The Wilmington morning star., 1946-01-20
ROUNDTRIP FLIGHT
Star-News Reporter Makes
Inaugural Flight OF Line
From Bluethenthal Field
BY MEARES HARRISS
Star-NeWs Staff Writer

Wilmington to Asheville on the
700-mile round-trip in seven hours
and five minutes, was the elapsed
time it took the inaugural flight of
South East Air Lines twin-engined
Cessna from Bluethenthal field, yes
terday.
Flying time from Asheville to
Wilmington was two hours and five
minutes. 1t should be explained
here that the Charlotte to Whining
ton leg of return flight, which was
flown in one hour and fifteen min
utes was special flight, not regul-
arly scheduled, to transport equip
ment to the field here.
Roaring out of Wilmington on
schedule at 1910 am. yesterday,
the inaugural flight, with two pas
sengers and this reporter, headed
west for the western terminus of the
SEA system at Asheville, with its
first stop Fayetteville.
Ten minutes later, the five-plac-
ed liner, piloted by e. L. league,
secretary treasurer Of hte line, and
brother of w. c. league, company
president, was cruising at 1000 feet
at. 140 miles-per-hour.
On her first airplane flight, Mrs.
C. B. Haigler, wife of one of the
National Air Lines station per-
sonnet here, on her way to Fayette-
vile for a visit, relaxing from the
first, enjoyed a cigarette and spent
the trip admiring the scenery.
Emory Moore, Of Chicago, the
other passenger, was headed for
Portland, Ore, on business, and is
scheduled to reach the West Coast
city at 6 p. M, today, via connec-
tons at Raleigh and New York.
The first evidence of the recent
statewide freezing weather was
seen as the plane passed Black
Lake about 40 airline miles from
Wilmington, which was partially
frozen over.
Nearer Fayetteville, scattered
patches of snow we're noticed aid
the touchdown at the Fayetteville
airport, at 1880 am. was on field
still completely covered with sew
eral inches of snow.
From Now On!"
incidentally, Mrs. Haigler was a
convert by this time. She is re-
ported to have wired her husband,
From now on ], travel by air."
Reporters, like Boy Scouts, are
additionally supposed to BE Pre-
pared. But this one was caught
slightly off guard when he was
handed six-weeks old baby girl at
the Fayetteville stop to hold while
her parents boarded the plane.
The tiny daughter Of Master Ser
geant and Mrs. Victor A. Pulk,
Carol Ann, was asleep at the time
and the roar of the engines and the
slight jostling of the take-off didn't
awaken her.
The Pulks kere enroute to Win
ston-Salem, where they made con-
nections for Akron, Ohio. The Ser
geant returns to Fayetteville and
Fort Bragg today, where he is
awaiting discharge from the Army.
Mother and daughter were schedul-
ed to get in Akron, at 4:53 p. m,
Central time, yesterday.
On to Raleigh, 20 minutes from
the Soldier city, where the runways
of the Municipal airport were COW
cred with rutted frozen snow, oc-
casioned a rougher-than-usual land
ing. Carol Ann was still sleeping
soundly as the flight took the air
for the As minute trip to winston"
Salem.
Greensboro, as well as Salisbury
and Gastonia, were by-passed on
this trip due to the fact that no
passengers were scheduled on OF
off at these points.
Carol Ann was still sleeping as the
Captain league eased the plane
onto the concrete runway OF the
multi-million dollar Smith Reynolds
airport in the Tobacco City at l2:lo
pm.
Snow began to disappear after
the Winston stop and b. the time
Charlotte was reached only occa-
slonal patches could be spotted on
the ground, and Charlotte airport,
like Winston, was clear.
In Charlotte we picked up Mrs.
Lucy Dobson, of the Queen City,
headed for Asheville. Here began
the most scenic part of the flight
with a lifetime of sieht-thrillS pack