Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02
ST. LOUIS REWARDS
AVIATION LEADERS.
Week of AeronauticaI Confer
ences, Races and Shows
Held at "Air Capital"


laws claim to the title Air Capital of
the United States" has just closed a
week of aeronautical activity, which has
done more than anything since the old
balloon racing days to justify us
claim.
This has been week Of aeronautical
conferences, aircraft shows and ar
plane races. Honor has been paid the
great pioneers of aviation and to the
men who are carrying on their work
today. Present aviation trends have
been analysed by recognized world
leaders in every branch of aeronautics
and plans have been made for the fu-
ture growth of flying in this country.
Lindbergh Flight Celebrated.
The weeks activity was arranged IN
commemoration of the second annlVer-
sary of the New York-Paris, flight OF
Col. Charles A. Iindbergh, who, before
he became famous, was an airmau
pilot here.
The major part of the weeks pro-
gram was devoted to the third national
aeronautic meeting of the aeronautlc
section of the American Society OF Me-
chanical Engineers, in connection with
which there was a large local aeronau-
teal exposition of planes, motors and
accessories. The week eliminated IN
the Gardner Cup races. which con-
sisted of five independent preliminary
airplane races to st. Louis from But-
falo, N. Y; Jacksonville, Fla; San An
tonic, Tex; Denver, Colo, and Fargo,
N. Oak, and the Gardner Cup finals
on Decoration day-a round trip race
from ST. Louis around a pylon IN the
Indianapolis speedway and back.
The cup race, an annual aviation
event inaugurated this week, was won
by Charles w. Speed Holman OF st:
Paul, who flew the 1853 miles at a speed
of more than 156 miles per hour, show
ing the way to eight other winners in
the preliminary races. Holman flew
Laird biplane, powered with Wright
Whirlwind engine. In addition to the
Gardner trophy he won cash prize
of $500.
Sydnor Hall of ST. Louis finished
second, nearly II minutes behind Hol-
man, in a Speedwing Travelair, with
Arthur j. Davis of East Lansing, Mich,
third, in a Waco.
Miss Amelia Earhart has been here
this week as a special guest OF honor,
appearing at a few luncheons and din
ners. but for the most part going
quietly and unobtrusively about her
work of populariZing aviation, especially
aviation for women. 1t seems that her
efforts have been successful, for during
the past week more ST. Louis women
have flown than during any previous
week in history, according to records
of local fields.
Record Breakers Attend Banquet.
The surprise event of the week was
the arrival of Reginald Robbins and
James Kelly, the Fort Worth endurance
flyers who spent all of the previous
week in the air to establish a new
record of more than 172 hours. They
attended the banquet Wednesday night.
The Young Texans, however, didn't
come here for banquet; they are not
strong for that sort OF thing. Iney
came to st. Louis to receive glltterlng
new -Mahoney broughan mono
plane, the gift of Phil Ball. AT the
banquet they received the medal OF the
CITY of st. Louis, a replica in bronze
of the gold medal designed Tor COL
Lindbergh two years ago.
DR.. Elmer Ambrose Sperry, preSl-
dent of the American Society or Me-
chanical Engineers, who has put the
gyroscope to work as steamship ana
airplane stabilizer and in some otner
30-odd devices, presented awards to air.
craft pioneers and leaders on behalf OF
the st. Louis chapter and the national
society. -.
To Daniel Guggenheim, aged avia-
ton enthusiast and philanthroplsC'
whose gifts of money for the founda-
ton of the Daniel Guggenheim Fund
for the Promotion of Aeronautlcs mas
made possible great progress ana edu-
cation during the years of its existence,
was given the Spirit OF st. Louis award
medal symbolic of noteworthy achleVe-
ment in aeronautics of America, which
is permanently financed by the local
chapter of A. S. M. E.
william E. Boeing, president OF the
Boeing Airplane Co. and Boeing AR
Transport, Inc, was given watch 1or
recognition of his achievement IN OPP
Grating the first paying air line.
DoolittIe Receives Watch.
Lieut.. James H. Doolittle, whose pa
per on Problems in Flying" was one
of the features of the conference, was
given a watch for scientific flying OF
high value at great personal risk. IN
cidentally, Doolittle's paper points out
the fact that we have now, either In
our hands or in process of construction,
| the instruments and equipment needed
| to fly blind and land blind on a pre-
pared airdrome. 1t is only necessary
before actual fog operation can be car
| ried on, to coordinate these facllltles
and render them infallible.
Miss Amelia Earhart, first woman TO
| fly the Atlantic, and now aviation edl-
| tor of Cosmopolitan, was awarded a
watch because of her remarkable
achievement in populariZing aviation.
Great interest was manifest In the
| rather cryptic wording of DR.. Sperry'
as he dwelt on the possibility that the
East might lose Miss Earhart to ST.
Louis. OF course, the women were
iY,fo in
| cause of the woman guests knew MISS
Earhart excused herself from theater
party Tuesday evening in order TO visit
with friend who is also pilot. Ihat
| the pilot is young, unmarried ana ex-
| tremely eligible. added to the interest
| OF romance ScenterS.
Carl Egge, executive secretary OF the
| National Pilots Association, received a
| gift watch for services rendered for ad-
vancement of air mail. Egge was the
| first postal official to send air man
across the continent at night. When IL
seemed the rashest thing to do he set
about lighting part of the airway be-
| tween Chicago and Omaho, Nebr., and
! in a short time night air mail flights
were practical and reasonably safe.
Gilmore Is Honored.
Brig. Gen. William E. Gilmore. chief
of the materiel division of the United
| States Army Air Corps, who was chair
man of an afternoon session of the
convention, was honored because OF ms
| contributions and legion of activities
through the materiel division in in
creasing and making planes safer.
Capt. F. c. Hingsberg, chief engi-
neer of the airwayS division, Depart
ment of Commerce, received an award
because of his aids to aerial naviga--
| ton" and work on the installation OF
| lighted airways.
Prof. Alexander Klemin, in charge
of the Daniel Guggenheim School of
Aeronautics, New York University, was
unable to attend the convention and