Evening star., 1927-06-09
URGES
SHELTERS At SEA
First Step Required, He Says,
for Regular Air Service
to Europe.
by CHARLES A. LINDBERGH.

BY wireless TO Inc Star and New YORK
Times.
ABOARD THE CRUISER MEMPHIS
AT SEA, June S.-While the interest
of the American people is centered on
transatlantic flying. it is an appro-
pirate time to discuss mature possi-
bilities of a regular air service, be-
tween the New World and the Old. |
have been thinking great deal about
this whole interesting question since
the Memphis left for home, and cer-
tain ideas have occurred which may
be of value to set forth. The fact
that the Atlantic has been flown does
not mean that the problems con-
nected with trans oceanic flying have
been more than touched Aviation,
like any other great industry. must
base it's growth on solid foundation.
and proper organization of regular
air service between the United States
and Europe will require some years of
careful experiments and study.
However, steps have been made and
progress should be rapid and reason
ably sure if one takes into conSidera-
tIion the speed with which aviation
! has already advanced since the date
| of its birth. In phophesying the fu-
ture transatlantic flying it Is nee
essary to take into consideration the
improvement of planes and equipment
necessary to its successful inception.
Any regular long distance flight serv-
ices over great eXpanSes of water will
undoubtedly be made with flying
boats. which will be capable of con-
tinuing fight with at least one motor
out of commission and will be able
to weather rough sea in the event or
forced landing.
There will be constant radio COM
munication with some ground or
water hazard, and herein lies one or
the great problems which must be
given serious and immediate atten-
tion.
Floating Air Stations.
The establishment of floating sta
tions along transoceanic airways IS
without doubt the largest obstacle to
overcome in connection with SuS-
tanned transoceanic air communlca-
tions. In the first place, they must
be large enough to shelter the air
liners and contain all modern equip
ment as we'll.
They must also provide adequate
housing facilities for passengers. since
there will be occasions when 1t VIII
be necessary to halt number or
hours. But what Is more to the point,
these island shelters in the Atlantic
must be able to give all these services
in the face of the severest storms.
To insure the comfort of passengers
and further reduce the dangers of the
VOYAGE. the islands should be located
not more than a few hundred miles
apart.
just how this engineering question
can he worked out cannot, of course,
be gone into just now, but l think 1t
Is feasible and l am reasonably GER
tain that the islands will come with
the advancement Of aviation.
AS far as ocean air liners themselves
are concerned. aeronautical engineer
ing has already reached stage where
their construction and development
are simply a matter of intelligent
financial backing. All the necessary
comforts which go to make travel
pleasant can be incorporated into
these air liners. That IS, as say,
only a matter of the right use OF suf-
f1cient money.
Commerce Fixes Costs.
The cost of air transportation will
naturally be regulated by the volume
of the commerce, because the expense
of operating the ground organization
of an airplane is nearly as great with
a small volume of traffic as with a
much larger turnover.
Air mail routes in the United States
already have proved their value and
are constantly working toward higher
standards of efficiency. They are OPP
Grating in competition with the fastest
trains and often over short hauls.
Travel by air is an established thing
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