Evening star., 1927-06-02

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fair start we shall, because of our vast
resources and opportunities, far out.
distance European aviation. That is
looking into the future, but 1t seems
, to me a sound theory.
While we have not as many air.
planes as Europe, yet what we have
done is good, basically very sound.
We have the groundwork for i'm.
mense development. Some ships in
the United States are as good. if not
better, than any in the world.
And look how much more opportu.
nifty America offers for commercial
aviation than does Europe. We have
distances to cover which Europe
hasn't. That means there Is an add
ed premium In America for quick
transportation. Where the average
aviation trip over here may save three.
four or five hours in going from one
place to another. in America there is a
chance to save twice or three times
that number of hours because Of the
extent of our country.
More Reasons in America.
For passengers, for freight and for
mail, five times as many reasons exist
In America for air service as exist
In Europe. And up to the present
Europe has responded to lesser need
much better than has America.
AS / see it, aviation has reached the
stage where prospect of development
Of flying depends on money. What is
really needed are capitalists who are
willing to risk large sums in the fu.
ture OF aviation There Is room for
any number Of developments on the
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Experimentation is our real need, and
that calls for money---lots of money.
There are any number Of engineers
in the United States who, il given
the opportunity, time and money. can
effect great advances in the machines
which now exist. For what we really
lack are the great aviation labora-
tories which are maintained in Eu-
rope through the aid of government
subsidies. Our Government does not
seem likely to go into that, so it must
be done by private initiative. We
have the chance to lead the world in
aviation If we know how to use that
chance.
There is open now the opportunity to
develop a larger machine. In this di.
rection we, in America, as elsewhere,
have not done great things. We
spend millions on Zeppelin. Sup.
pose half that money was spent on an
airplane, what could not be built?
There may, of course, be a limit on
the size of planes. but certainly that
limit is far from reached, and / be.
lieve that in the future it will be
found that one of the greatest de-
velopments in long-distance flying will
lie in the use of large hydroplanes,
which, with a vast expanse of water
before them, can overcome the diff
culties of getting off which might
greatly hamper ships bound to get off
from a field.
Opinion Widely Sought.
Every one, from kings down, over
here has asked me my opinion of the
future of transatlantic flying. My
answer Is, in general, there is no place
on earth which cannot be made reach
able by air If people can be found
willing to make the necessary invest
ment. And in particular I expect to
see regular commercial flights across
the Atlantic Ocean made swiftly and
safely and profitably. 1t may not be
in two years or five, but it will come.
Here again 1t Is a question of study
and investment.
1t seems to me that the first devel.
opment of transatlantic aviation will
be the mail service. There Is a great
field in that. Think Of the vast
amount of important mail which now
crosses the ocean in six. seven and
eight days. Suppose it could be trans
ported in one and half days. What
would that not he worth to business
on two sides of the Atlantic?
Naturally, there arises at once the
question of what sort of plane will be
best. Now, for my flight. given the
conditions which surrounded it, be-
lieve a single-motor plane is best.
There is no denying that risk is in
volved. If one motor had stopped,
the flight would have failed, and that's
all there is to it. Therefore, when
developments have been made it
stands to reason the ideal transatlan.