Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28
AIRCRAFT EXHIBIT
BUILDING CLOSED
AS SAFETY MOVE
Fear of Damage or DeStruc-
ton by Fire Causes
Smithsonian Order.
FAMOUS PLANES KEPT
IN TEMPORARY STRUCTURE
Officials Will Provide Safeguards
Before Reopening Display
to Public.

Concerned over the possibility of seri-
Gus damage by fire to the valuable col
lection of aircraft relics housed in the
Smithsonian Institution, officials of the
institution have closed the aircraft
building to the public until suitable
measures can be taken to protect the
exhibits.
Several plans are understood to be
under consideration for installation of
fre-preventive equipment and possible
remodeling of the building in parts.
Funds are available for the work,
and as soon as engineering questions
are decided it is planned to ask for
the Interpretation apparatus.
Building Is Temporary.
The aircraft building is a temporary
structure constructed during the war
as a labor atory for the National Adj
visory Committee for AeronauticS. It
was turned over to the Smithsonian
Institution, which has been using it as
an exhibit hall for aircraft. The ex-
hibits have been moved into one end of
the hall, to facilitate the engineering
study
One of the most interesting exhibits
In the aircraft building is the hull and
one engine of the NC-4, giant Navy
seaplane which was the first aircraft to
cross the Atlantic Ocean. The wings
of the NC-4, too large for display in
the building, are stored away until room
Is available to set up the entire plane.
Much of the history of aircraft en-
gines is traced by exhibits in the hall,
including representative types of en-
gines since pre-war days, some Of which
have figured in important aviation
events.
War Aviation Shown.
World War aviation is well repre-
scented in the building. There is Spad
which was flown in battle by three
American aces and in which seven vic
tories over enemy planes were achieved.
It bears numerous battle scars. There
is larger Spad flown by Gen. William
Mitchell while in command of Ameri-
can air forces in France. In this plane
he few the Prince Of Wales on a his
toric tour of the lines. The flying suits
used by the General and the Prince on
that trip are shown. There is a cap
tured German Fokker which Is shown
In battle condition, bearing many marks
Of air combats.
One Of the planes which participated
In the first Army flight from the United
0bAbcS 70 k11dSA6" anu IcIuLu - oIAOHus
Thsre also is the giant To- Army cargo
plane, in which the first nonstop
transcontinental fight was made, in
1923.
The first round-the-world fight
made by four United States Army
planes Is represented by the Chicago,
hagplane Of the squadron, by the per-
sonal diary Of Lieut.. Leslie Arnold, one
Of the pilots, and by an automatic pro-
jector showing 20 slides made during
the trip.
Good WIN Plane There.
The famous South American good
will" flight made by the Army in 1925
and 1927 is represented by the San
Francisco, one of the amphibian planes
used on the trip.
Accessory exhibits include flying
equipment, ordnance. aircraft wing sec
tions, propellers. more than 800 framed
photographs and relics of many his
toric flights, models and various types
of airplanes, including a Schneider
racing plane and the first successful
helicopter
Other famous planes in the possession
ef the Smithsonian Institution are
Aoused in the Arts and Industries Build
ing. These include the Spirit of st.
Louis, Col. Charles A. Lindberg'S trans
atlantic plane; the original Langley
Aerodrome, the first man-carrying air
plane; several famous gliders and early
airplanes, models of interesting flying
machines" and the ,Eaglet, glider in
which Capt. Frank NJ. Hawks crossed
the Nation.