The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-21

an automobile dealer who had
bought Canuck that fall and was
just learning to fly it.
After I returned from Chanute
Field and was waiting for the re-
suits of my examinations, we de-
cided to make a pleasure flight
through the South, transforming
only enough to make current eX-
penses, if possible.
Klink wanted to learn to fly, and
at the same time take vacation,
while my only objective was to keep
flying and at the same time be ready
to enter the next class at Brooks
Field, which commenced in March,
provided my examinations had
been passed satisfactorily.
! Accordingly, on the 23d Of Janu-
airy we took off from Lambert Field
in below zero weather and headed
for the sunny South.
Our first stop was at Perryville,
Mo, where we visited with some of
Kinks friends for several days, and
carried nineteen passengers.
After leaving Perryville. we flew
to Hickman, KY, and landed in a
soft field east of town. We had
passed out of extremely cold
weather and the wheels of our plane
sank several inches into the South
ern mud.
When we had refueled and at
tempted to take off it was impos-
sible to get enough speed to lift the
tires out of the mud. So Klink got
out and I tried to take off alone.
On the third attempt the ship
gained enough speed for the wings
to begin to carry portion of the
load and keep the wheels from sink
ing so deeply; then it was only a
matter Of a few more feet before I
was off.
I picked out a bayfield, little
further from town, which appeared
to be little more solid than the
first, and landed. BY that time it
was too late to make another hop
before dusk, and as even the new
field was too soft to make it adj
visable to carry any passengers, we
left the Canuck tied to a fence and
went into Hickman for the night.
The first effort to take off the fol-
lowing morning was unSucceSSful;s
also the second. We could not gain
a speed of over five miles an hour
over the soft ground.
Finally, with the assistance of sew
eral men pushing on each wing, we
got the ship to the top of gentle
rise which gave us enough Of a start
to take off without serious difficulty.
We stopped once in Tennessee for
fuel; then at Friar Point, Miss,
where we landed in an old cotton
field and tied down for the night.
The Canuck had only one fuel
tank with a capacity Of twenty
three-gallonS, or enough to last for
two and a. half hours.
BY leaving half an hour for 10
eating a landing field, which was
quite difficult at times, we had
enough gasoline remaining for
about one hundred and twenty-five
miles in still air. If we we're bucking
head wind it would be just that
much less.
We spent the night with one of
the plantation hands near the field
and the next day in seeing the
country and carrying handful of
passenges-
In the evening we visited a
haunted" house with a party Of the
younger residents, but we're unable
to find any 'chants.'
Our next stop was at Hollandale.
then Vicksbrg, where We landed
in a little filed six miles north of
town by slipping in down the side
Of a small mountain and ground
looping before striking q, stump.
After day seeing Vicksburg We
flew to Clinton, where the paSsen-
ger trade was quite lively and an
other day passed making sightseeing
flights.
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