Evening star., 1927-05-22
Pioneers Of the Air.

On the 25th of July, 1909, Bleriot,
one of the foremost aviators of France,
thrilled the world by a remarkable
flight. He piloted his plane across
the English Channel. That was the
first time a man had flown over the
sea. 1t was an historic achievement.
Starting at Baraquies on the Channel
coast, Bleriot landed on the cliffs of
Dover, a distance of about twenty-five
miles. His flight lasted thirty-seven
minutes. At his landing place is now
imbedded a concrete replica of his
plane in permanent token of an epoch
marking event.
Bleriot's fight took place a little
less than eighteen years ago. Yester.
day the world thrilled with a similar
but much more remarkable perform
ahce as Charles Lindbergh landed in
France after flying across the Atlantic
Ocean alone. in single-motored plane.
He had covered distance of approx.
mately $500 miles. Beside his per-
formance that of Bleriot eighteen
years ago seems trifiing. But it must
be remembered that Bleriot was a
pioneer. even as Lindbergh is. He
ventured upon a hazardous fight.
He did the unprecedented thing.
Over the course that Bleriot fol.
lowed in 1909 planes are now flying
daily. almost hourly. winging their
way between London and Paris, main
tanning regular schedules and carry
ing hundreds of passengers. Will
planes be similarly flying over Lind
bergh's course in a little while, in
the same numbers and a similar
service?
A few months before Bleriot crossed
the channel. Wilbur Wright, in Sep
tember. 1908, made the first objective
fight by driving his airplane from
Fort Myer to Alexandria and return.
That was an achievement, although
the distance was short. It proved
that a plane could be driven over a
specified route to a selected point and
back to the starting place. Yet here
IL an objective $500 miles distant at
tained without a stop. and attained,
too, by one man. .-:.
Naturally, the question arises: What
is the limit of nonstop flight Truly
it can be said that there is no way
to. determine the possibilities. The
range OF plane depends first upon
its fuel supply. next upon its stability
for continuous performance, and
finally upon the skill Of its pilot.
Bieriot made his hop on a few gallons
of fuel Lindbergh required several
hundred gallons. In addition to the
regular tanks carried in the fuselage
Of the machine, the wings themselves
were utilized for storage.
Nonstop flying is somewhat a mat
ter of luck. But luck is after all a
matter Of skill. In this case Of Lind
bergh it is a matter of nerve, Of dar-
ing, of intelligent understanding Of
the capabilities Of the machine. 1t
is also a matter of good craftsman.
ship in plane construction, the selec-
tion of materials, the perfection of
work. Given sound plane and a
skilled navigator who has the requisite
qualities Of temperament. and long
range flying is to be measured only
by fuel capacity.
The history of aviation is replete
with instances Of daring. The men
who few first across the Atlantic,
Alcock and Brown, accomplished the
seemingly impossible. Byrd. who flew
over the North Pole, did what was
thought to be beyond chance of sue
cess. So has Lindbergh. perhaps the
most daring Of ali the pioneers OF
the air.