Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31

chute is made up of 30 panels. The
double seams protect it from further
tearing should a hole be made in one
panel.
1.-THE kind Of clothes the girls wear
nowadays, a girl could get about 90
| dresses from the material used In one
parachute" he said. 1T takes half
an hour to fold and pack one chute"
Continuing, he said: with good care.
chute should last no less than eight
years. The Government pays 1916 for
each chute. Civilians must pay at
least $685.
| In few years all planes. CONNER.
| cial and private, will be equipped with
parachutes. The imports of silk from
japan will undoubtedly swell to an
unbelievable extent. People who are
being initiated into the mysteries Of
| the air are DESTROYS OF adopting the
new means Of flying for transporta-
ton purposes. During the last year
alone the number of paying passen-
| gers transported in the United States
| was close to 100000. and almost 100.-
| 600 passengers were carried free Of
charge. If the Army. Navy and Coast
| Guard flying time were to be added
! to this figure, the total American mile
age would be more than ASSOC, 900.
And the airplane is hardly more than
| 20 years old.
1t was in 1903 that the world was
| startled by the first successful fight
| OF self-propelled machine with IL.
| horsepower engine. Orville Wright
| flew the amazing distance Of 100 feet.
The entire flight lasted only II sec.
| onds and consisted of straight flying
into a wind of about 81 miles an hour.
Today such a flight would be consid.
| cred foolish, but then it was sufficient
to encourage the Wright brothers to
continue with the work which has led
to the present remarkable success Of
aeronautics. In this day it took O
transatlantic flight to awaken aston
ishment Man, today, IS able to fly
over 1000 miles in single nonstop
fight. 1t is as usual for men to make
cross-country flights without single
mishap as 1t is to go by automobile,
the only difference being that the
plane is safer.
The commercial air services in Eu.
rope publish interesting statistics as
to safety. The British. in one of their
reports, show that a distance equal to
81 times around the earth has been
flown for each loss of life in their
commercial aviation. The statistics In
our own country are even more inter.
CSIlLSs LhOA6h otoA tAAi5'
The PONY Express" Of the air. the
oldest and first long-distance air pas
senger line, stretches for 4,3S3 miles
across the country, serving air corps
activities in 35 cities. A total of one
million airplane miles have been flown
over this route from its Inauguration
to October 10. 1926, with but one IA
tally.
In the year 1925 statistics show that
20,S19 people were killed in the United
States in various traffic mishaps. The
fatalities due to train accidents reach.
ed a total of $3.50 lives. On upper
Broadway, New York. tiny marble
statue stands as a memorial to more
than 900 people who lost their lives
in traffic accidents in the same year.
In the field of aviation only 135 PEG.
pie were killed in 1925; Is were ci.
Williams.
The number Of accidents in the field
Of aviation will decrease now that the
Government will exercise regulatory
power over all aeronautics. The air
commerce act of 1926 laid the legis-
lative coner stone for the development
of civil aeronautics in America. Action
by the Government, after years OF
striving for just such legislation. Is
looked upon as the greatest step IN the
progress of aviation. Under this act
the Assistant Secretary of Commerce
jr., is charged generally with the en-
and regulation OF the use
of aircraft in commerce.
Under the jurisdiction OF the Gov
eminent the safety of aircraft Is fully
assured. Those who were formerly
afraid to follow in the footsteps Of the
pioneers of the air will now attempt
the new means of travel, just as their
fearful and distrustful forefathers
pushed reluctantly into those first
humping, swaying railroad cars and
called automobiles
finally became encouraged to try the
new means of travel.
The new act makes It compulsory
for flyers to submit to examinations
to test their physical and mental fit
ness to pilot planes. Their practical
ability, their knowledge of air navi-
CATION and their experience in flying
carries much weight in the final rat
ing. Pilots Of the Army or Navy need
only present copy of their physical
examination which are accepted IN
lieu of the departments examination.
Air traffic rules will also be regu'
lated by the air commerce act. The
rules will deal with various attitudes,
with fights over cities and elsewhere.
the passing and crossing on airways,
landings and take-offs on airports and
anding fields, as well as acrobatic ny.
ng and navigation. Even the air IS
not free of daring and foolish pilots.
Planes, too, do not escape the regu-
atory powers of the Government. An
aircraft is licensed when found air.
The licensing involves an
Ill ~ jn0Y,arffnn
Lfter which licenses for one year are
ssued. However. owners are charged
With the duty of maintaining their
planes in good condition at all times.
The air license must be displayed in
he cockpit in much the same manner
Is licenses are displayed in taxicabs.
The establishment and maintenance
4 civil airways and intermediate land
ng fields, as we'll as lighting facilities
or day and night flying, are also
art Of the asronautic program. In
he large industrial cities where land.
ng fields are necessary 1t Is difficult
o find the required area within con-
enient distance of the cities. Wash.
ngton, fortunately. Is so situated as
D have available the necessary area
or several airports. Groveton, q
mall subdivision in Virginia, is Just
0 miles from the heart of Washing
on, ana has all the requisites Tor
God landing field. The site has been
elected by the Department Of Com.
lerce for an emergency field and q
eacon site for the convenience Of air
lail flyers carrying mail from New
'ork to Atlanta. BY the last Of Au-
ust the field will be in readiness for
light flying, having beacon 81 feet
Ugh with a revolving light. The bea-
on will be visible from a distance Of
miles. A concrete arrow, 20 fee
ing, will point in the direction OF the
iail route, with q light focused on 1t
'om the emergency field tower.
At present the spot serves as q
.nding and practice field for an avia.