Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03
RUBBER CAPITAL
HAS NEW AMBITION
Akron Seeks to Become Ok.
ford of the Air-.Start
Already Made.
Nv Consolidated Press.

BY Consolidated Press.
AKRON, Ohio March akron, tire
capital Of the world, has new ambi-
tions.
This energetic industrial city, whose
population is growing so that even the
best guessers Of the Census Bureau re-
fuse to hazard an estimate her pres
ent population, would be the oxford of
the air, the Heidelberg of the Zeppelin
builders. the M. I. T. of aerodynamics
And, through the energetic efforts of
such civic workers as P. w. Litchfield,
president of Goodyear; DR.. George F.
Zook, president of Akron University:
DR.. Karl Arnstein, director in chief
of Goodyears Zeppelin activities; DIR.
Wolfgang Kemmerer, once holder of the
world glider record. and Dean D. Fred
Aver of the Engineering College Of
Akron University, the rubber capital is
In fair way toward realization of the
hope OF being the center of aeronauti-
rs Enroll for Course.
Already start has been made.
Twenty-Five students in the Engineer.
Ing College of Akron University have
just enrolled in an advanced course In
aerodynanics. This course, open only
to those seeking degrees in engineering,
is to be the nucleus of the air college
toward which Akron industrial foun-
dation is binding its efforts.
Within few weeks, night courses in
aeronautics are to be included as part
OF the universitys extension work.
These courses will be open to all who
can furnish the necessary scholastic
background. This requirement probably
will be high school education at least,
This night class will study the theory
and practice of airplane and dirigible
design, construction and flight. This
ground school, work, If the student de-
sires, may be extended to include in
1Struction in actual flying at a COM
mercial flying school.
Ground courses" will be conducted
at Akron University. and actual flying
at Akron's new airport. A $4,000
hangar is now under construction a,
the port. The present course in aero.
dynamics for advanced students is ex.
pected to last Is weeks. Lectures are
being delivered by DR.. Arnstein and DR.
Kemmerer and by Thomas Knowles
chief assistant to Arnstein in the Good
year-zeppelin Works. and w. B. Grit.
fin, Goodyear aeronautical engineer.
Building Two Dirigibles.
Akron is peculiarly fitted for the
founding Of a great school of the all
because of its combination of lighter.
than-air and heavier than-air activity
Goodyear"zeppelin Corporation is build
ing the two largest rigid-type dirigibles
in the world for the United States Navy
ships will be constructed in a hangar
foundations for which are virtually
complete. This hangar is to be 1900
feet long. 1875 feet wide and 200 feet
high Both ships will be Graded side
by side in the mammoth structure.
In addition to the Zeppelin plant
which will be close to part-fabrication
units. Goodyear has another airship
factory which produces balloons and
the pony-type "bliinp," of which the
Puritan is perhaps the best known ex-
ample. The Puritan has visited most
of the cities in the East and Middle
West, recently outriding a 60-mile gale
over downtown Detroit.
There are no heavier than-air fac
tories in Akron. but Cleveland. only IS
miles away, affords students the Great
Lakes Aircraft Corporation (the former
Glenn Martin planD for inspection pur-
poses.
Airport of 625 Acres.
Akrons airport at present consists of
625 acres. Through a SS84,000 bond
issue, 1875 more acres will be added. In
1880 another $4,000 will be available,
through bond issues, to enlarge this
port. The total value Of the airport
then will be $1,753,000 and the acreage
will be nearly 1000. At present one air
mail line and four air service companies
have contracted for hangar space.
Cleveland's great airport is almost
eQualed by the rubber capitals plane
harbor Cleveland's port includes 1873
acres now and, through $500, 600 bond
issue, the field will soon be 1000 acres.
The total then will be 81 $4,000.
Whether the great Zeppelin plant will
be available for classes in Akrons air
university is not yet clear. According
to Dr. Arnstein, 1t may be necessary to
exclude the public from the hangar.
But the blinap plant is available for
class work.
In order to secure all the latest ideas
on the conduct of aeronautical schools.
DR.. Zook is now engaged in an aerial
tour of the East visiting Buffalo and
New York. Incidentally, this is DR..
looks first fight.
The Industrial Foundation of Akron,
which is sponsoring the Co-ordinated
University Air Service School. is headed
by George w. Mertz. Mr. Litchfield is
a member of an advisory committee of
three to further the idea. The other
members are DR.. Zook and Dean Aver.
ptotaf