Evening star., 1928-11-22
PLANE CHR|STENED
BY MRS. COOLIDGE
Ford Craft Is Substituted for
Fokker, Delayed by
Damaged Wheel.

Before a distinguished gathering OF
Government officials, aviators, air line
operators and members of the diplo-
matte corps from Central and South
American countries. Mrs. Calvin Cool
idge yesterday afternoon christened by
proxy the flagship of a fleet OF trans
port planes which will be used to
inaugurate an international air trans
port system linking the countries of
North America Central America and
South America.
The ceremony took place at Hoover
! Field. where tri-motored Ford mono
plane was dedicated by proxy for the
CHRISTOPHER Columbus, the tri-
motored Fokker monoplane which will
become the flagship of the new feet
of American Airways. Inc, opera
tors of the international line. The
Fokker was held at Teterboro Airport.
N. j.. after a wheel had been damaged
by dropping into hole on the landing
field there
Mrs Coolidge christened the plane
from a ag-covered stand in an in
closure marked by the flags of the
Central and South American nations.
Addresses were made by j. r. Trippe,
president of Pan-American Airways;
Nelson r. johnson. Assistant Secretary
Of State: Warren Irving Glover, Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General in
charge of air mail: William P. Mac
Cracken, jr, Assistant Secretary OF
Commerce for Aeronautics, and J. M.
Eaton. general traffic manager for the
airways company. The Marine Band
played.
= Rapid Communication Stressed.
The speakers stressed the Importance
of rapid passenger and mail communi-
cations between the American nations
as a means of cementing international
friendships.
This new means of communication" )"
Assistant Secretary of State johnson
said. will revolutionize conceptions OF
time and distance current among the
peoples which it will serve. It means
closer relationship, which will without
doubt aid in our efforts at better
understanding of one another's prob
lens. These facilities, which are about
to be made available to the people of
! this hemisphere, mark the opening of
a new era of significance not only to
better international understanding but
also to international good will"
Pan-American Airways viii open the
initial unit of its new service early in
January. This unit will include three
divisions-Miami to Nassau, Miami to
Key West and Havana, and Miami to
Havana to Camaguey and thence down
the West Indies to San Juan. This
unit will have a total daily operating
smileage of 1000 miles.
49,. Extend Service Later.
Later the system will be extended to
include Mexico. the Central American
mainland and then South America, fol-
lowing "the Lindbergh circle" estab-
ished by Col. Charles A. Lindbergh in
his goodwill trip last year.
The Fokker planes to be used on the
Cuban-West Indies route are powered
with three 425-horSepower motors each,
giving cruising speed of 125 miles
and a top speed of $50 miles per hour.
They are custom built, with accommo-
dations for IL passengers each, fur
nished as lounge cars, with buffet serv-
ice, complete toilet facilities and run
ming water. Special compartments are
provided for personal luggage and for
mail. Each plane will have a crew
consisting of pilot, assistant pilot, radio
operator and steward.