Reliability Test

Seventeen planes, from a giant Fokker with three motors, upholstered pullman chairs and a baggage room, to Carrier Pigeon Planes not much bigger than dragonflies, rose from the Ford field at Dearborn, Mich., last week for a 1,900-mile trip. Edsel Ford flagged them away. He had put up a large silver trophy for the winner of this "Reliability Test." Planes were judged on the consistency of their performances. They buzzed steadily ahead, not trying for speed but just to see which could stick at it best. At Indianapolis they were met by rain, at Chicago by a cheering crowd. In Omaha Pilot "Casey" Jones wriggled between two other contestants to make a landing--on top of a motorcycle; cycle and plane were wrecked. Mechanics worked through the night, sent him on his way again. Fifteen of the 16 landed safe at Dearborn again with the great Fokker in front. Anthony H. G. Fokker climbed stiffly down, crinkled his amiable face at his passengers: "How did you like it?" It had been marvelous, unique, they said, casting rueful glances at small brown paper bags*affixed to the arms of the pullman chairs they had lately occupied. Mr. Ford's judges retired to deliberate.

*In case of "plane sickness."