Aero Digest - January, 1930

Two amphibion planes have been acquired by the New York City Police Department for the use of the flying police squad which was recently organized with twelve members appointed to the unit. The Police Department purchased a Savoia- Marchetti S-56 from the American Aeronautical Corporation. The ship is a three place open cockpit amphibion, equipped with a Kinner engine of 90 horsepower.

A Loening Commuter, a five place amphibion powered with a Wright engine, was purchased from the Keystone-Loening Aircraft Corporation.

The flying police squad has undergone flight training at Curtiss and Roosevelt Fields, Long Island. The squad will use the two planes to patrol the New York metropolitan area to enforce the air traffic regulations of the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce. The planes will be used to curb low flying over the metropolitan area, to prevent airplanes from flying over congested areas during the rush hours, and for patrolling the water front.

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RAIL-PLANE service between Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans will be started in the near future by the Illinois Central Railroad and Continental Air Service. Inc. Southbound passengers will leave Chicago or St. Louis by train, transferring to amphibion planes at Memphis, Tennessee, for a flight to Vicksburg or New Orleans. Northbound schedules call for rail travel from New Orleans to Memphis, then by air to St. Louis and Chicago. Travel Air land planes are to be used on the northern section of the route and Loening amphibions on the southern section.

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THE NEW MISSISSIPPI AIRPORT

The land of the great river where the steamboat A once was king, the whirr of motors and the flash of wings mark the beginning of a new era.

What a country for a Commuter — the amphibian plane for sports-loving men and women! With it, all the splendid airports of the Middle West are open to you. With it, the "father of waters" offers you a thousand miles of airway and airport, a broad expanse of water for your comings and goings, your landings and take-offs.

Wherever you go in a Commuter, you fly secure in the knowledge that here is one craft which you can convert from a land plane to a sea plane, or vice versa, in five sec- onds — and in full flight. Only an amphibian gives you this freedom of land, air and water. Only the Commuter gives you this instant, easy change.

The Commuter was designed by Loening for just such carefree flying. With 300 horse-power behind the propeller, you are in the air in seven to ten seconds, climbing a thousand feet a minute. Then, at 90 miles an hour, 400 miles at a hop, you and your friends can re-live the romance of steamboat days. Swing "down river" to Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg and along the "sugar coast" to the Crescent City, home of Dixie and of Carnival. From this glorious center, explore the Bends and the Bayous, picturesque Baratavia and the Acadian Teche, or skirt the gulf to Biloxi and its gay beach life.

With three companions in the comfortable cabin of the Commuter there is plenty of room fore and aft for fishing tackle, guns, camping outfit, and what not. If you are tempted to swim or fish, glide to the surface and anchor your plane as you would a boat. Or if you find a shelving beach, lower the wheels and taxi right up on dry land for a picnic lunch.

To the land of the great river has come a new king — the amphibian Commuter.

PRICE $16,800

KEYSTONE - LOENING AMPHIBIAN COMMUTER

THE COMMUTER WILL BE ON DISPLAY at the INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT EXPOSITION, ST. LOUIS, FEBRUARY 15 1930

SALES OFFICE
KEYSTONE AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
Division of CURTISS - WRIGHT CORPORATION
27 WEST 57TH STREET
NEW YORK

Say you saw it in AERO DIGEST

FEBRUARY, 1930

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FEBRUARY, 1930 PROFITABLE LINKS in Air Transportation THERE is one sure way to gain better than usual profits from air transportation. Put your business on a basis of safety, speed and comfort at low operating cost — with TRA"VEL AIR Six-place Cabin Monoplanes !

Throughout America there is a need for tributary air lines, to fill in the gaps between ofF-main-line cities and important airports on cross-continent routes. Passengers will patronize a feeder line that takes them direct to a connecting airport without the delay of transfer from train or motor bus, and long-distance travellers like to continue their journey by air from division point to destination. Such air travel truly saves time.

