The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-09
SCHOOL
At COLLEGE PARK
GOVERNMENT HAS PLACE FOR
ARMY MEN TO LEARN AIR
NAVIGATION.
MANY WANT THE CHANCE
MACHINES NOT LOOKED UPON As
DESTRUCTIVE AGENT, L
VERY VALUABLE AS
SCOUTS.
(By Victor EIitott}

the greatest aviator schools IN the
world is to be established within eight
miles OF this city. at College Park.
Md. TO be maintained by the United
States government.
When the history OF aviation is
written and a special chapter de-
voted TO American aviators. as 1t
must be, for in this country the art
received its first start, College Park
and the men who Will make 1t fanou
viii be given a prominent place.
The first government aeronauttcal
demonstrations took place at Fort
Meyer, Va. but later when the oIt-
cial skeptics had been shown just
what could be accomplished by the
hcaNier-than-air machine, a more
suitable ground for flying purposes
had to he selected. 1t was then that
College Park was selected as the
aviation school of the government.
The Wright brothers were contract
ed for by the government to teach
the officers OF the signal corps the
art OF flyiug, and q machine was
bought for the purpose. Two officers
became proficient In the science. and
then the school was abandoned,
Iducates own Men.
After two years Of idleness on the
part OF the government an appro-
priation was made by congress for the
furtherauce Of the study among army
ard navy men. TWO young officers
were dispatched to Dayton, O., and
placed under the direction Of Or
vile and Wilbur Wright. while q third
was sent 10 the Curliss school OF in
struction at HaInmondsport. \. Y,
They became proficient in the art Of
handling aircraft, and when the GOV
ernments aviation school was again
started. IT was not forced to look for
outside help, but called upon It's own
men.
notwithstanding the element OF
danger that presents itself In con
queaing air currents. hundreds Of
young mon in the army are claLder~
Ing for a chance to take up aeroplan-
ing, realizing that the important bat
lies of the future, nay be won or lost
by air craft. Consequently, at the
nc~ government school eff aviation
the Instructors have got right down
to business In ~instructing their fell
low officers in the art of managing
An airshlp.
The visitor to College Park viii be
tNFltFeu by tfs NphuHfIui pGfl0I-
mances OF the aviators, but at the
same time he viii know that he is
looking at the safe and sane" method
OF navigating the air, and not the
reckless, daredevil performance Of
civilian aerop.anists.
Three new a~eroplanes have been
ordered to College Park, and, ell
experienced a%viators In the ranks of
the army viii be encouraged to go
there. Young officers will be instruct
ed by the older and more experienced
men and In "a very short time Col
lege Park will he looked upon prac-
tically as an ms to West Point.
Gp to the present time all the work
has been done in the machine that
has become popular tn this country.
the biplane. Across the ocean. how
ever, the German ana French are
doing wonderful work with the
simpler form Of air craft. the mono
plane. There have been many re-
quests to the government to try out
one Of these models. but SO far the
lequests have not been Needed.
Used to Reconuoiter.
So 1ar taa school Is not teaching
the Yalue OF the ~aeroplane as a de-
structiVo agent. but rather as an agent
for reconnaissance. as II seems 10 be
the general opinion among army Off
- E. 49, ~ a.