The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-19
50 BISMARCK and MANDAN PEOPLE
ENJOY RIDES IN STAN0LIND PLANE
Many Of Them Experience
First Trip in Air as Guests
Of Standard Oil Company
Huge Airship Rides Like
Pullman Car, Says Tribune
Reporter
by HAROLD BURTON
riding IN 4 Pullman car.


That is the only way to describe a
flight in the Stanolind, giant plane
Of the Standard Oil company, which
visited here yesterday and in which
nearly SO Bismarck and Mandan peo-
pie were taken for rides.
From the outside, the plane is an
imposing craft, with a wing span of
n feet, a length of 10 feet and !;
height of l3 feet. One look at the
powerful motors-threc of them
which propel the plane, is enough to
convince one that q flight can be
made without any danger.
The "airplane' idea of crampcc
quarters and little protection from
the cold blasts Of the upper air. is
further dispclled as you step into
the cabin of the Stanolind.
Seats Very Comfortable
Three comfortable bcrths, which
are folded into divans for daytime
use, occupy the rear of the main
cabin. In front of them are -four
wicker chairs, looking more as if
they were on someone's front porch
than in plane. Wide glass win
dows at the side give a view Of the
country passed over and give fur
ther reminder of a Pullman car. A
writing desk is another item OF
equipment. Smoking sets and cleo
tric cigar lighters are provided in
convenient locations.
just ahead Of the main cabin is a
small observation compartment, with
space for two people, while ahead
of this is the control cabin, enclosed
in glass, which contains seats fol
the two pilots, together with q
double set of controls so that either
pilot can operate the plane.
Fields Like Checkerboards
In the main compartment, there
was not the slightest jar as the
plane took off on it's trips yester.
day, and there was only the muf-
fled throb of the engines to tell that
it was in the air. Gradually rising
the Stanolind veered toward Bis
marck. Below, the fields showed a
variety of colors not visible from
earth. Like checkerboards they
looked. Off to the left was the Mis-
souri,, winding lazily off between
the hills, ard SO high was the plane
that the river looked more like 3
giant lake than a swift-movine
stream. The machine travelled at ar
average speed Of 80 miles an hour
during the trip.
From an altitude of $500 feet
Bismarck presented a much less fav.
orablc aspect than from earth. II
houses looked struggling and th'
largest buildings were dwarfed. The
railroad track appeared like child:
toy set, on which miniature trair
ran, and the capitol, like a small
reproduction fits actual self.
No Jar at Landing
The plane circled over the city sew
eral times, while its passengers car
ried on a conversation, little disturb
ed by the sound Of the motors, anc
looked with interest at the land
scape below. At the end of 10 min
utes, the plane turned toward tn
field again and landed with scarcel!
a jar. The passengers stepped out
convinced that the modern conven
fences don't have to be left behin'
when one goes on flight. Further
more, they suffered no discomfort il
the enclosed cabin, capable Of beinl
heated in cold weather. They ha
no need for anything other tha
their ordinary clothes.
And in its technical details, to-
| the plane is interesting. 1t is know
Continued on page two)