But the planes they flew were frail
and in just one year, 1921, the Service recorded 1,764 unplanned ‘landings’,
about half due to weather and half to mechanical failures;
In all thirty four pilots flew into darkness and never returned.
Next month’s historic flight will consist of 3 aircraft,
each deeply seated in
the history of the Postal Services:
Addison Pemberton will fly his magnificently restored 1928
Boeing 40C, Larry Tobin
will pilot a 1927 Stearman C3B and Ben Scott, a 1930 Stearman
4E.
Pemberton, Tobin and Scott are dedicating this epic flight
to the honor of all the pioneers
of U.S. commercial aviation and of the U.S. Postal Services.
Scheduled are visits to 15 of the original air mail stops
on the transcontinental route.
On Sept. 10 the flight will
depart New York’s Republic
field (FRG) at 9:30AM arriving at Belafonte, PA. (N96) late
that morning. They will depart in time to arrive at Cleveland
(BKL) by late afternoon or early evening for an overnight
stop.
From there the schedule will include:
Sept. 11 – Depart Cleveland
(BKL) 9:30AM. Arrive late morning Bryan, Ohio (OG6)
Depart and arrive Chicago Lansing Airport (IGQ) late afternoon.
Arrive
early evening Iowa City (IOW) Overnight stop.
Sept. 12 – Depart Iowa
City 9:30AM. Arrive Omaha, NB (OMA)
Late morning. Depart
and arrive North Platt NB(LBF) late afternoon. Overnight
stop.
Sept.13 – Depart North
Platt, NB 9:30AM. Arrive late morning Cheyenne, WY (CYS)
Depart and arrive mid afternoon Rawlins, WY (RWL).
Depart and
arrive Rock Springs, WY (RKS) early evening. Overnight stop.
Sept.14 – Arrive late
morning Salt Lake # 2 (U42). Depart and arrive Elko,
NV (EKO)
afternoon. Depart and arrive Reno, NV (RNO) early evening.
Overnight stop.
Sept. 15 – Depart Reno,
NV 9:30AM. Depart and arrive Hayward, CA (HWD)
Late
morning. Depart Hayward, CA mid day for SFO or Chrissy Field
(to be determined) and return to Hayward, CA.
(The final
destination uncertainty is due to the fact that Chrissy Field,
sad to say, has been closed. Although designated a National
Historic Landmark, along with the entire Presidio of San
Francisco in 1962, and thought to be sacrosanct from development,
it was finally closed to fixed-wing aircraft In 1974, although
helicopter operations continued their until very recently.)
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