PERU LEADS U. S. IN DEVELOPING AIRPLANE FOR COMMERCIAL USE
That the little South American republic of Peru is ahead of the U. S. in the development of the airplane for commercial purposes is the assertion of Capt.
Walter Simon, assistant to the director general of aeronautics in Peru. Capt. Simon is a native of New Orleans and still retains his U. S. citizenship. He went to Peru two years ago as a demonstrator of American planes and was later engaged by President Leguia to aid in developing Peru's air force.
"It is not only in a military way that Peru is developing," said Captain Simon recently. "That, in fact, is incidental to President Leguia's program for the use of the airplane in commerce. One immediate plan is the establishing of a mail and passenger service between Panama and Lima. It now takes six days to make the trip by water. By airplane we can do it in two, and much more comfortably. We believe this airplane route from Panama to Lima will encourage American business representatives more frequently to visit Peru. We want them. It now takes twelve days to make the trip from New York. The airplane, if used only on our end, would reduce this to eight days, and further time could be saved by air travel from the United States to Panama."
Captain Simon expressed his surprise at what he called a "lack of interest" in aeronautics in this country both with the public and in official circles.
"I can't understand how the country which gave birth to the airplane and has ever since maintained its leadership in invention and construction can be so indifferent when it comes to making practical application of these advantages," he said. "In a country so extensive as America the air is the logical transportation element of the future, and yet, excepting for the patriotic efforts of a handful of private manufacturers, business idealists who carry on in spite of discouragements, if not actual hostility, from Government and public alike practically nothing is being done here to extend the range of service of the plane.
"Of course, we must recognize the wonderful success of your Air Mail Service. Nothing surpasses it in the world today. But that only proves my point."
The Mansfield News (Mansfield, Ohio) - Monday, February 26, 1923
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