CALLED urgently to Dublin one morning recently on business, and not wishing, if he could avoid it, to spend a day on the journey by train and steamer, Mr. Gordon Selfridge telephoned to the Private Hire Department of Aircraft Transport and Travel, Ltd., and arranged to make the trip in an Airco 9 biplane, piloted hy Captain Gathergood.

After finishing his morning's work in his office, Mr. Selfridge lunched and then motored to Hendon,ascending at 2.30 p.m., and flying non-stop to Shotwick, near Chester, where a halt was made for tea and to obtain a report as to the weather over the Irish Sea. The flight was then resumed, and Dublin rea ched at 6 ,30 p.m.,in ample time for dinner.

The next day Mr. Selfridge devoted to his business in Dublin, returning again to London by air, at more than 100 miles an hour , on the following afternoon. To quote Mr. Selfridge's own words on alighting: " By the use of the aeroplane as a super-special tram I have been able to transact business with a rapidity which would have been quite impossible by any other means. "The return journey between London and Dublin, if made by train.and steamer, would have taken me about 20 hours; but by aeroplane I have just been able to make this return journey of roughly 700 miles in an actual flying time of only 6 hours. "If pioneer flights like these are can he made already, before aerial routes are properly organised, it only shows what an enormous convenience the high speed aeroplane is destined to become to the businessman when he is in a hurry."

AIRCRAFT TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL, LTD. (Chairman: Mr.G.HOLT THOMAS.)

By telephoning to the Private Hire Department; 27, Buckingham Gate. S.W. (Victoria 7932). a high-speed aeroplane can now be engaged for an immediate jou rney in any direction, the rates for hire being 5/-per mile for a machine carrying two passengers, and 10/· per mile for one accomomodating four passengers.