As soon as the aeroplane demonstrated that it could travel at least twice as fast as the fastest express-train, even when going in the same direction, and that in addition it could traverse mountains, rivers, forests, swamps in a straight line, its possibilities as a mail-carrier were immediately realized, and steps were taken in most countries to establish aero mail routes.
In the United States the first attempt to carry mail was made by Earl Ovington from the Nassau Boulevard aerodrome near Mineola, N. Y., September, 1911. Postmaster-General Hitchcock delivered a package to Mr. Ovington to be carried to Brooklyn, N. Y. The machine was a Bleriot. The distance of five and one-half miles was made in six minutes. Two trips a day were made by Mr. Ovington—one to and one from Mineola. On Sunday, September 23, 6,165 post-cards, 781 letters, 55 pieces of printed matter were carried. Captain Beck using a Curtiss biplane also carried 20 pounds of mail, and T. O. M. Sopwith, using a Wright machine, also carried some mail.
The first regular permanent aero mail service was started on May 15, 1918, at Belmont Park, New York, and at the Polo Grounds, Washington, D.C. Leaving Belmont Park, New York, at 11.30 in the forenoon with a full load of 344 pounds of mail, Lieutenant Torry S. Webb flew in one hour to Philadelphia, from which point the mail was relayed through the air by Lieutenant J. C. Edgerton, who delivered it in Washington at 2.50 P.M. The actual flying time of the two couriers, deducting the six minutes’ intermission in relaying at Philadelphia, was three hours and twenty minutes. This record was considered highly satisfactory for the initial trip with new machines.
Owing to a broken propeller Lieutenant George Leroy Boyle was forced to descend in Maryland with the aero mail bound for Philadelphia and New York. On May 16 Lieutenant Edgerton flew from Washington to Philadelphia with the mail, making the first continuous connection in that direction. President Wilson and official Washington were present at the Polo Grounds to see the first aero mail off.
During the year the aero mail service has been in operation between Washington, Philadelphia, New York, it has demonstrated the practical commercial utility of the aeroplane.
On the anniversary the Post-Office Department released the following summary, which gives us the first complete account of commercially operated air service, dating over the period of a year:
One Year’s Aero Mail Service
The two aeroplanes that took to the air to-day, one leaving Washington and one leaving New York, are the same that carried the mail a year ago, and have been constantly in the service, and they are propelled by the same motors. One of these has been in the air 164 hours, flying 10,716 miles, and has carried 572,826 letters. It has cost, in service, per hour, $65.80. Repairs have cost $480. The other plane has been in the air 222 hours, flying 15,018 miles, and has carried 485,120 letters. It has cost, in service, per hour, $48.34. Repairs to this machine have cost $1,874.76.
The record of the entire service between New York and Washington shows 92 per cent of performance during the entire year, representing 128,037 miles travelled, and 7,720,840 letters carried. The revenues from aeroplane mail stamps amounted to $159,700, and the cost of service, $137,900.06.
The operation of the aeroplane mail service every day in the year except Sunday, encountering all sorts of weather conditions and meeting them successfully, has demonstrated the practicability of employing the aeroplane for commercial service, and the air mail organization has been able to work out problems of great value in the adaptation of machines to this character of service. From the inauguration of the service until the 10th of August, the flying operations were conducted by the army, in connection with its work of training aviators for the war. Since August 10 it has been operated entirely by the Post-Office Department, with a civil organization. When the service was started there was great divergency of opinion among aeronautical experts as to the possibility of maintaining a daily service regardless of weather conditions, and the opinion was held by many that it would have to be suspended during the severe winter months. The service has been maintained, however, throughout the year with a record of 92 per cent, gales of exceptional violence and heavy snow-storms being encountered and overcome. Out of 1,261 possible trips, 1,206 were undertaken, and only 55 were defaulted on account of weather conditions. During rain, fog, snow, gales, and electrical storms, 435 trips were made. Out of a possible 138,092 miles, 128,037 miles were flown. Only 51 forced landings were made on account of weather, and 37 on account of motor trouble. It has been demonstrated that flying conditions for such a commercial service as this, which is regulated by a daily schedule regardless of the weather, are very different from those of military flying. Aeroplanes designed wholly for war purposes are not suitable for commercial service, as they lack the strength necessary for daily cross-country work, with its incidental forced landings. Aeronautical engineers have developed for the Post-Office Department a stronger and more powerful plane suitable for commercial service while retaining the excellent flying qualities of the De Havilland machine. The De Havilland 4’s, which were transferred to the Post-Office Department after the signing of the armistice, are being reconstructed to fit them for commercial requirements. In specially constructed mail-carrying planes, for the building of which the department has called for bids to be opened June 2, a form of construction is called for which will enable a mechanic to make important minor repairs in flight, making it possible with a multiple motor to avoid forced landings.