Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-09
LNDBERGH, IN AIR,
WRITES Of FLIGHT
Plane Good for 10000 More
Miles OF Flying. He
Claims.
nv COL CHARLES A. lINDBERGH.

~ col. CHARLES A. LtNDbERGH.
D. Cable to The Star and New York Times
ABOARD SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS,
syer wfndward Passage. February g.
Sight three am. seventy NTH meridian
time. wind east by north. s~a calm,
sky parity overcast. Altitude. 1890 feet;
air speed "a miles per hour. compass
ectirse. 2so degrees.
The western coast of the Island OF
Raitt is fading into the horizon: small
vesAel is visible about six miles 10 the
ncrtllward Cuba Is not vet IN view.
This Is the second longest flight since
having Mexico Ci;y-nearly 500 miles
and the seventh longest made by the
Spirit of ST. Louis New York to Paris,
$50 miles Of course was the greatest
distance covered: the second. Washing
t1n to Mexico City. about 200 miles.
Then comes San Diego TO ST Louis
slightly over 500 miles All three Of
these trips required overnight flying
Fourth Is the trip from Caracas. Vene-
yslels. to 81. Thomas. in the Virgin Is
lsy1ds, around I pA0 miles. Fifth and
sixth. the flights between 81, Lotis and
New York. shout a5o miles each,
Travels 4e.e0e MttS
The Spirit of St. Louis has. up to the
taking off from Port ALI Prince. been in
the air more than 459 hours and COW
erred a distance Of nesriy 10000 miles in
Q total OF 4S7 fights.
The original motor has never been
replaced and has not as yet received q
Mia TOR overfrauirs Neither plane nor
engine have had over 5 per cent re-
placements and yet both are In excellent
condition and entirely capable OF con-
ttnuing in service for a much longer
time than they have now been in use.
With proper care and maintenance
the modern plane and engine should
have q minimum life OF 10000 miles
NiIie-twenty a m. 3.l00 feet over low
@puntsins Of Eastern Cuba.
The n1ountains below are covered With
o semi-tropicsl growth. broken fire.
euently by banana plantations and
small cultivated fields. A few miles
avsv to the south. along the coast. Is a
ridge Of mountains rising several hun
dred feet above my present altitude
To the north is the Guantanamo Valley.
covered with fields Of sugar cane. The
entire country appears % be yell in
habited and several small cities are
visible.
Carries Nah sacks
] am carrying with me three sacks
o. mail for Havana. the first cir mail
e<er carried IN the Spirit Of St. Louis
One Of these sacks came from San
Domingo and although IL remained In
the plane for two days while I was in
Fart Au Prince. II wfli still arrive In
Havana days ahead Of time This ia
m indication Of the possibility for air
nnes south Of the United States. The
1y1ng conditions ] have encountered
during the tour have been favorable
Tor air travel. yet In case Of q fax q
peans could remain On the ground for
o4ss necessary and still be far ahead
~ existing means Of travel
This territory Is waiting for air lines.
There sre lzfse commercial opportu.
mites ana unlimited attractions for
fOurtstz. 3oEts climatic and historical.
n few years undoubtedly there will
- air lines operating over the West
Indian Islands between the American
c1ntinents. An addition to a route
elHdngia- Mexico snd Central America.
&srGn lies o field open for develop
merit with existing equipment
When our planes are flying regularly
Usfween North and so0tf1 America. we
VII b. only q step from transocesnic
communication With Europe.
Passes Ria Cavis.
1919 am. 2I00 feet over Ria Cavlo.
The territory below Is low and level
With few fills visible here and there
sH the horfzoa. The Gulf OF Guacanav-
aoo Is 10 miles 10 the southwark. Sky
elesr except for scattered cumulus
clouds
1885 am. / 800 feet over island along
ecufh coast Of Cuba
Fiat planea extend many miles inland
% the mountains barely yisas,ie on the
horizon. The bottom OF the sea u Wis
lR5ie for han nsilk out from the beach.
There are Thousands Of water fowl
nlD1e the coast. which appear greatly
ektubed o. my plane passes. / am
dripping 70 100 feet 70 get . clear view
81 5hs wild life
Just passed two small sharks A num-
ber OF small bnzts are Ave miles out TO
eeA Quite few fish are visible. rang
tna up 90 about three feet In length.
Some of the larger birds double up
01Ar wings and fan into the water as
tn plane oyeYtakes them.
f:72 pm. 900 feet. interior Of Cuba
Numerous plantations. occasional sugar
mills. frequent landing fields.
40 pm. over Havana
ESpsrFht 1879 the fiaitfd stz'ss
gsnsaa, Nexirs. Cuba f-a,rsi and ss,Hsh
Ass'sea. Europe snd the Brush Dos,laions
~ the kes York Tine. On. All rtxhts
tseeyveag