The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-23
BY LOWELL B. NUSSBAUM
Times Aviation Editor

Eleven thousand persons scared
away from Indianapolis airports
during the last year in planes which
travelled 100000 miles-equal to sew
enteen times around the world. Not
a passenger was injured.
These figures stand among the
most convincing in a survey which
shows that Indianapolis has made
amazing progress in n short year
in opening her arms to and nurtur-
ing the infant industry, aviation.
This mileage does not include the
many thousand miles flown by near
ly fifty army reserve and Indiana
National Guard fiiers at Schoen field,
TT. Benjamin Harrison, and at IN
dianapolis airport, Mars Hill, the
National Guard airport.
100 Aviation Pupils
Passengers in pleasure hops from
local ports have ranged in age from
1 to SO years. Three generations
rode in one plane last fall.
Despite a late start, local air
schools have soloed more than forty
student pilots, including two WON
en-, in the last year, and more than
100 enthusiasts L taking aviation
instruction here at the present
time, whereas a year ago but a
handful of young men were prepar-
ing to learn to fly.
Sixty airplanes, conservatively
valued at more than $275,00 are
owned here to operate from the four
Indianapolis airports, tWo-thirds of
these planes having been acquired
within the last year.
City Centrally Located
indianapolis is within twenty-five
hours of practically any point in the
United States through air mail serv-
ice offered by the Embry-Riddle
Company.
The Cincinnati - Indianapolis
Chicago mail line, opened Dec. %,
1927, connects at Chicago with the
transcontinental lines, permitting
overnight delivery of mail to New
York and to points as far south as
Texas, with twenty-five-hour service
to Los Angeles and San Francisco,
Cal. Work of lighting the airway
between Chicago and Indianapolis
has been started. This will permit
night flying.
Airport Attracts Industries
With acquisition of a 950-acre
municipal airport, it is expected avi-
alton industries may be attracted
here. The size of the field, in adj
dition to providing longer runways
with a greater safety factor, affords
space on the edges which can be
leased to aviation industries requir-
ing a flying field in their work.
Many inquiries have been received
by the Chamber Of Commerce from
airplane companies.
Establishment of TranScontinental
Air Transport, Inc, 48-hour, coast
forecast, air-raiI passenger line, with
Indianapolis as a stop, will add to
this city's prestige as an air center.
Indianapolis was selected as a
stopping point on the route, be-
cause of its logical location on the
air map, by Colonel Charles A.
Lindbergh, technical advisor for the
company.
The air-rail route is expected to
be started about May l.
Plan All Air Service
A still faster, through, all air
service later, between Columbus and
the Pacific coast cities, involving
night flying, is planned by T. A. T.
Local arrangements for the trans
continental service will be handled
by the Curtiss Flying Service Of
Indiana, Mars Hill airport.
A number of airplanes are dis
tributed here and throughout the
state by local companies. Hoosier
airport is Indiana representative for
Travel Air biplanes and monoplanes.
Capitol Always, Inc, is distributor
for both Ryan monoplaneS and
Eaglerock biplanes.
Sell AirplaneS
Curtiss Flying Service of Indiana
is sales representative for all Cur
tiSS aviation DroductS including