Random Convergence

This story was never intended to be written.

The intent of the Airline Regulatory Economics Series is to compile a history of U.S. Federal Government activities in owning, operating, developing, promoting and economically-regulating U.S. air carriers.

In contemplating a starting point for the story of the Post Office-operated air mail program, the author intended to start Volume I of the Airline Regulatory Economics 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.

The backstory of the start of the U.S. air mail program is a compelling saga in and of itself because of these Seven Questions

1. Why did air mail begin in 1918, some fifteen years after the heavier-than-air powered flying machine became a reality?
2. Why did air mail start in the middle of America's war-fighting involvement in World War I?
3. Why did the Post Office start flight operations with Army airplanes flown by Army pilots?
4. With all its resources and appropriation funding, why didn't the Post Office just embark on purchasing as many airplanes as they would need?
5. If airplanes were not available to the Post Office, why not?
6. Why 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?
7. Why did air mail start with flights between Washington and New York?