See Travel Air in the Curtiss - Wright Exhibit at the International Aircraft Exposition, St. Louis
February 15th to 23rd.

Passenger confidence is won and held by TRAVEL AIR. Its luxurious interior provides comfort and relaxation — riding pleasure that makes boosters and brings repeat business.

From the operator's angle, TRAVEL AIR six place Cabin Monoplane is an ideal ship. It is extremely versatile — in local line passenger and express service, in charter for business or pleasure trips, or as a reliable means of transportation for emergency when speed is especially important.

On every good point you can think of — handsome appearance — inherent safety — easy handling — all-weather efficiency — speed that assures low passenger-mile costs — TRAVEL AIR has demonstrated its superiority.

Write straight to headquarters for full information on TRAVEL AIR monoplanes for transport service and detailed statements of costs in actual operation.
Address Dept. T-70
TRAVEL AIR COMPANY
Division of CURTISS - WRIGHT
Sales Offices: 2 7 West 5 7th Street, New York
A PLANE FOR EVERY PURPOSE
Say you saw it in AERO DIGEST
FEBRUARY, 1930

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Further News of the San Francisco-Oakland Ferry Line

CONTINUING the discussion of the proposed San Francisco Bay air ferry service, mentioned in the Airport and Airway section last month, we learn that Vern Gorst, sponsor of the line, has received two Loening Air Yachts wherewith to start operations. The schedule which has been adopted calls for four trips hourly between the downtown section of San Francisco and Oakland.

The schedule allows ten minutes for the trip, and the fare is $1.50. The ferry rate is twenty-five cents, but the time required is over an hour and the crowded condition of the street car and bus service between the center of the two cities and the ferry terminals indicates a large volume of traffic for the new airline. Buses meet the planes at both ends and transport the passengers to convenient points in the downtown districts.

Vern Gorst also operates the Puget Sound ferry, and has carried so many thousands of commuting passengers in his Leonings during the two years that the line has been in operation that he ought to be well informed as to the needs of the new San Francisco service. No date has been announced for the formal opening of the new line.

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USED WASP MOTORS FOR SALE

Because of larger loads we have replaced Wasp engines with Hornets. We have twelve 425 h.p. Wasps for immediate sale; run 547 to 920 hours. All motors have had complete "Boeing" overhaul at 175- hour periods and are now entirely overhauled and worn parts replaced. Motors will be "run in" just prior to sale.

We also offer for sale a supply of Hamilton adjustable steel propellers. All were periodically etched and reconditioned and are in perfect condition.

Write or wire:
BOEING AIR TRANSPORT, Inc.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

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DO YOU HEAR THE CALL OF SPRING?

The ground beneath the swamp maples is red with bursting buds. Over at the Country Club the greens are getting green. On northern lakes the ice is out, the trout are takinggrubs. Spring is in the air! Spring is on the wing!

If you would flirt with Spring, fly a Commuter. Only in an amphibian can you pursue her successfully to all her loveliest haunts on land or water. And the Commuter is the only amphibian which you can convert from land plane to seaplane or vice versa in five seconds — and in full flight.

What freedom! What safety! You spy a lake that lures you. Touch the lever at your side and your land plane is ready to alight on water. Or you sight an island with a hard, smooth beach. Lower the wheels and your sea- plane is ready to roll on the sands.

This Keystone-Loening Commuter is a sociable plane. It seats four, with duplicate control for the couple in front. Fore and aft there is plenty of room for golf sticks, fishing tackle and what not. And of course you dress as you please, for in the closed cabin there is no need for special flying clothes.

With a 300 H. P. Wright Whirlwind behind the propeller, you are into the air from either land or water in 12 seconds and climbing at 1000 feet a minute. Soar into the sunshine. Then head for the haunts of Spring at 90 miles an hour.

Sportsmen, do you hear the call of Spring? Now is the time to fly or to learn to fly. Let us demonstrate how wonderfully the Commuter maneuvers, how easy it is to operate, how perfectly it fits your needs for a personal plane at a cost of only $16,800.

