Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-11-14

| Besides the primary object of bear
1 ing a message of good will the
mission OF the American airmen will
certainly be an endeavor to prove
the feasibility of rapid communica-
/ tion by air between the United States
and the countries of South and
Central America. There is little doubt
but what these pioneers of world
airways will be able to show that
| in this century time may be greatly
eliminated as factor in communi-
eating between countries. They will
also mark out new international air
trails as was done by the navlgators
of old, such as Columbus, Magellan,
Balboa ana the Cabots, who sought
the shortest routes to distant lands.
No doubt exists that in the rel
atively near future the 5000 miles
between New York and Buenos Aires
may be accomplished within few
days instead of the fortnight or
more that it now takes The time
between Santiago and New York may
also become only question of few
days and between the various capitols
,
be reduced to hours instead of weeks.
, This establishment of aerial traffic
lines should bring with it much closer
relationship than ever before between
the North and South American con-
tirents. Any factor which tends to
eliminate time and distance adds
closer understanding; brings closer
business relations; gives an oppor-
tunity for opinions to be more fully
expressed through the medium of the
press of both sections of the hem
isphere Such speedy communica
tion as foreseen for the future would
be of infinite service to business,
since business men may travel and
meet with more rapidity and fire.
quency and the saving in time of
the delivery of the mails will be
very important factor in CONNER
cial cooperation
Leaving San Antonio, Texas, on
or about December Is, the flight will
follow the east coast of Mexico to
Puerto, Mexico, across the Isthmus
of Salina Cruz, and thence to the
army air station in the canal zone.
west coast of South America 70
will turn due east and cross the
continent to Bahai Blanca, on the
Atlantic coast of Argentine. From
Buenos Aires, a 700 mile trip up the
Parana river into the interior will
enable the flight to visit Asuncion,
the capital of Paraguay.
Doubling back by the same route
to Montevideo, the planes will again
follow the coast line northward,
visiting in turn Brazil, the Guianas
ard Venezuela. At trinidad the
route leaves the mainland of South
America and series of interisland
hops through the Lesser Antilles,
Porto Rico and the Dominican re-
public, Haiti and Cuba will bring
the fliers to Miami, Florida. With
Washington as the final destination,
stops will be made on the last leg
of the journey at Jacksonville,
Savannah, Wilmington and at Langley
field, Virginia.
No attempt will be made to set
up a speed record in this long and
interesting flight. Stops will be
made at all, or nearly all, of the
principal cities along the route and
at each of these an opportunity Will
be given the citizens to inspect the
planes and equipment. 1t is hoped
also to complete the flight without
mishap of any sort and to this end
the delays will be so arranged as
to permit the most painstaking care
of planes and motors.
The flight will consist of five
airplanes and ten officers of the
United States army air corps. Major
Herbert A. Dargue has been appointed
fight commander, and the other Of
ficers selected for the fight are
Captains Arthur 3. Mcdaniel, Ira c..
Eaker and Clinton F. Woolsey and
First Lieutenants Bernard S. Thomp-
son, Leonard D. Weddington, Charles
Robinson, Muir S. Fairchild, Ennis
c. Whitehead and John W. Benton.
The plane selected for the flight is
! the Looming amphibian a type de-
| veleped by the Looming Aeronautical
! Engineering corporation to meet the
needs of the army air corps. AS
| its name implies the amphibian is
! cdnable Of alighting on, or taking
| off, from either land or water. 70
] accomplish this the body of the plane
! is built in the form of a boat. Ii
! is equipped, however, with retractanie
wheels, which, when drawn up, fit
snugly in inches provided for them
in the sides of the boat structure
and which, when lowered, permit
the pilot to land on solid grounL
precisely as does an ordinary lane
plane
The wheels are raised or lowered b!
means of q mechanism controlled
by the pilot and even when flyinG
over land. unless at a low altitude
are usually kept in the retractet
position in order to reduce the win.
resistance. Upon approaching thu
landing field or in case the plane
is forced unexpectedly to alight, OF
land, the wheels of course are low
cred It is interesting to note tina
if there is a beach available without
too much surf, the planes may aliGh
on the water and then lower th'
wheels and taxi up onto the land.
4