Far less dramatic than the world flight—but infinitely more important —is the inauguration of the 36-hour night air mail across the Continent. New red, white and blue mail boxes will be placed at many important points in New York City and at various stopping places along the route. Mailable matter will be carried provided parcels do not exceed 50 pounds in weight and 48 inches in girth. Rates are: eight cents an ounce for any one zone (the three zones being between New York and Chicago, Chicago and Cheyenne, Cheyenne and San Francisco) and 24 cents an ounce for the entire trip. It will be a deep source of chagrin to stamp collectors that no special stamps will be issued. The westward voyage will require 34 hours and 45 minutes, the eastward trip 32 hours and 5 minutes. The discrepancy is due partly to helpful winds on the return trip, partly to the fact that westward the pilot is beating the sun, eastward he is travelling in a direction opposite to that of the sun, and therefore flies faster over Mother Earth. The actual night flying zone will extend only 1,460 miles between Cleveland and Rock Springs, Wyo., with 335 miles from Cleveland to Chicago, and 240 miles from Cheyenne to Rock Springs, illuminated only when the long days of Summer have disappeared. The illuminated airway, a marvel of engineering, has received the coöperation of the General Electric Co., the Sperry Gyroscope Co. and the American Gas Accumulator Co. The combined candle power of all the lighthouses and beacons will be 5,279,000,000. At the main lighting stations (Chicago, Iowa City, Omaha, North Platte, Cheyenne) the towers will carry electric light beacons of 500,000,000 candle power visible for 150 miles, set slightly above the horizon to meet the eye of the pilot in the sky, and flashing 'round in a circle three times a minute. Incandescent acetylene lights of 5,000,000 candle power will flash at intermediate points, 22 miles apart and every field will also have all obstacles illuminated, floodlights for the actual landing, and illuminated wind vanes. The planes themselves will be lit up at tip and head.
For the present, the service will still use the remodelled DH planes of 90 miles an hour cruising speed and 500 pounds capacity.