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CHAPTER X

AVIATION INVITES

THE reception given us—and accorded the flyers who preceded us—indicates, it seems to me, the increasing air-minded-ness of America. And it is not only air-expeditions, pioneer explorations and "stunts" which command attention.

The air mail, perhaps more than any other branch of aeronautics, has brought home to the average man realization of the possibilities of aviation. Its regularity and dependability are taken for granted by many. While our development of this phase of air transport is notable, the United States is somewhat backward in other branches, compared with the European nations. We lag behind the procession in passenger carry-

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