Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
COMMERCIAL SHIPS
! LEAD AT AIR MEET
Military Planes, for First
Time, Are Forced to Bow
to Civilian Pilots.
~ a staff Correspondent Of The Star.

~ Stan Correspondent of The Star.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, August 31.-The
increasing dominance of commercial
aviation in the United States is re-
fiected as never before in the national
air races now in progress here. For
the first time in the history of aviation
commercial flying has outweighed mill
tary exhibitions at a national air meet
Last year. in the national air races
at Mines Field. Calf, the military, as
in previous years, captured the show
Those who went to Mines Field prob
ably will remember the stirring compe-
tition between the Army Air Corps
three musketeers and the Nays three
sea hawks as the high light of the
races. The commercial element. while
better than ever before, was relegated
to second place.
Change in Situation.
This year, however, the situation
seems to have changed. The Army and
Navy have been as good or better than
ever but there has been so much Splen-
did flying by civilian pilots in civilian
ships that for the first time they have
taken the edge from Uncle Sans stars.
There has been civilian formation
flying for the first time. While it can
not compare with the magnificent for
nation flying by the trained Army and
Navy squadrons. it has been very good.
In acrobatics the civilians have come
decidedly to the front. largely because
the Army and Navy have stuck to their
formations
Freddy Lund and the two team
mates who have been flying with him
in the crack civilian Travelair team
have occupied places in the limelight
every day. The individual smash of
the races so far, however. was made
by lone civilian flyer when Charles
speed" Holman Stunted 3-ton tri-
motored Ford monoplane as though 1t
were the giddiest sort of pursuit plane.
For the first time in the history of
the national air races, dirigibles have
taken a prominent part There have
been three civilian Goodyear pony
blimps flying formations and solo all
through the races. Yesterday fourth
came over and was christened with
elaborate ceremonies. These little
ships. however. lost the spotlight to
the Navy, which brought the new all
metal zMC-2 experimental blimp down
from Detroit and the Los Angeles from
LakehurSt.
Zepp Gets Spotlight.
Ordinarily that would have left the
Navy undisputed leader in the dirigible
field. 1t was not so to be. Just a few
hours after the Los Angeles had been
attached to the field mooring mast, the
commercial dirigible Graf Zeppelin.
winding up Its epochal fight around
the world. passed overhead and the
searchlights which played along it's
long silvery hull meant Iessening of
the spotlight in which the Navy basked.
There is no intention on the part of
any one here to minimize the impor-
tance of participation in the races by
the Army and the Navy. The work of
the Army, Navy. and Marine Corps
fighting Squadrons has been brilliant,
as 1t always has been at these shows
Their flying has been a revelation to
thousands upon thousands of spectators
of the advances made in the science of
military air operations.
1t was inevitable, however, that with
the great increase in commercial aero
nautics in the United States and with
the tremendous improvements which
have been made in commercial aircraft
and the caliber of civilian pilots they
should gain a steadily increasing place
in the races. The races, formerly over
whelmingly military in flavor are be-
coming more and more civilian and
commercial in character each year, in
the opinion of aeronautical leaders
here.
It Is hoped. however. that though
more and more attention is given to
civilian events, the Army and Navy will
continue to take advantage of the races
as an opportunity to keep the public
posted on the latest advancements in
the development of fighting planes and
the science of military air tactics, those
in charge Of the races say.
Many New Features.
There have been many new features
at thus years races and virtually all of
them have been on the civilian side
of the ledger. Gliding has played a
part for the first time. The national
glider contests, held this year, were
among the most interesting events of
the week. With new glider clubs ap-
pearing in all parts of the country.
the motorless flyers are certain to play
an important part in the 1880 races,
1t is believed.
The first womens air derby and
women'S races have been important
features of this years annual air classic
Commercial lighter-than-a events
have made their debut this year and,
with the great revival of interest in
dirigibles all over the world during the
past year. the motorized gas bubble
should NAV an even more Interesting