{"product_id":"random-convergence-charles-witthoft-9798864564400","title":"Random Convergence: The Linked Evolution of U.S. Military Aviation and Postal Air Mail - Book One","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis story was never intended to be written.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe intent of the \u003ci\u003eAirline Regulatory Economics\u003c\/i\u003e Series is to compile a history of U.S. Federal Government activities in owning, operating, developing, promoting and economically-regulating U.S. air carriers. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn contemplating a starting point for the story of the Post Office-operated air mail program, the author intended to start Volume I of the \u003ci\u003eAirline Regulatory Economics\u003c\/i\u003e Series with the inaugural day of air mail flights on May 15, 1918, and proceed forward from there. But the author inevitably found himself proceeding backwards from May 15, 1918, rather than forward. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe backstory of the start of the U.S. air mail program is a compelling saga in and of itself because of these Seven Questions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy did air mail begin in 1918, some fifteen years after the heavier-than-air powered flying machine became a reality?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy did air mail start in the middle of America's war-fighting involvement in World War I?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy did the Post Office start flight operations with Army airplanes flown by Army pilots?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWith all its resources and appropriation funding, why didn't the Post Office just embark on purchasing as many airplanes as they would need?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf airplanes were not available to the Post Office, why not?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy wasn't the inaugural air mail flight in May 1918 operated by a Post Office Department contractor, which was the case for steamship mail transportation commencing in the early 1800's; and for railroad mail transport later in the 1800's?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy did air mail start with flights between Washington and New York?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003eVolume I, \u003ci\u003e Random Convergence\u003c\/i\u003e, provides answers to these important questions, plus others. While researching this backstory, the author also discovered the critical importance of the parallel development of U.S. military aviation to U.S. air mail: Despite funding by Congress, air mail wasn't going anywhere without the availability of War Department aircraft. The history of early development of U.S. military aviation is vital to answering these questions as well \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eRandom Convergence\u003c\/i\u003e describes the evolution of these different stories - individually the product of somewhat random events - and how their histories - singularly and more importantly, how they intersected with each other at times - ultimately converged to produce the start of air mail service in the U.S. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt turns out to be quite a saga - and it begins with \u003ci\u003eRandom Convergence - \u003c\/i\u003eThis is Book One of Two\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Charles Witthoft\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798864564400\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/31\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 422\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.86d","brand":"Charles Witthoft","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48742848102655,"sku":"9798864564400","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/random-convergence-charles-witthoft-9798864564400","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}