Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-23
AUGUST %, 1916.
LAUNCHING THE AERO CLUB OF HAWAII

Through the interest Gen. Robert X. Evans, com
handing the Hawaiian Department, L. s.. A., i
taking in aviation, civilians as well as army mel
resident Oahu are 10 be offered the opportunity
Of becoming skilled ayiators
At government expense, with government encour
agenent and assistance they are to be tutored in al
art as fascinating as il is useful And the wore
useful is employed adyisedIy. Modern military con
ditions have made the aviation corps vitality essen
tia part OF any army.
The Aero Club OF Hawaii. conceived by Gen
Evans, is already in fair way TO realization. II
needs but systematic publicity and organization Il
enroll literally hundreds of members. We cannot
expect thousand men to attempt aying but the
club can count upon the support of many citizens
who not and do not aspire to be in the aviator
class. The club is primarily TO organize such sup
port.
The army bill AZ approved by the senate carried
fl3000000 for military aviation. The whole sum
Is needed by Uncle Sam. 1t is matter of the com
honest knowledge that aviation has been neglected
ID the Emitted States army. Ii is not the fault OF
the army, for long before the European war started
Uncle Sans military experts knew that more atten-
ton should be given to the development of the aya
ton branches but Congresses ignorant of aviations
strides were unwilling TO appropriate the necessary
Millions
just as the big naval battles convinced Congress
that ITntle Sam has to have more battleships and
batte cruisers and these without delay the feats
Of the military ayiators in Europe convinced Con-
fress that an American army with an inadequate
aviation auxiliary would be in no condition to up
hold national defense. Then followed the appro.
priafiOn of the $130O0000
Aviation Oahu has been retarded woefully 1t
lek received no encouragement from the powers
thai rule in Washington. And there has been a
common conception that flying on this island is not
only especially dangerous but is more likely than
not 10 result in serious injury for the luckless ayia
tor. The so7called .'air.pocketsv encountered by
Bud Mars Glenn Hall and Tom Gum on their
lights here were said to promise nothing but disas
ter for fiers who tried almost any part of Oahu
Then came an army aviator who made a series Of
experiments which seemed to bear out what the earl
lei hers had said. AS a matter of fact he was
EiTen machine which more than one army man
has since called death,trap In the case of the
civilian predecessors they were here at time when
aviation far below its present standard Of eff
ciency.
In Europe the Hers must not only rise but must
1eht in any and all weathers And such statistics
available show that the percentage of failures
fects eliminating the troubles caused by opponents
lre) is remarkably small
american aviators do not rank below these of
Europe in either natural aptitude or bravery The
american ayiators in France are among the best
81 all the war-camps. They have made quite as
rood records, though not well known as Pegoud
u France or lmmelmann and Boeleke of Germany.
Thus it is certain that there is inherent reason
Why America should not keep pace with or even set
pace for military aviation throughout the world.
The Aero Club of Hawaii, with the thoroughly
.rnest support Of The military authorities with the
0structi0n of experts sent here by the war depart
ent with thsuse of aeroplanes sent by the depart
rent, ought to become a word-f famous organiza-
|'op. When the plans for launching the club are
titled, Honolulu may rightly expect an imme
late response. Development of the club is part of
d patriotic duty of fitting Uncle Sam for defense
.tinst possible aggression.
As the prospect of possible or probable victory