly goes TO prove that
"the world do move" and avia ton. at
least. will soon become commercial
fact in this country for the first time,
now that Uncle Sam has at last put
mighty shoulder to the wheel-in
ths'cassa the propeller .-.-.--