Imperial Valley press., 1931-05-18

Let's see. We are due in Los An
geles at 9:30 and have another
appointment in San Diego, for
1880 and must be back in FL Gen.
uo again at 2:30. 1t can't be done
you say? Well that's just where
you are wrong, because the Imper-
ial Valley is now served with reg
ular airplane service on the above
mentioned schedule.
Just to try it, the writer decided
to board the plane on its initial run
last Saturday. So going out to I'm
perial Airport We arrived just in
time to see the plane come to a
beautiful landing on its way from
the Calexico airport. which it had
left few minutes before.
1t proved to be handsome ship
OF the Sesquiplane type, all metal,
with husky 450 h. p. Wasp Pratt
& Whitney motor in its nose, which
could pull its load of eight persons
through the air, with effortless ease.
1t Is manufactured by the Solar
Airplane Co. in San Diego, the home
OF Lindbergh's ship, and embodies
the latest in airplane design and de-
velopment. 1t is designated as vir-
tually crashproof.
With two ether passengers and
the two pilots. we stepped aboard
in twinkling. We were in the
air and on our way to Brawley
where We picked up two other pas
sengers. Just time enough for us
to get comfortably settled in the
easy, leather-upholstered chairs and
we were on our way again. Up we
went to an altitude of 1900 feet, and
it is surprising how clearly every
thing on the ground shows up in
detail at this height Due to the
soundproofing material used inside
the cabin. by raising our voices,
conversation could be carried on
quite easily.
Like an eagle we flew. and pref
ty soon the Salton Sea was under
meath. Viewing this body of water
from the air is alone worth the
price Of the ticket.
Right across the sea we went A
motor boat scudded below, creasing
the surface of the water with its
wake and as we were flying over
the north shore We got perfect
view OF a large oval that looked
like race track: one of the pas
sengers had a pair of field glasses
and ventured that 1t was a salt
works. which explanation was ac-
cepted for the time being.
Being still very new TO plane ira
vel. the writer was all eyes for
everything that came into vision
and soon the red tiled roofs of La
Quinta hove into sight. 1t looked
very pretty in its desert setting and
then onward to Palm Springs which
apparently had not walked up yet as
there was not a soul visible on the
streets. Then there were the Santa
Rosa mountains and right there was
Mount San Jacinto looking us full
in the face.
Having heard that the passage
through the San Gorgonio Pass is
usually rough. we were sort of steel
ing ourselves for this experience,
but it was not necessary as our
sturdy craft rode smoothly as a car
on the highway and the scenery
through the pass was wonderful.
Several lush-green canyons were
seen that would make a wonderful
place to get away from everything
and everybody That is, If you felt
that way.
On coming out OF the pass, we
sighted fog ahead 1t was quite
high. however, SO We ducked right
under it and sailed on over to Red
lands. Here we got the benefit OF
perfect view of the Smiley heights
development there, and truly, Red
lands has something to be proud OF
in this. Beautiful hilltop homes and