Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
A|RPORTS EVERY
10 MILES URGED
Creation of System Would
Aid Aviation Progress,
Experts Advise.

creation OF system OF alrpldne
landing fields not more than 10 miles
apart in all directions throughout the
United States is urged by the Daniel
Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion
of Aeronautics, in a memorandum
issued to organizations interested IN
aeronautics throughout the country.
Following this system would require
the setting aside for landing fields OF
but per cent of the area devoted to
railroads and roads in this country,
1t Is estimated by officials Of the Or
ganiZation
Aviation in America, measured IN
terms of aircraft factories and air
planes in operation" 1t is said in the
memorandum, very greatly exceeds
the aggregate of the rest of the world.
This development has taken place with
out Government subsidy and in the
typically American manner OF private
enterprise Commercial air transport
has reached its present comparatively
satisfactory state without the hundreds
of millions of dollars that the rail-
roads enjoyed from Federal and State
aid in their pioneering days, and with
out the hundreds of millions OF acres OF
lands granted to them.
Need for Indirect Aid Arises.
There is, however. a growing need
for indirect assistance by the Govern
ment, particularly in airports. That
the fulfillment of this need neither Is
impractical nor expensive is indicated
by the fact that 3 per cent OF the area
devoted to railroads and roads IN this
country would provide a comprehensive
system of landing fields for aviation"
There are today only two outstand-
ing factors holding back safe and unH-
versal flying, engineers of the fund ex-
planned. One Is technical problem
namely. the loss of control due to the
breakdown of the airfiow over the
wings of an airplane at low speed. The
solution of this problem Is imminent,
they state, If it has not already been
solved.
THE other problem" they continue,
lis a simple one; in fact. so simple that
like many obvious matters. 1t has been
neglected, and that is the provision OF
adequate terrain for the airplane to
land on wherever, 1t may be IN tnese
United States and whenever 1t may be
necessary.
I'VE have hitherto been asking the
impossible of aviation and, thanks to
highly developed skill in plotting and to
superb mechanical progress in engine
construction, aviation has been doing
the almost impossible. We have been
asking men to do what. with some rare
exceptions self-respecting birds would
not consider for moment; namely,
flying over territory where they could
not land with ease and safety when
ever it seemed wise to do so on account
of weather conditions or other reasons.
IF airports were located throughout
this country at intervals of 10 miles In
each direction an airplane would nor
mally never be more than a maximum
Of S miles from a landing field, or, m
other words, would rarely be out OF
gliding distance iflflying at an altitude
of 1000 or 5000 feet.
Land Needs Insignificant.
"The amount Of land which this
would require is Insignificant in COM
parison with the area devoted to the
railroads or roads of the country. 1t Is
roughly, but conservatively, estimated
that the total land occupied by railway
right of way in use and station prop.
erty is 81 $50 square miles. The total
area occupied by the Nations roads ana
highways, according to the latest mile
age, and allo wing a conservative width
of so feet, is 28.500 square milee.
LAS against this area, represented by
roads and railways, amounting to to-
tai of 50,050 square miles, landing fields
of normal intermediate size-1 200 feet
runways-as used by the air mail. placed
10 miles apart ali over the country.
would require only 1874 square miles,
or about per cent of the other figure.
"One has but to fly over even the
most thickly populated areas here in
the East to realize how comparatively
easily and cheaply land could be made
available for a Nationwide system Of
landing fields. Following close on the
heels of the realization of such system.
flying would be the safest means Of
rapid TRANSPORTATION and become uni
versal in America, with its economic
and social advantages. Americas great
resources and huge undeveloped terri
tories should make the Inauguration Of
such a plan Of special appeal to Ameri-
caNSn