Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-23
POINT AIRPORT SITE
AFEFOR ZEPPELIN.
Starr TruScott Holds GraveIIy
Location Adequate for
Largest Liners.


The proposed GraveIiy Point airport
for Washington could be made an
ADEQUATE landing point for Zeppelin
liners. through the DEVELOPMENT of a
dirigible inooring mast at one end of
the airplane landing field as now
planned, in the opinion of Starr Trus-
colt. lighter -than-air expert for the
National. Advisory Committee on Aero
nautics. 81
Speaking yesterday afternoon before
the aviation committee of the WASH
ington Board OF Trade Mr.. Truscott,
who is an expert on dirtgible construc-
ton, declared he could see no reason
why the Gravelly Point site for the
projected Washington airport would
not make feasible landing point for
airshipS of size that probably Will be
in use in the next few years.
Truscott was asked to advise with
the committee in connection with the
local airport project. following the sug-
gestion by Capt. Hugo Eckener COM
mander of the Graf Zeppelin, that
Washington or Baltimore might be
selected as the American terminus for
the proposed transatlantic Zeppelin
liners.
Point Site Is Best
In upholding the Gravelly Point site
as feasible" for the development Of
q landing place for dirigibles, Truscott
declared the site to be the best in
the District for the proposed wash
ington airport, irrespective of the air.
ship phase of the question Gravelly
Point. he said. could be made into an
airport nnrivaled anywhere in the
United States or abroad.
The airport on Gravelly Point, on the
Virginia side Of the Potomac BELOW,
Railroad Bridge, would be developed IN
two sections, under present proposed
plans, each 5000 feet square. The flelo
would be provided by filling in and re-
claiming this strip of land now covered
by shallow water. sSy
Truscott said the airship' nlooring
mast, If added to plans for the airport,
should be located at the far lower end
of the proposed field 6,000-foot long,
so as tos leave the great stretch OF the
field unabstructed for use OF Atrplanes.
Considering the present size sof the
greatest Zeppelins, he said, q sfleld haV--
ing q space clear Of obstruction for at
least 1000 feet radius of the mooring
mast would prove adequate for the air.
ships Since the proposed local air
port would be 1000 feet wide 1t should
prove feasible. though not Ideal" he
concluded.
Needs MoOring Mast
The expert added that Washington
thus could be made landing point for
dirigible passengers and freight with
out the construction at the airport OF
great and costly hangers, which. he
suggested could be developed else
where On sites much larger. and farther
from congested city areas.
The rlooring mast, he said. could be
combined with the control tower for
the airplane landing field. The mast.
he said, should be 22S feet high, about
20 feet In diameter and contain eleva-
tors for passengers and freight url-.
loading from the ship at Inooring.
While the nlooring mast for dirigibles
would be an advantage to the local air.
port, he suggested that plans for the
field be not held in allegiance pending
decision as to the airship terminus
here. .y~4s,s s5.,..s:
body. composed 1argeiysef practical n.y.
Ing men, already has Endorsed Gravelly
Point for the projected Washington
airport. and is.gwerking in support OF
this proposal Lawrence williams
cllairnisr1. announces plefle for the
next meeting of the hoard November
%, which is to be devoted to- the air-
port question. -