Monday, Jul. 19, 1926

Seventh Link

The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. operates subways, surface cars, elevated trains, motor busses, taxicabs. There are elevators in its buildings. Its messengers pedal bicycles. Its directors ride horseback, sail boats, drive roadsters. Last week it began operating airplanes. The Company had not only contracted for the airmail route between Philadelphia and Washington, D. C., but undertook a passenger service as well. This seventh link* in the country's airmail chain is 123 miles long, from Philadelphia Navy Yard to Hoover Field. Seven passengers made the first trip, among them Airplane Designer Anthony H. G. Fokker of Holland and New York.

*The other six links in the order of their inauguration: New York-Chicago, Chicago-San Francisco, Cleveland-Detroit, Chicago-Dallas, Minneapois-Chicago, New York-Boston (TIME, July 12).