WASHINGTON, May 23, 1927 (UP) -- An American birdman has conquered the Atlantic. America will probably seek next to master the far reaches of the Pacific and the Antarctic by air.
This was the prediction today of Assistant Secretary of Commerce William P. MacCracken, civil air head, in an exclusive interview with the United Press. His imagination fired like that of millions of Americans through the unbelievably successful feat of Charles Lindbergh in spanning the Atlantic from New York to Paris by air, MacCracken declared a "transpacific flight to Manila is among the great projects of the future." Simultaneously he ventured the view that Lindbergh's achievement "likely would lead to an early attempt at the South Pole."
"A transpacific flight to Manila is among the great projects for the future," he said. "Lindbergh's flight to Paris is over a greater distance than any single leg of a Pacific Coast-to-Manila flight via Honolulu and Guam. Such a flight is clearly practicable, and waits only someone's enthusiasm. It would be especially interesting because made between points all under the American flag.
"The chief effort of airplane builders in the light of Lindbergh's achievement will be to increase the safety of planes consistent with weight-carrying capacity. With some further experience in long distance flights with heavy loads the feasibility of the transpacific flight can be safely predicted."
Other authorities agreed too that with the North Pole "covered" the Atlantic crossed from New York to Paris, and the western hemisphere crossed and criss-crossed by American planes, the Pacific again will engross the imagination of flight promoters.
One notable effect of the Lindbergh's success will be to reawaken confidence in the great efficacy of "stunt flights" in promoting the rapid development of commercial aviation, officials said. The unparalleled world-wide enthusiasm over the New York-to-Paris flight will be a stimulus to officials and private promoters as well as aviators, it is believed.
During the spring several projects, including one by Lindbergh himself, have been under consideration for a flight from the Pacific coast to Hawaii, 2,288 miles. One of these has been in abeyance for lack of financial support. This difficulty it is believed may now easily be overcome.
Within the last year naval aviation experts have made extensive studies concerning the practicability of a flight by airplanes from the Pacific coast to Manila.
