“It won’t take long,” explained Tim and he handed the folded paper to the managing editor, indicating the article which had attracted his attention.
Carson scanned the item and then re-read it, his news sense instantly aroused to the value of the idea behind the story. He smiled at Tim.
“I’ll bet you want me to send you and the News’ plane on this good will air tour,” he said when he had completed reading the story for the second time.
“That’s it exactly,” enthused Tim. “It seems to me like a great chance. Good publicity for the News and at the same time boosting aviation. According to the tentative plans, this will be a good will air tour of the state, open to every licensed pilot and plane, with stops at all of the larger airports in the state.”
“Wouldn’t it be pretty expensive?” asked the managing editor.
“Not necessarily,” replied Tim. “Gas and oil would be the main item of expense and the advertising value of having a plane in the tour would more than offset the expense.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised but that you are right, Tim,” said Carson. “I’ve got to hurry along for that appointment. I’ll consider your plan tonight and let you know first thing in the morning.”
That evening Tim told Ralph of his hope that the News would enter its plane in the good will air tour and Ralph agreed that it would be a great stunt, both from the standpoint of advertising the paper and of popularizing aviation.
Tim was busy on a handful of rewrites from the morning papers when the managing editor stopped at his desk the next day.
“We’ve decided to enter our plane in the air tour,” he said. “I talked it over with Mr. Adams, the advertising manager, and he agrees that it is an excellent plan. I’m glad you called it to my attention, Tim. We’ll work out the details later.”