Plane Rides, 1919

The Caddo Herald

August 29, 1919

Airplane Visits Us; Gets the Money

 Last Thursday a couple of young men owning an airplane came to Caddo and proceeded to do business. They were nice, likeable young fellows and invited people to ride at their rates of a dollar per minute and did not find much trouble in getting customers. Some seventy-five people took ten dollars worth each.

Those who took the rides aver that they got their money’s worth. They describe the sensation as delightful and novel. From the air the earth looks entirely different. People look like insects crawling around and autos look like small beetles crawling on the earth. Roads look like small string and house like goods boxes.

No accidents happened in any of the flights and the aviators left with good pay for their work.

Of course airplane flying is high priced for it is a novelty and engines are expensive and short-lived. Its said the airplane engine can last but 400 hours with good luck, while they have to be overhauled each 100 hours of running. Viewed from the light of expense of preparation, the charge for flights was not exorbitant. 

Comments

[Cash Carroll]

Cool! I think this is to show people that flying is grand and also to satiate people's curiosity as to how it is. After all, it was just in 1903 when the Wright brothers had their first manned flight. I can't even imagine the feel of the breeze on their face, seeing firsthand the view down below. Back then, to start up the planes, you had to turn the propeller as hard as you can and run away as it ran and took off into the air. Wouldn't it be really cool to see those vintage planes?