Evening star., 1926-08-06
AIRPORT PURPOSE
AND NEED OUTLINED
Field Here Would Encourage
Civilian Residents and
Draw Other Flyers.

The Civil Airway Service of the De-
partment of Commerce, now in it's
final stages of organization under the
provisions Of the air commerce act
of 1926, today visualized the need for
and the purposes of a District of
Columbia airport.
Proposals for the ALLEGATION Of a
site within the boundary of the Dis
trict and in close proximity to the
center of the city have been laid be-
fore Maj. U. S. Grant, 3d., executive
officer of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, who will
take up the matter with the commits
sion at it's meeting August 20. The
District Chapter, National Aeronautlc
Association, has suggested, in the ab-
sence of any other available site, that
area bounded on the north by Benning
road, the east by the Anacostia River
and the west by Twenty.first street.
as the site for a future airport.
1t was authoritatively stated at the
Department of Commerce today that
without an airport here In the near
future there could be no material en-
couragement for those here who want
to fly in airplanes of their own. There
are hundreds of persons in Washing
ton today, former aviators in the mill
tary services and other who have
become enthusiastic over aviation, who
would welcome facilities for hangar
space, mechanical service. aviation
motor fuel and regulations governing
the performance of aircraft, 1t was
emphasized. No inducement now is
offered for a civilian to purchase and
operate a plane unless the Secretaries
of War or Navy grant him permission
to use Boiling Field and the Naval
Air Station and also obtain mainte-
nance, upkeep and technical advice
for his plane there.
Would Be Depot.
An airport here was likened unto
the Union Station by the airway serv-
ice. It would be the gathering point
for all aircraft in the District and
provide facilities for planes from other
cities engaged in carrying freight,
mail and passengers and in cross
country flying. At such a port would
be located a control officer to direct
traffic and promulgate regulations Tor
using the airport, also mechnics who
would install parts, rebuild motors, rig
the planes and keep them in condi-
ton. Even though civilians, despite
the present handicap, should now
choose to purchase planes for their
own use, in all probability they would
have to call upon Army or Navy
mechanics to keep their engines and
ships in safe condition unless they
were sufficiently skilled to perform the
work themselves, the service en-
phasized.
Hangers would be erected to house
privately owned planes here on a
''garage-renting basis" for aircraft
lines operating on schedule over
washington and for aerial sight
seeing buses, all of which would make
their headquarters at the port. IL
such a field existed today, the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit Air Service,
now operating from Hoover Field, un-
doubtedly would have it's headquar-
ters at the airport, it is believed.
Some Buildings Needed.
One or more buildings to care for
radio and telegraph service to keep a
constant check on the movement OF
planes: for a meteorological service;
for storing and checking flying equip
ment and baggage; for the issuance
of maps, charts and information would
be erected The buildings, including
the hangers, would not be unsightly,
but could be constructed in line with
the golf clubhouse in Potomac Park
and the Hams Point teahouse. The
field itself would be of grass with the
possible exception of solid runways.
and the port could be made to occupy
a prominent and imposing position in
the park project for Washington.
Daily and evening owners of light
atrplanes, within few minutes OF
travel by automobile, could haul out
their craft, get in the air and cruise
about the surrounding country. own
ers of planes in other sections would
make this their base just as automo-
bile tourists park their automobiles In
public garages while in Washington.
Civilian flying OF the type outlined
now is in the primitive stage in the
National Capital, the airway service
is convinced, with no opportunity for
DEVELOPMENT unless one centralized,
municipality operated terminal is es-
fafnljShed