Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22


air service Is certain to come within
the next 10 years. in the opinion of
an outstanding aeronautic authority
of America-William p. MacCrack-
en-, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce in
charge of aviation.
BY 1910, therefore readers of newspapers will
not be astounded to see:
"Americansl Spend pleasant week end in
Europe. See Westminster Abbey and the Tower
of London on Saturday visit Paris Sunday
and be back at your desk for work on Tuesday
Planes leave daily at noon"
Persons who have followed the progress of
aviation closely have ceased to smile at almost
any prediction within reason. Ten years ago
few laymen, if any, would have dared to
prophesy that giant dirigible would have sue
ceSSfully crossed the ocean, carrying passengers,
several times in succession; that lone pilot
would have made a nonstop flight from New
York to Paris; that two men would have stayed
in the air more than two weeks: that-well,
one could go on indefinitely and still not list
all the achievements of recent years.
What was seemingly impossible 10 years ago
has been accomplished. What is now seemingly
impossible, to the lay mind win be accomplished
during the next decade Consequently, semi
weekly and then daily air service across the
ocean is far from out of the question in that
period of time.
MO MAN in America is better qualified to
discuss aviation from the transportation
angle than Mr.. MacCracken. He knows the sit
uation from both American and European
angles as he has spent two months of this year
in Europe, attending as Americas representative,
an extra session of the International Commits
sion for Aerial Navigation visiting airports in
the leading European countries and paying cour-
tesy calls on aviation leaders who came to the
United States to attend the Washington confer
ence last December. Mr.. MacCracken has made
several speeches. the principal one being the
Wilbur Wright Memorial speech before the
Royal Aero Society of London on the day mark
ing the twentieth anniversary of Bleriot's flight
across the English Channel from Calais to Dover.
Incidentally the Assistant Secretary was not a
desk Official" having served as pilot and in
structor in the Army during the World War.
Weekly service across the Atlantic will be first
instituted, and later followed by semi-weekly
and then daily service, Mr. MacCracken believes
These planes will carry a great amount of val
liable merchandise and mail which will have to
be transported frequently and rapidly" he says.
For that reason the weekly service will quickly
become obsolete"
What type of airship do you believe stands
the best chance of being a permanent trans
oceanic carrier. the lighter than-air dirgible,
the flying boat or the airplane?" I asked Mr..
MacCracken.
lieve that the airplane has the edge as the
permanent winner" he replied. Nevertheless,
am endeavoring to view the situation from an
unbiased viewpoint and give credit where credit
is due"
Great praise is due Comdr. Hugo Eckener
and the men associated with him in the flights
of the great Zeppelin. They have done mar
vicious work.
MANY thought the cause of the lighter-than-
air craft had suffered great setback when, in
the Spring of this year, the Yep started off
for America and had to turn back when four
of her five motors went bad. But believe she
showed her greatness in temporary defeat, mas
much as she could actually proceed under only
one-fifth of her total power 1t splendid
demonstration of what lighter-th craft
do under adverse conditions.
Americans have already read something of
BIitans giant dirigible, R-101, which made
her second successful test fight October 10 with
a six-hour cruise the Midlands, visiting
Birmingham, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham
before returning to her mooring mast.
ITO the man on the ground each of these
giant dirigibles looks like the other but as a
matter of fact, they not being built after
any set standard. The R10l is different from
the Graf zeppelin. and Others to BE- built in the