Sub-Committee on Commercial Aviation 5. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Complete Text, International Aerial Convention . 2. Aerial Law Resolution by American Legion LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Battery Park, New York City Aerial View, Yosemite Valley Aeromarine Passenger Mail Boat Between Key West and Havana Air Mail Routes, United States, Canada and Cuba Glenn L. Martin Mail Plane en route from Chicago to New York Flying Boat Brings Vacation Woods Close to Cities Frontispiece PAGE 4 5 20 21 28 29 29 36 Timber Cruiser Takes to the Air Airplane in Fish-Spotting Urban and Rural Uses for Aerial Photography How "Movies" Utilize Airplane Engines in Storm Scenes 93 100 Lieutenant Moseley and Verville-Packard Pulitzer Racer Z. R.-2 Dirigible and Hangar at Lakehurst, N. J. Personnel, Alaska Flying Expedition General Pershing Congratulates General Menoher on Completion of Flying Boat "Pinta" of Aeromarine Fleet Dedication of Aeromarine Key West-Havana Service Dayton-Wright and Curtiss Gordon Bennett Racers New York Aero Show San Francisco and Chicago Aero Shows INTRODUCTION In presenting the Aircraft Year Book for 1921, the third of the series, the editors and publishers wish to acknowledge the help provided by the various Governmental services having to do with aeronautics. It is desired particularly to express appreciation for the assistance given by Major H. M. Hickam, Chief of the Information Group, U. S. Air Service; Lieut. Commander R. E. Byrd of the Naval Aviation; the Flying Section of the Marine Corps; officials in charge of the Air Mail; the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; the Forestry Service, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Weather Bureau, the Bureau of Fisheries, the Bureau of Standards and the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Chapter XIII, which deals with the technical development of aircraft, was contributed in its entirety by Commander J. C. Hunsaker, of the Bureau of Construction and Repair, U. S. Navy, who is recognized as an authority on aeronautical design. MANUFACTURERS AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION, INC. New York City, January 1st, 1921. AIRCRAFT YEAR BOOK CHAPTER I THE COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE TRIES ITS WINGS; NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE YEAR; AMERICAN AERONAUTICS ENCOUNTERS OBSTACLES; MORE THAN 15,000,000 MILES FLOWN IN THE UNITED STATES T HE year 1920 will stand unique in the history of aeronautics, particularly in the United States. In 1919 there was the acute stimulus of popular curiosity in one of the mysterious elements which won the war. But in 1920 came the readjustment and consequently the necessity for flying to demonstrate its usefulness in peace. If established business experienced difficulty in shifting from extraordinary activity to normal levels, what a task, then, for aeronautics, peculiarly developed as a military adjunct, to challenge the age-long beliefs of time and space, and to share with the older forms of transportation the honor of greatly reducing the one and minimizing the other! In examining the record of the last twelve months, one is impressed with the brilliant promise and the sober want. Great things have been accomplished - great first flights by the Wright Brothers were made only seventeen years ago. But whatever has been achieved has been due rather more to individual vision and courage than to general support. This was particularly true of our own country, where the art had its birth. Here possibly the greatest opportunities were presented; and here, too, the severest handicaps were encountered. Yet in defiance of obstacles and discouragements, American aeronautics during 1920 proved itself worthy of a more liberal acceptance as a commercial factor and as a necessary element in the national defense. If spectacular flights, such as the crossing of the Atlantic by airplane and airship, were recorded in 1919, to 1920 were reserved certain achievements which, if not so likely to astonish, were more certain to advance the art. INTERNATIONAL PROGRESS IN AERONAUTICS The great nations of the earth, with more or less fixedness of purpose, endeavored to progress along lines aeronautical. Belgium, |