Evening star., 1927-11-15
Nineteen Years of Air Advance.


Nineteen Years of Air Advance.
last nights ceremony incident to
the presentation to Col. Charles A
Iindbergh of the Hubbard Gold Medal
of the National Geographic Society
was not only a tribute to the gailah'
voung pioneer who showed the way
across the Atlantic through the ar
h,,+ on exnression of confidence in the
future of aviation as means OIL
transport and as a factor IN the union
of the peoples Of the earth in better
fuller and more pacific understandihS'
Naturally, the occasion WIS u'ii%'"
for the purpose Of review ol fece'''
accomplishments, and appropriately II
was closed with motion picture
which set forth in the most graphic
form, the stages of the advance mace
since the first flights by man IN
bea avier.than-air machines. The thou-
sands who attended and the millions
who heard through the radio were
deeply impressed with the rapio pro-
morton of aeronautics due to this sea-
sons fights, mostly by Americans
which demonstrated the practical pos
sibilities of the airplane as means
of transport.
60 much has happened since the
Wright brothers made their nrst pup
liz Fights at Fort Myer, across the
river from the Capital. in lSoe' ina.
a. ;s difficult today to realize the eX-
tent of the advances in flying ma
chimes" and their manipulation ana
uses in those nineteen years. Late
occurrences have dimmed the recollec'
t;ons of the early endeavors, which at
the time seemed phenomenal. Inc
first endurance" flight covered
span of one hour and ten minutes
II seemed at the time to be beyond
credibility. Now the record stands at
fiftv.two hours continuously in the
air. The first distances covered were
short, only a few miles. Now tney
span the seas, the continents. Inen
the machines were clumsy, elaborate
and delicate. Now they are compact,
efficient and dependable. Then there
were only few pilots, perhaps hait
n dozen. Now there are thousands,
with more coming to their aerial ma
jority weekly.
To express belief that the air Will
be the future highway OF travel is
merely to state commonplace OF con-
fidence born of experience. One OF
the speakers at last nights ceremony,
the Assistant Secretary Of Commerce
for Aeronautics, urged upon his hear
ers. present in person and within
radio hearing, to cooperate In the
work of making America the scene
Of the most wide-fiung and compre-
hensive aviation utility by greater use
OF the air mail and of the now estab-
lished air service lines for passenger
and express transport. There is high
enthusiasm on the part OF the people
of this country, the fruit of the thrill
ing performances of Lindbergh and
the other "aces" who have made the
Summer Of 1927 a period Of record
making in the air. It should be trans
muted into practical employment of
this agency.
Medals and honors and pecuniary
rewards stimulate the endeavors OF the
flyers, whose achievements should In
turn stimulate the practical apprecia-
tion Of the people for the wonderful
utility that has been developed, not for
their entertainment and emotional
thrills, but for their advantage in peace
time as a means Of transportation. The
establishment of airways and airports
will continue as rapidly as the public
demand justifies. Manufacturers are
turning out planes in quantities and
are making ready for year OF intense
activity in production. Let the people,
who have witnessed the marvels of
this past Summer with the keenest
appreciation, now do their part and
then, truly, America. the birthplace
of the airrlane, will be the scene of
its greatest practical use.