Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29


gliding, practically abandoned in
this country since the time Of the
Wright brothers famous glider
experiments during the first two
or three years Of the century.
Glider clubs have sprung up al
over the country under the i'm
petus of a wave of glider enthusi-
aSm which is bowling over thou
sands of young men and women
Many professional pilots are
taking to gliding for pleasure.
A large and very successful
glider school has been conducted
during the greater part of the
year on the coastal dunes Of Cape
Cod, where many notable flights
have been made. The American
soaring record has been pushed
up time and again, now standing
at little more than l hour and
81 minutes of continuous flight.
The National Glider ASSocia-
ton has chartered chapters in
many cities and towns, among
them the Washington Glider Club
Is well along with the conStruc-
ton Of its first glider, primary
training model, embodying fea-
lures of several of the most sue
ceSSful gliders. When this glider
is completed and flown four other
gliderS are to be built, embodying
whatever changes in construction
may be suggested by experience
with the first model.
Glider Prices Reduced.
Line production methods have
been established in the manufac-
ture Of gliderS in this country, and
one Of the largest glider pro-
ducers, having reduced the price
Of primary gliderS to SASS, eX-
poets to sell at least 1000 Of the
trim little craft during the COM
ing year.
In Europe, where gliding has
made its greatest advances, chief
~ because the Germans we're
forced to it by the terms of the
peace treaty, the sport has con-
tributed greatly to the popular
ization of flying by giving the
younger generation an actual
contact with aviation. 1t has pro-
duced better pilots and keener
knowledge Of the effects OF air
currents upon aircraft.
LufthanSa, the great German
air transport organization, re-
QuireS that its pilots be gradu-
ateS Of a glider school. The Ger
man soaring record today is ID
hours and 43 minutes, and cross
af1Ia&e ~ alias ~
length have been made by skilled
Soarer pilots.
In summing up an account of
glider activities, DR.. Wolfgang
Klemperer, one of the worlds
great authorities on motorless
flying, declared that gliding
combines sport with education,
art and scientific research, COM
bination rare in this materialistic
age and not unworthy of encour-
agement from those who con-
slider it a sacred privilege to con-
tribute toward the development
Of new art and science"
A. A. A. Enters Aviation.
Another of the significant
events Of the year has been the
entrance of the American Auto
mobile Association into the field
of aeronauticS, an indication of
the grip aviation is getting on the
everyday life of the country.
The association has established
an air and travel service through
its local divisions, including the
District of Columbia Division.
The primary Importance of the
associations work and of similar
activities, which may be under
taken by other on-aeronautical
organizations, is in the field of
public education in the general
aspects of aviation and their ap-
plication to business and private
life.
If the association does no more
than to induce its members who
plan to take airplane rides to
make certain they are flying in
inspected and licensed planes and
with licensed pilots, it will have
justified its entrance into the field
Of aeronauticS.
The District of Columbia Divi-
Sion'S air travel bureau will keep
up-to-date information on aero
nautical regulations, including
licensing, operation and owner
ship of aircraft, licensing of pi-
lots and mechanics, marking of
licensed and unlicensed aircraft,
inspection of aircraft and air
traffic regulations.
Will Give Information.
It will assist in the handling
Of aviation weather forecasts and
will distribute official aviation
maps. The bureau will keep rec
ordS of airplane schedules and
tariffs on all the important air
transport lines and will maintain
q list of accredited aviation
schools for the benefit of pro-
spective students.
Records of airports will be kept
as a means of assisting pilots in
planning flights to portions Of
the country with which they are
not familiar A consolidated
ticket office will be maintained, at
which bookings may be arranged
for flights to any part of the
country or neighboring countries.
The air travel bureau, as part
Of its educational work. plans to
keep statistical information,
showing the public what air