grasp territory in South America? Is war between the
United States and an European power to be regarded as im-
probable? A more firmly knit alliance between the United
States and her Southern neighbors would mean a greater and
more formidable strength.
New York to Buenos Aires By Air
I have spoken of the difficulties that have retarded the de-
velopment of commerce, better facilities in transportation and
communication and the fostering of friendly relations. I be-
lieve these difficulties are about to be overcome. I feel certain
that the present obstacles in time and distance will be sur-
mounted. The isolated cities of South America will be brought
into touch with the world of the day by aircraft. Separated
countries will meet despite the barriers of mountains, rivers
and forests. The United States and the countries of South
America will be brought together as closely as are England and
France. The distance from New York to Buenos Aires—
which is now over twenty days by steamship—will be abbre-
viated to a trip of a few days. With time and distance anni-
hilated, the commercial relations, so long deferred, will spon-
taneously develop. We shall have facilities for prompt com-
munication. We shall get into closer contact. We shall be-
come stronger in the bonds of understanding and friendship.
All this will, I believe, be effected by the aeroplane. I do
not think many years will pass before there will be established
aeroplane services between the great cities of the United States
and the capitals of South American countries. With an
aeroplane mail service, communication between the two conti-
nents will be cut from twenty days to two or three days. The
transportation of passengers between New York and the re-
mote points in South America is not impossible. I believe the
modern improved aeroplane will solve the problems with
which we have struggled for years. I believe the aero-
plane will knit the various States of the continent into an
integrally united, co-operating and friendly combination,
allied for their own well being in sport, trade and com-
merce as well as for strength in times of possible war.
In 1915, while I was in Europe, I received a gracious invi-
tation from the Governors of the Aero Club of America to
come to the United States as their guest in order to confer
with them on the problem of bringing the Pan-American
nations nearer to one another by means of aerial navigation.
I was much honored and pleased, and so wrote to the Gov-
ernors of the Club, telling them how heartily I commended
their idea. I deeply regretted at the time that I could not at
once respond, as I had been invited by my friend, M. di Sori-
ano, the great sportsman, who holds all power boat records, to
cruise with him on his yacht, in the north of Spain. Because
of my previous acceptance, I was compelled to postpone re-
sponding to the invitation of the Governors of the Aero Club
and delay my visit to the United States until October, 1915.
Is the possibility of aerial navigation between the United States and the South American countries merely a fantastic speculation? Personally, I believe that aerial navigation will be used for the transportation of mail, and passengers as well, between the two continents—and that, perhaps, very soon. Some of you may shake your heads increduously and smile at this prediction. Yet twelve years ago when I said aerial machines would take an important part in the waging of future wars people likewise shook their heads and smiled.
Prediction of Employment of Aircraft for Military
Purposes Was Scoffed at In 1903
On the fourteenth of July, 1903, I piloted a dirigible over the
great Longchamps military revue. One hundred thousand sol-
diers took part in this revue: there were from three to four
hundred thousand spectators. That was the first time aerial
navigation was a feature of a military demonstration. At that
time I predicted that aerial warfare would be one of the most
important phases of future military campaigns. My prediction
was scoffed at and resented by militarists who could not see
the airship in any light but as a childish toy. They would not
discuss it seriously. But consider what has happened since
then. Consider the invaluable work the aeroplane has done
during the present war for the contending armies. Aero-
nautics has revolutionized warfare. Aircraft are being em-
ployed in connection with every branch of both services.
Development of Aeroplane Since the War Marvelous
Since the beginning of the war the development of the aero-
plane—in the aeroplane itself, in motors and aeroplane guns—
has been marvelous. Who, five years ago, would have be-
lieved that aeroplanes could be used to attack hostile forces,
that cannon shots could be sent, with deadly effect, upon an
enemy from the inaccessible heights of the air? Since the
beginning of the war, machines have been improved. They
have been increased in size, power and efficiency. Motors
have undergone a steady improvement.