For booklet write:
Dept. C-70, Keystone Aircraft Corporation, Division of Curtiss- Wright, 27 West 57th St., New York.
KEYSTONE-LOENING AMPHIBIAN COMMUTER

Say you saw It in AERO DIGEST
APRIL. 1930

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APRIL, 1930

CHINA as an AERONAUTIC MARKET

By Wing Over

CHINA, with an area almost one and one-half times as large as the United States, and with few railroads and highways, is becoming air-minded. The country is encompassed by far-flung boun daries that make facile transportation a necessity vital to the unification and develop ment of the nation. It is criss-crossed by mountains and lowlands which would make the establishment of an adequate system of railways difficult and costly, and which sug gest airlines as the logical form of trans portation.

Public interest in China has been stimu lated by the long-distance flights successful ly carried out by Americans and Europeans. No longer is flying regarded with awe by the average Chinese, educated or uneducated, and more and more young Chinese men and women are learning to fly. The flying school operated by the Canton Aviation Bureau at Canton, trained approximately one hundred flying students and fifty mechancs during 1929. Chinese fliers are taking a prominent part in the wars which are chronic in China but which have helped to make the nation air-minded. At first Russian fliers were employed both as instructors and pilots in the military air service; now, however, the National government employs only Chinese aviators for military purposes.

Several air mail services have already been started in China and numerous other schemes for short and long distance airlines are under consideration by the Chinese government and by private individuals. Included in the developments of the aviation industry in China during 1929 was the formation of the China National Aviation Corporation, which was granted full control of civil aviation under the sanction of the State Council. The company was given the sole right to enter into contracts with private companies establishing air transport services and was granted full control over air mail, passenger and express air transport services throughout the country. During 1929 the China National Aviation Cor poration entered into contracts with American, German, British and French air trans port companies with which plans were formed for the establishment of a network of airways.

The association divided the country into five sections for purposes of developing commercial aeronautics. These areas are Kiangsu, Chekiang, Anhwei, Kiangsi, and Fukien. It is planned to make the three eastern provinces a sixth section. There is an executive committee of fifteen members with General Li Chi-sen as chairman of the committee and president of the association. Leading military and civil officials are the other members.

An experimental air mail and passenger service between Shanghai and Nanking were started on July 9, although the lack of intermediate landing fields prevented the maintenance of a regular schedule of operation. When the Shanghai-Nanking-Kiukiang- Hankow passenger, mail and express air transport service was established by the China National corporation on October 21, the concession to carry air mail was granted to that line, the Shanghai-Nanking line continuing to operate temporarily as a passenger service.

The Shanghai to Hankow airline operates five American-made Loening amphibions powered with Pratt and Whitney Hornet engines, the scheduled route following the course of the Yangtse River. Each plane accommodates six passengers and baggage. One trip daily each way is made, the total flying time, exclusive of scheduled stops, being six hours and twenty-five minutes. American pilots are used on the planes. Short wave radio stations are maintained at the airports on the route and receiving sets have been installed in the planes operated on the service.

China Airways will establish in 1930 an air mail service between Nanking and Peiping and Shanghai to Canton, according to present plans. A survey of the Nanking- Peiping route has been started and the operation of planes over the route is scheduled to start the middle of April. With the opening of these two scheduled routes China Airways will have in operation an air mail service covering a total of 3,970 miles daily with one plane each way on each leg of the route as follows: Shanghai-Hankow, 1,032 miles ; Shanghai-Peiping, 1,484 miles ; and Shanghai-Canton, 1,454 miles. Considerable progress has also been made in the development of aviation in North China.

The manufacture of airplanes has already made considerable progress in China, and there is a factory in Shanghai, one in Can ton, and another in Fukein. The engines are imported, the parts, wings, and fuselages being made with Chinese materials. There is no doubt, however, that China will con tinue for many years to be a good market for foreign-made airplanes and parts, which are more reliable than those made locally.

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