Evening star., 1928-10-21
MOVIES To RECALL
PIONEER FLIGHTS
Films to Be Shown at Inter-
rational CiWt Aero Con-
ference Here.

The flights Of the aviation pioneers
of the world will be recalled IN motion
picture and speeches. and the living
heroes of those flights VIII b. honorcC
by aviation leaders Of all nations as G
part Of the first international Civil
Aeronautics Conference, to- be held in
this city December Il, 13 and IA.
The night Of December i3 is to be
devoted to pioneering .1lig4ts in great
public meeting in the Washington
Auditorium Motion picture films
brought here by foreign delegates ana
others obtained from archives in this
country and the libraries Of tbs leading
ncwsreel organizations viii be shown.
Arrangements for the historical sec
ton Of the program are in the hands
of a committee headed by Starr TruS-
cott. aeronautical engineer for the
national advisory committee, for aefon-
auticS. One Of those active in gather
ing material for this program is Walter
Parker OF New Orleans who attended
the first international aviation meet al
Rheims. France. in 1909.
Proposes Movie Records.
Mr. Parker. who attended the Reins
meet to make a study Of the economic
possibilities OF heaVler-tb -tban-air ma
chimes, has proposed to Leighton W.
Rogers, executive officer Of the confer
ence. that a record Of the events Of
the meet be used in connection with
the historical program and stated the
motion pictures Of the meet VIII be
available.
1t was at the ReimS meet that
Glenn Curtiss won the grand prize with
his famous bamboo airplane and Paul
han raised the world airpiane distance
record from y miles to 81 miles In
letter to Mr.. Rogers. Mr.. Parker recalls
that only one Of ten planes entered in
the meet was able to. leave the ground
end few were able to remain aloft
more than a few minutes.
"Bleriot." Mr. Parker recalls. had
Just startled the world by successfully
flying across the English Channel IN a
heavier-than-air machine, thereby lift
ing the airplane from an experimental
type into a potential aid TO mankind Of
the first magnitude. The first njerna-
tional aviation meeting at Re.ms
therefore attracted thinking men from
many countries.
"A field some 10 miles square and
fairly level was prepared for the pur-
pose. A temporary grandstand and
many sheds TO cover the planes were
erected. The whole was par0led by
French soldiers. MANY. ambuIances..
physicians and surgeons and trained
nurses were in constant attendance.
The ambulances, fully equipped with
stretchers and emergency supplies, fol-
lowed on a narrower circle each plane
that succeeded in getting into the air.
The medical department had plenty Ct
occupation.
There were about 100 planes entered
in the contest.
Because Of their loW-powered, heavy
weight engines, very lightweight mate
rial was used in constructing the planes.
Glenn CurtiSs, the only United States
representative, had a plane made OF
bamboo, which he never left for a mo-
ment. He would take no unnecessary
chances He was after the grand
prize and finally won it. He made
several successful flights.
THE day before his real victory,
standing with his hand affectionately
placed on the propeller, he said to me.
MY plane is the only one from the
United States. Should anything happen
to it. the United States VIII not be rep
resented here. That is why I do not
attempt to fly except when there is no
wind, and do fly only when the flag
hangs listlessly and Quiea from the
great flagstaff.
"One Side Of the field sloped down.
ward from near the hangers for about
1900 feet. In attempting to leave the
ground the planes would start from Jae'
lowest place and taxi up the slope At
the top they were heading upward
That gave them little advantage.
Many of them refused 10 Leave The
ground.
Those that succeeded in getting into
the air had to make a left turn about
. miles farther on. There most OF
the successful planes came to grief and
fell. And there the ambulance corps
kept constant watch The surgeons and
nurses were always surprised when a
plane succeeded in rounding and pass
ing on. with an ambulance IN close puf-
suit. All the planes moved slowly ana
at low altitude. All Of them we're er-
ratio and wabbled badly because OF IN
sufficient power.
Covered SO Miles.
"Paulhan. the French chauffeur. kept
his plane in the air until ne had COW
cred more than 80 miles, and tnen
came down only because, his gasoline
supply had given out. Many times MS
plane almost FELL often coming within
a very few feet-cf the ground, but each
time through skillful handling ne sue
ceeded in getting it aloft again. a
dozen times and more I heard peopia
speaking several different Languages
say: Ali He's gone this time. 8ue
each time the plane climbed upward
again.
"A few years later Paulhan came 10
America in a high. powered plane and
won the plaudits Of multitudeS by Hla
graceful. smooth flying.
The Rheims planes were OF ever.
shape. and reflected no element OF
Standardization except that they had
wings and rudders. Individual ideas
were being tested out with a vengeance
by the law Of gravity.
The Rheims meeting and PauIhaIl s
spectacular fight, plus Glenn Gurus
wonderful achievement, gave great I'M
petus to flying. The men VINO LOOK
part literally took their lives ~ thell
hands. Some. were killed. All expected
to fan. and those VINO did not fall were
probably more surprised than were the
spectators. .-s-.- .-..,.7,
wait hours for a fight, as me myers
waited on the wind Nobody would at
tempt q fight with the wind blowing
and only the foolhardy would STAR
when the flag moved at all.