OVER THE ROOF

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 14, 17 January 1921, Page 2

OVER THE ROOF

A CITY AIR DEPOT

NEW YORK ARCHITECTS PLAN.

That travel by air would havo becomo much more general, in view of tho remarkable development of aerial navigation and everything pertaining to it, if suitable landing and starting places were available for flying machines in the cities and suburban residence sections, admits of no question, says the Exporters' and Importers' Journal. It is only the lack of such facilities as they would afford that retards •the adoption . of the. flying machine as a means of travel. That tho business man, having his home income desirable residence section a few miles out. would in many instances prefer the swift air-craft even to his ssnoedy a-nd luxurious automobile, there is no reason to doubt-, the only obstacle being, the want of suitable landing and starting conveniences. A Brooklyn architect, Mr. F, s T. Fellner, is the designer of an aeroplane station that competent engineers and architects havo pronounced entirely feasible. In the plans it is shown as extending ovor the Waldorf-Astoria and M'Alpin Hotels, covering two blocks on Fifthav^nuo at 33rd and 34th. streets, at a height of 150 feet above tho roofs of the buildings and 550 feet abovo the streets, and having an area- of 300 by 700 feot, affording- ample landing spaco for a fleet of aeroplanes. Both hotels are amply | provided with clovator accommodations which could readily bo extended to connect with the landing floor, or special elevators could bo constructed for tho_ convenience of the aerial-'voyagere. Suitablo signalling systems, could be planned that - would allow of the uso of the landing by night or day. There aro plenty of other locations in tho city equally well adapted for such a purpose, although perhaps not as conveniently central a 6 the one selected for illustration. With such facilities ac would thus be afforded, an enormous_ impetus would be given to aerial navigation, and the arrival and departure- of flocks of .flying- machines, at tho opening and closing of every business day and tho utilisation of tho airship type of public conveyances, would bo an every day occurrence.