Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17

Of InotorleSS planes.
The widespread interest in this
form Of flying, which has grown
apace in the past year, Is reflect
ed In the addition of these events
to the race program. The nature
Of the field, fat and without the
usual terrain about 1t for ideal
glider flying, will naturally cause
these features to appear some
what tame from the spectators
standpoint.
Many interested in gliding.
however, believe the time is not
far distant when the glider flyers
will have their own show on an
extensive scale and in the proper
setting for the showing of of the
skill Of pilots and the excellence
of craft.
Three of this years glider
events are endurance tests, while
the other two are for spot land
ing.
Foreign Pilots to "Stunt."
The foreign pilots attending the
show are not expected to COM
pete in the Thompson Trophy
race. It was with the idea of re-
viving the sort Of competition af-
forded by the Pulitzer Cup races
that the magazine Aero Digest
foStered the idea Of bringing the
foreign speed pilots to this coun-
try for the show. Fer that pur-
pose Afford j. williams, former
Navy flyer and regarded as one of
the best speed and stunt pilots in
the world, was sent to Europe to
interest the foreign pilots in the
Chicago show. He has received
acceptance from Flight Lieut.. r.
L. r. Atcherly OF the British
Schneider Cup team Of last year
and winner of the Kings Cup
race in 1929; Marcel Doret, lead
ing race and stunt pilot Of
France; Frederick Loose of Ger
many and G. Colombo, speed
plane pilot of italy.
They are not to compete, for the
simple reason that there Is a vast
amount of training necessary for
such a race, and the flyers have
not had time for the long prep
aration needed.
They will, however, do q great
deal of exhibition flying for the
folk who attend the show to gasp
and wonder at, and will contrib
ute all they can to make the show
a success.
Aircraft Industry Grows.
An interesting survey of the
aircraft industry, based on the
past years trends in production
and junking of planes, is issued
today by Air Investors, Inc, an
aviation investment concern.
The survey finds that increaS-
ing patronage patronage that
is growing by leaps and bounds
forms sound basis for optimism
over the future Of aviation in this
country, despite the fact that
plane manufacturing shows a de-
crease during the year.
According to the survey there
were in this country on January
2, 1880, e,767 aircraft licensed and
identified by the Department of
Commerce, as against 1884 on
July /. During this period, the
survey states, approximately 1900
new planes were first licensed and
identified, with about 1,740 going
out OF service during the same
time.
The downward trend of aircraft
production is amply shown, the
survey states, by the report Of the
Aeronautical Chamber of Com
merce for the first six months Of
this year, showing l AIS units pro-
duced In that time, against 1881
units In the output for the first
half Of 1929. Engine production
dropped to 2,O52, against 1926 in
the first half Of 1929.
Mail Service Expands.
The upward climb Of the air
mail service, however, is seen as
q healthy indication for the avia-
ton industry. In spite of gen.
eral business depression and I'M
usually bad flying weather condi-
tons last Winter, the air mail
poundage has shown a healthy
growth. A 81 per cent increase
for the year ending June 80, 1880,
against the year ending June 80,
1929, is reported, showing con-
clusively, the survey states, that
the American public is more and
more going in for this sort of
mail transportation, despite bad
business conditions.
Quoting the magazine Aviation,
the survey points out that pas
senger traffic in March, 1880, was
IS per cent greater than in No
vember, 1929, and 81 per cent
greater than in october, 1929,
months which were compared be-
cause Of their equality with re-
spect to seasonal influences.