Aviation Before and After 9/11

I have always been fascinated with the early years of aviation. I like to think that I would have been an early aviatric had I been born around the turn of the 20^th century. I’m probably fooling myself since I don’t like heights, but what the heck, it’s my fantasy.

Unfortunately when I think about flying and airplanes now, I think about how four of them were used as guided missiles to kill thousands of people, wipe out two iconic buildings and almost destroy the U.S. Pentagon. And they were just the obvious losses.

There are many other less tangible loses; including increased security at airports, a rise in fear and fanaticism within our country and a loss of civility and compromise within our government.

One hundred years ago, when the age of flight was in its infancy, it was such a romantic ideal and conjured up images of adventure, innovation and dare. An airplane flying over your house, or field, was something to get excited about and was written about in the newspaper. In fact, I lived on a flight path for the John F. Kennedy Airport; and, when a plane flew over, we would rush to the window to watch it land.

On July 5, 1911, an article in the Red Bank Register was about an incident that happened during what would seem to us now to be child’s play. It is also a story about how a pilot risked his life so as not to hit crowds of people.

"Captain Ernest L. Janney of the Janney aeroplane company, with headquarters at Keyport, sent his machine into a gully in order to keep from hitting a crowd of people while making a flight at Atlantic Highlands last Thursday," the story said. "Both wings on the machine were smashed. Mr. Janney had made a successful flight across the meadows of Middletown township and back. When he sought to land at Atlantic Highlands a crowd gathered on the field and prevented his landing. Janney was supposed to make flights at Atlantic Highlands on the Fourth but his machine broke down on the way from Keyport.”

On that same day, it was reported that a pilot "sailed over Red Bank on his way to Atlantic City." The article explains that the airplane passed over Red Bank at about 500 feet in the air. The machine was plainly visible, but the pilot was fighting a strong wind and was not making much speed.

"He landed on the camp grounds at Seagirt to replenish his supply of gasolene," the Register story said. "He will fly from Atlantic City to Philadelphia and thence to Washington this week. Atwood has had only about six weeks' experiences with aeroplanes, but he holds all cross country records for carrying a passenger."

On Aug. 27, 1913, it was reported that the aviation meet at Asbury Park was marred by an accident on opening day. "George Gray in a Wright bi-plane crashed into a tree near the Deal lake shore a few seconds after getting his machine into the air," a Register story that day said. "Gray was badly bruised on the legs, but after treatment at the Long Branch hospital, returned to the athletic field and watched the other aviators do some stunts.

"Gray started his machine at the southern end of the field and ran the full length of the field before his engine developed power enough to raise the machine. The machine was about thirty feet in the air when it ran into a bad air current. The rudder refused to work and the machine crashed into a tree."

The article goes on to say that "some youngsters were in the tree watching the aviator when they say the machine darted toward them. They jumped from the tree and escaped with a few bruises. The machine dropped to the ground with part of it in Deal lake. Officer Fred E. Brown was near the scene and he pulled Gray from the machine before it went under the water. Mrs. Gray, a bride of a month, rushed to her husband's side as soon as she saw him fall. Frederick C. Hild was the next aviator to make an ascension. He struck some telegraph wires when raising into the air but no damage was done."

In the Aug. 12, 1913 issue of the Register it was reported that H. S. Borden bought a "hydro-aeroplane," but flying was so new that the reporter felt compelled to explain the definition of the word hanger: 

"The final adjustments were made to Howard S. Borden's new hydroaeroplane this week at his Oceanic summer home. The machine is kept in a hangar on the river bank. A hangar is a low shed in which flying machines are usually housed. A long rail or beam projects from the hangar and extends out over the river. The flying machine is attached to this rail and is swung out over the water when it is let down. The machine is brought in from the water in the same way.

"The flying machine is a biplane of the Burgess-Dunne type. It is propelled by an eight-cylinder engine of one hundred horse power. Three pontoons are under the machine to keep it afloat in the water. There is room for a passenger in the machine, as well as the operator."

The article continued:

"Orrin G. Soule, an employee of Mr. Borden, has been taught how to run the aeroplane and he and Mr. Borden may make trial trips this week. A few days ago, Mr. Borden fell from a horse and dislocated his collar bone. His arm has been in a sling ever since, but he is able to go about. The injury will not stop him from trying out the aeroplane.

"The trial flights of the machine will be made on the Shrewsbury river. After Mr. Borden has become thoroughly acquainted with the working parts of the aeroplane flights will be made in this section.

"If the trials prove successful Mr. Borden will probably use the machine to take him to and from his work at New York. At present he goes to New York in his yacht. It is said that the port authorities at New York will object to the landing of the hydro-aeroplane at New York, as it may interfere with vessels there."

Isn’t that interesting? Apparently, even 100 years ago, wealthier residents of Monmouth County were traveling to their jobs in New York City by boat, although going to work every day on your yacht is a far cry from traveling on the ferry.

Many years ago, Winston Churchill said, "One cannot doubt that flying … must in the future exercise a potent influence, not only in the habits of men, but upon the military destinies of states …"

But in more recent times, when flying had already become a mode of transportation, Martin Luther King Jr. said in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, "Every time I take a flight, I am always mindful of the many people who make a successful journey possible — the known pilots and the unknown ground crew."

Even Churchill, who was a bit of a visionary like King, would have had a hard time envisioning aviation of today.

Churchill thought of airplanes as machines of war. He was right on that count because airplanes have been used as weapons in war for many years now. And in 2001, commercial jets were used as missles.

But Martin Luther King Jr. was right, too, because more and more airplanes have opened up the world of travel for even ordinary people like myself, who love nothing more than to see how other people live in the world.

Last month I flew to England and while standing in the back of the plane stretching my legs I met a very thoughtful, young Indian man who was going home to India after visiting relatives in Jersey City. We talked for about half an hour and exchanged emails.

Before I even got to the house in England, he had sent me an email with some London sights that he forgot to tell me about. When I told him that we were looking for some good Indian restaurants, he told me about a section of London nicknamed "Little India." But he bowled me over when he invited me and my family to visit him and his Jersey City relatives next year when he comes back for a visit.

We didn’t have time to go to "Little India" and we did find a good Indian restaurant, as well as a not so good one, but my grandson, who just turned 14 years old, has become a global boy who now loves Indian food, pub food and London.

At Heathrow Airport, my backpack set off an alarm so they pulled me aside and made me empty it. I had a small ice pack that had melted signaling to the machine that there was liquid in my bag. Since it was clearly not a bomb, I passed the test and didn’t have to suffer further indignities.

I don’t love flying as much as I once did, because of the necessitated security precautions and longer lines. But it is still the best way to see the world and met and connect with people from other cultures.