The U.S. Air Mail, coast to coast
This plan recreates the expansion of American air mail between 1918 and 1927, with transcontinental routes, regional branches and service stops.
It is a dense page. It works best when flown as a postal network: beacons, schedules, weather and regularity rather than fast sightseeing.
The progressive construction of the U.S. air mail network.
Connect cities, relays and main lines with discipline.
A simple aircraft better conveys exposure to terrain and weather.
Split the route into regional lines for readability.
Understanding the flight
The point is not to swallow everything in one line, but to understand how an immense country was stitched together by mail routes.
Each branch has its own character: plains, Rockies, Great Lakes, East Coast, South and Texas. The richness is in the variety.
Before departure
- Split the plan into sub-routes: transcontinental, West Coast, East Coast, South, Texas and Great Lakes.
- Use a vintage aircraft if you want to feel the vulnerability of the pioneers.
- Start with moderate weather, then add wind and low ceilings on selected branches.
- Record times to keep the mail-service spirit.
Suggested route
Main East-West line
This branch gives the network its backbone: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and New Jersey.
KFSO → KCCR → KSMF → KRNO → KEKO → KSLC → KRKS → KRWL → KCYS → KLBF → KOMA → KDSM → KIOW → KMLI → KMDW → 0G6 → KCLE
Northwest and Pacific coast
The route links the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Utah, California and the northern coast with a broad mix of terrain.
KPSC → KBOI → KSLC → KLAS → KBFL → KFAT → KSFO → KCCR → KSMF → KMFR → KPDX → KTIW → KBFI → CYYJ
East Coast and South Atlantic
Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, the Carolinas, Atlanta, Mobile and New Orleans create an urban then southern branch.
KBOS → KHFD → KISP → KPHL → KDCA → KFCI → KGSO → KINT → NC03 → KSPA → KATL → KBHM → KMOB → KMSY → 7LA1
Central route, Texas and Gulf
This section crosses the heartland toward Kansas City, Wichita, Dallas, San Antonio, Laredo, Houston and Galveston.
KMLI → KSTJ → KMCI → KICT → KPNC → KDFW → KACT → KSAT → KLRD → KIAH → KGLS
Rockies, Great Lakes and Midwest return
Denver, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis and the northeast loop close the network in mail-service logic.
KCYS → KDEN → KCOS → KPUB → KMSP → KSTP → KLSE → KMKE → KMDW → KPIA → KSPI → KSUS → KMEM → KALB → KSCH → KSYR → KROC → KBUF → KDET → KCLE → KYNG → KPIT → KAKR → KCMH → KMGY → KLUK → KSDF → KUMP → KMDW
Experience tips
Do not try to fly it all continuously. Pick one branch, fly it cleanly, then move on.
For immersion, impose schedules and reasonable weather minima as if operating a real mail service.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2008