Evening star., 1928-05-17
NAVY PILOTS TRAIN
FOR TROPHY RACE
AnacoStia Station Roars
With Last.Minute Prepara-
tionS of Flyers.

The Naval Air Station at Anacostla
roared with activity on the ground aid
in the air today as the time drew nearer
for the loo-mile Curtiss Marine Tro-
ply race and naval seaplane display
to be held on the Potomac Saturday
afternoon at 3 o'clock.
Shortly before noon. 10 giant toi-
pedo, bombing and scouting planes from
Torpedo Plane Squadron No. 9, air
craft sQuadrons, scouting fleet, arrived
from Hampton Roads, landed in the
river and we're moored close to the sea
wall at Hains Point In the air above
several of the big Martin TSM-2's
which arrived Yesterday roared around
the course in practice trials while on
the beach" engines Of other planes
were turned up" and inspected for
last-minute bugs,
Entry List Readiusted.
A readjustment of the entry list vas
effected today. Two entries we're added
and three were washed out" The two
added we're Mai. Charles A. Lutz, COM
nnanding Brown Field, Guantico, Va,
and Lieut.. Allan P. Flags, U. s. NJ, IN
charge of reserve aviation in the Bureau
of Aeronautics. Mai. Lutz will fly his
own personal Curtis Hawk" fighting
plane. which he had transferred to twin
pontoons. and Lieut., Flagg viii fly
new Vought "Corsair" observation plane,
which is due to arrive from the Vought
factory in New York this afternoon or
tomorrow.
These additions place the two fastest
types of naval planes in the service IN
two groups of three ships each. Tney
alone would provide a thrilling race.
according to naval officers, by virtue OF
their speed. The three T3M-2s of the
Scouting Fleet washed out" we're to
have been piloted by Lieuts. E. S. Null
heran.s Albert Handley and j. c. Wal
dron.
Six originally were entered, but with
the addition of faster planes 1t was de-
cided TO cut the bombing list to half for
safety precautions. 1t was explained
the big ships, owing 10 their great
weight-carrying ability, are, of necessity
slow in maneuvering, and as the turn
at the home pylon between Hams Point
and the Air Station is $50 degrees In
character and offers but small amount
of water space, the presence OF six OF
these ships might contribute to conges-
ton at the turn and undue close prox-
unity Of the competing planes with one
another.
However, 1t was said. the three with
their Packard 800-horsepower engines
and their screaming propellers Will be
able 10 outdrown all others in the race
from the standpoint Of racket" which
alone is a tilrill-producing feature.
To Compare Speeds.
Interest from the standpoint of maxi
mum speed will center around the
sirgIe-seater Hawks" Two of the
fighting planes. those piloted by Capt
Harold c. Major, u. S. M. c.. and Lieut..
Comdr. A. C. Miles of the air station.
are equipped with Wasp" air-cooled en-
gfnes of 400-horsepower, while Maj.
Lutz's ship Is fitted with the Curtiss
D-l2 horsepower water-cooled en-
Rine. An excellent opportunity to COM
pare the speeds produced by these two
types of engine will be afforded.
The same comparison feature will OBJ
tain in the general purpose amphibian
type class. Two of the Looming am
pfibians have the Wasp" engine, a
Marine ship from Quantico has the
wartime Liberty and the fourth has the
Packard 400 horsepower water-cooled.
Decision TO present all the trophies
to the victors Immediately after the race
was virtually arrived at today The
Curtis Marine Trophy, in the trophy
hall of the Navy Department. will be
carried over TO the air station Satur-
day morning. This will be presented to
the pilot covering the l00-mile' course
in the fastest elapsed time. Then the
cup offered by Edward p. Warner, As
siktant Secretary OF the Navy In charge
OF aeronauticS. to the plane flying
closest TO It's known performance in
speed will be presented, followed by the
five gold wrist watches offered by The
Evening Star TO the winners of the Ave
groups into which the types are divided.
The trophies will be placed on a table
on the lawn overlooking the river and
behind the Offices Of the station. This
section gill be reserved for invited
guests of the Navy Department. and
across the beach" a large area has been
cleared of for the public. Hams Point
and the War College point also offer
excellent views Of the home pylon.
Acrobatics Scheduled.
Prior 10 the race, Capt. Ford O.
CTex) Rogers. on duty In Marine Corps
aviation headquarters here, In a Curtiss
Hawk" land plane will give a per-
formance Of acrohatics. followed by a.
parachute jump by Aviation Chief
MhGnlTfULA HdhlE w. r. ESEDIL. III charge
of the parachute locker at the station
Scott Is the Air Stations champion
jumper at present. At the close Of
the race. Capt. Rogers again Will take
the air for more acrobatics and the
"scaplane day" will be closed with a
smoke screen laid down by Lieut.. r.. l..
Johnson OF the Bureau Of Aeronautics.
flying o Curtiss Hawk" pursuit ship
The employment of The speedy fighters
for this work Is the newest feature Of
smoke screen development.