To Be of Even Greater Value for Peace Than It Has Been
for War
If the aeroplane has proven itself so useful in the conduct
of war, how much more useful should it not be in times of
peace. If the war has served as an incentive in this amazing
development, how much greater to scientists and inventors
should be the incentive to develop the aeroplane that it may
serve the nations in pursuits of commerce and the develop-
ment of friendly international relations!
Less than a decade ago my aeroplane was considered a marvel. In this machine, in which there was a place for only one person, I used a motor of about twenty horsepower. At first I was only able to fly a few metres, and then a few kilometres. My record was a twelve-mile flight. I could carry only enough gasoline to fly three-quarters of an hour.
At that time the aeroplane was regarded as a sort of toy.
No one could have believed it possible for aviation to develop
to the degree it has in the present day. Then we went out to
fly only when there was no wind, usually after sunrise or sun-
set, when a handkerchief would not move in the air. People
believed that an aeroplane could fly only when there is no wind.
Aeroplanes Bridge International Gaps Which Neither
Railroads Nor Automobiles Can Bridge
Today machines are being made capable of carrying thirty passengers, of travelling in the air for hours, of making nearly 1.000 miles without touching ground, and which are driven by 1.000-horsepower. An aeroplane has been up in the air as high as 26.200 feet and has flown, without touching the earth, for 24 hours, 12 minutes ; and from sunrise to sunset an aeroplane has travelled 1,300 miles! We no longer fear wind or weather. The modern machine can brave any gale and fly through a storm of any velocity, and can also rise above the storms, and yet even now the aeroplane is still in its infancy.
In a short period of ten years the aeroplane has developed
more rapidly than did the automobile. We can get aeroplanes
that can now travel at 130 miles an hour. For commercial pur-
poses and for international communication both railroad and
automobiles reach a point where their utility ends. Mountains,
forests, rivers and seas block their progress. But the air af-
fords an unhindered speedway to the aeroplane ; it can travel
above mountains, forests and seas. It can unite continents.
The atmosphere is our ocean and we have ports everywhere.
A Dream Realized
I, who am myself somewhat of a dreamer, never anticipated
what I beheld when I visited an enormous factory in the
United States. There I saw thousands of skilled mechanics
engaged in the building of aeroplanes, of which twelve can
be turned out daily. To expedite the shipments of these ma-
chines, railroad sidings have been constructed into the fac-
tories themselves. To me the scene looked more like a dream
than a reality. For among the aeroplanes constructed there is
one capable of flying over 600 miles and carrying thirty people.
An acroplane of this type equipped with four motors totalling
over 1,000 horsepower, has flown in England with eight pas-
sengers and 600 gallons of gas and other equipment on board
at a speed of 75 miles an hour!
This machine is built with three planes, spreading 133 feet.
The length is 68 feet, the rudder area 54 square feet ; fixed tail
area, horizontal, 126 square feet. The weight of the hull and
planes is 8.000 pounds, and of the motors 4.000 pounds. With
a crew of eight men, weighing twelve hundred pounds, oil and
gasoline weighing 5.250 pounds and a load, presumably of am-
munition, of 3.000 pounds, there is a total weight which can
be carried through the air, of 21.000 pounds or over ten tons!
Developed by the needs and exigencies of warfare, this same
machine—diverted from purposes of destruction—will prove of
incalculable value as an instrument in the useful pursuits of
the race. At the present time it is quite possible that one of
these aeroplanes could make the trip between New York and
Valparaiso or between Washington and Rio Janeiro. A stop-
ping station for the taking on of supplies of fuel could be ar-
ranged every 600 miles.
The chief problem which confronted aerial navigation, get-
ting an efficient motor, may be considered as solved. The aero-
plane motor today is much more reliable than the automobile
motor was ten years ago. In the early days of the automobile
you could not go out driving without having trouble with the
carburetor or the ignition apparatus. The magneto was not
yet discovered. Now you can go out driving in a car, travel
many thousands of miles, without a breakdown. With the
exception of the pneumatic tires, which are still in their in-
fancy, I have had no trouble with my last car for three years.
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