Evening star., 1927-10-11
L|NDBERGH URGED
AS AIR FILM STAR
Ace May Take Part in Movie
Being Planned to Sir
Flying Interest.
RY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BH FREDERi( WILLIAM VILE.
Col. Charles A Iindbergh may soon
go into the movies. 1t will not be for
money-making purposes, or to crafty
any desire OH "Lindy's" part to COM
pete with Douglas Fairbanks, Ramon
Novarro. Charlie Chaplin or John Gil
bert in the realm of film drama. Col
Lindbergh's object. IL he approves OF
certain concrete suggestions now un.
der consideration, will be to star" in
a picture screened exclusively to pro-
mote popular interest in aviation. It
will be in every sense of the word an
educational film.
The interests which have evolved
the plan hope TO secure Col. Lind
bergh's acquiescence in it soon after
the completion of his great transcon-
tinental flight I'm the Spirit Of st.
Louis at New York on October %. The
scheme has been brought to the atten-
ton of Federal aviation authorities in
Washington. and is not likely to en-
counter unfavorable notice there, The
argument is being used that although
millions of people in the United States
and Europe have seen "Lindy" and his
plane, and heard him speak, they are
relatively few in number, compared
with the tens of millions throughout the
world who would see the transatlantic
air hero in the pictures" and come
away from them 'air-minded. Lind
bergh has pledged his word that moth
ing will appeal to him. as far as the
immediate future is concerned, except
aviation and its constructive develop
ment, The originators of the movie
idea seem confident 1t will enlist his
0Ha n -Ts acr1a l1nt
Flight Stirs Interest.
William p. MacCracken, jr., AS
sistant Secretary for Aeronautics in
the Department of Commerce, tells
this writer that Lindbergh's flight
across the American continent has
been an undoubted success from the
standpoint of arousing the Nations
interest in flying. Between July 20
and October 23," said Mr.. MacCrack-
en-, "Col. Lindbergh will have visited
more than eighty cities. With but
two exceptions. to date, he has landed
right on the dot. with express train
punctuality. in the airports he started
for. The exceptions were Portland
Me-, early in his trip, when fog in
terfered with him, and at one other
place where he was late because he
had to stay aloft until the police
could clear the field of overenthu-
siastic crowds. Otherwise 'Lindy'
has completed his entire tour, until
this writing, on schedule time
j should say that the tour has had
three distinct practical results. First,
it has stimulated greatly the use of
the air mail. The poundage of postal
matter sent by mail jumped in May.
June, July and August beyond any
lgures ever before attained. l haven't
September figures before me, but
previous September. Secondly, the
impression upon the municipalities,
in showing them the importance of
adequate airport facilities. 'Lindy'
could not go to some places because
they had no such facilities.
Other places that he did go to dis.
covered that facilities were inadequate,
and have now taken the necessary
steps to put them and keep them in
shape. Thirdly, Lindbergh's cross
country hop has given an excellent
demonstration of the practical per.
formance of aircraft. From every
standpoint, think, the tour, can be
described as an epoch-naking achieve
ment Of real value"
Doubts Loss of Prestige.
Hasn't the tragic series of air fatali-
ties during the past three months
seriously damaged the prestige of
aviation?" Secretary MacCracken was
asked.
IT do not think so.' he replied.
"These mishaps. deplorable as they
are, are the inescapable price OF
pioneering. You cannot have trans,
portation progress without the acci-
dent hazard. The United States has
accomplished eight major pioneer
transoceanie flights. In this stage of
the development of the flying art we
cannot expect to do such things as
that without loss of life. These dis.
asters ought not to be considered re-
Election on commercial aviation, and
the men who are responsible for pro-
noting aviation do not so regard
Them"
The Department of Commerce shares
with the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for
the Promotion of Aeronautics response
bility and credit for the Lindbergh
transamerican cruise. The Spirit of
st. Louis has been accompanied
throughout its long and spectacular
journey by Department of Com
merce Fairchild monoplane equipped
with a Wright Whirlwind motor and
piloted by Phil Love, one of Secretary
MaeCracken's airplane and engine in
spectors. Love was a buddy of
"Lindy's" when the colonel was a
trainee in the Army Aviation School
/. tConyright 1927