Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-06
PLANS AERO SHOW
Display of Models at the Ma.
tjonaI Museum.
APPEAL MADE FOR FUNDS
Institution Already Has Nucleus for
an Exhibit, But Hopes
for Additions.

Plans have been drawn and PROVISIONAL
ly approved for an aeroplane exhibit at
the National Museum This is a matter
that has been discussed for a long time.
and all that has stood in the way was a
lack of money. That hitch still exists,
but by this fall it is hoped to commence
work on the exhibit. If public spirited
citizens should come to the aid of the
museum and put up money for the ex-
hibit the work would be simpified and
quickened.
Several wealthy men have expressed an
interest in the work, but none of them
so far has made the needed contribution
The amount that would be required, 1t
is said, is trifling. What is wanted by
the museum now could be done for
$4,000 easily, and less than that would
make fair showing.
Outline of the Scheme.
The scheme. as outlined by the museum
officials, is not for an exhibit of full-sized
machines 1t is pointed out that with
the rapid accumulation of machines this
would require an impossible amount of
space. and it would be quite as useless
as having a collection of full-sized loco
motives in the transportation exhibit
when models would better answer the
purpose in showing types. 1t is true that
the museum has on exhibition the origi-
nal old John Bull engine as a sample of
the first American locomotive, and 1t
might in the same way exhibit a single
aeroplane. probably the big Langley ma
chine, as the first instance of that art.
But the plan. when it is consummated.
is for all the other machines to be
models.
There is what is regarded as a fine in
stance of what can be done with models
at the Navy Department now. There are
types of all the big battleships and cruis-
ers, made to scale and complete to the
last rope and block on the ship. These
are builders models. and some Of them
cost $1,000 each, while somewhat similar
models grade down to $500 for some mer-
chant ships.
Airship Model Not Costly.
There never has been a model of an
aeroplane made with this accuracy and
attention to detail, but with the most ex-
pert work the cost of a three-foot model
could not be more than 81 .GC0 and prob
ably would be much less. There are
three or four individual machines that
have marked epochs in the development
of aviation that deserve to be preserved
driven machine of Sir Hiram Maxim, the
first Wright machine sold to the govern.
ment. the Junebug-first flown by Glenn
Curtiss-the machine in which Henri Far
man first did the closed kilometer and
possibly the machines in which Blerio,
crossed the English channel and that in
which Chavez crossed the Alps. For the
other machines now in existence half a
dozen would cover the essential types
1t is planned to have picture of each
aviator accompany the machines in which
they won fame. There are to be pic.
lures also of the notable early flights
such as that to the Puy de Dome and
the finishes of the first great circui
races, such as the Circuit de Est, the Cir.
cult of France and the Circuit OF the
British Isles.
Material Already in Museum.
The museum already has enough ma
terial for a much larger aerial exhibit,
than is now shown to the public There