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[[image - photograph]] 1933: The Curtis Condor, heralded as the "first silent liner of the air." There was a Stinson, many others too. [[image - photograph]] 1936: The DC-3 emerged as the "modern air transport." It was the workhorse of the air lines, a favorite. contributions to the air transportation would be an endless task, just as it would be impossible to enumerate the contributions made by personnel in all phases of air transportation. On this 50th anniversary of the 120-foot flight of the Wright Brothers, we salute the pilots who have grown with the industry. [[image - photograph]] Leslie O. Barnes President, Allegheny In Allegheny Airlines' pilot group are several pilots who may be counted among the pioneers of flying. These are the pilots who led the early experimenting and perfecting of the pick-up gear leading to the establishment of the pioneer scheduled air mail pick-up airline -- All American Airways The All American Airways' system provided the basis of Allegheny Airlines as it is today. Many of the basic routes developed by the pilots of the "Mail Pick-up" remain today on the Allegheny system. Routes flown by these pilots brought air-mail service to thousands of people who, in some cases, had never known of such service before; they brought air-mail service to many who would not otherwise receive air service because there were no airports. Further development of the pick-up gear as used in All American's Air-Mail planes led to the glider pick-up widely used by the Army in World War II. This experimental work was carried on by the same pilots that had helped develop the original pick-up device. While on duty with the Army Air Force, Captains Rintoul and Santmyer of Allegheny continued to experiment with pick-up gears and made the first human pick-up. This human pick-up method was then used by the British and the United States Intelligence Corps as a method of assisting espionage agents to escape from enemy countries. Today, Allegheny still has on their Pilots' Seniority List thirteen of these pilots who helped develop the All American Pick-up System. There are still actively engaged in helping to develop Allegheny as a local service carrier. We are proud of our men behind the machines! [[image - photograph]] George E. Gardner President, NEA It is obvious that without pilots and their unfailing faith in the aviation industry, there would have been no significant advancement in the air transportation field. Particularly from the date of the first radial air cooled engine making possible practical carriage of passengers and cargo, pilots, with their experience and engineers, with their knowledge, have in the main sparked the evolution of the transport plane as we know it today. There is no reason to believe that this combination will not continue to develop, as it has in the past fifty years. I deem myself fortunate indeed that I may recall over the years many who contributed so much to this rapid development, names too numerous to mention of those who are responsible for the instrument flying techniques, altitude exploration and long overwater, as well as transcontinental operations, that we regard as commonplace now. I think your organization is doing a splendid job in dedicating the December issue to these people. [[image - photograph]] R.B. Stewart President, Lake-Central In conjunction with the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Powered Flight, I feel it imperative that we stop for a moment and recognize the tremendous part the airline pilots have played in the development of commercial aviation. Much has been said concerning the technological development and advancement that has been made over this period. The new designs in aircraft and in engines can readily be seen and appreciated, but these same mechanical improvements have called for a corresponding evolution and development in the training, experience, and attitude of the airline pilots. No other single group has been as able and willing to respond to this change in our times. For example, as the local-service airlines have become an integral part of the ever expanding aviation industry, the local-service pilot has been called upon to perform duties more difficult even than flying long-distance schedules. This type of flying is more strenuous (Continued on Page 14) December, 1953 Page 11
