Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-11
AERO CLUB SPEAKER
PICTURES CAPITAL
AS DIR|G|BLE BASE
Builder of Navy "BIimp" De-
cIares 1,200-Acre Airport
Must Be Provided Here.
FIRM PLANS SERVICE
FROM D. C. TO S. AMERICA
Goodyear Corporation Is Also Con-
sidering City as Terminal
for East Coast.

The National Capital was pictured as
the great transatlantic dirigible terminal
Of the near future by Carl B. Fritsche
Of Detroit in an address before the Aero
Club of Washington at a luncheon
meeting yesterday in the Willard Hotel.
Mr.. Fritsche, president of the Aircraft
DEVELOPMENT Corporation, builders OF
the revolutionary all-metal dirigible
ZMC-2 for the Navy, declared in the
presence OF members of the House APP
preparations, military and naval affairs
committees and Federal aviation ofti-
cials that the Capital must have LOO
acre airport to handle the dirlglble
traffic which is to come within few
years.
Ocean Service Planned.
So successful have been tests of the
Navy all-metal dirigible that the De-
troit company now is preparing for the
construction of a large all-metal COM
naercial type suitable for transatlant:c
service. The company also is consider
ing service from the National Capital
to South America, it was indicated BY
Mr.. Fritsche.
p. w. Litchfield, president of the
Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation of Ak
ron, Ohio, now building the worlds
greatest airships for the Navy, and
Comdr. Jerome C. HunSaker. one OF the
worlds leading dirigible authorities, also
connected with the Goodyear company,
attended the luncheon.
The Goodyear company plans con-
etruction of commercial airships some
what similar to the Navy types now
under way. which will be nearly twice
as large as the Graf Zeppelin. This
company also is considering the Ma
tional Capital as its base on the East
"The only hope Of conquering the
Atlantic and Pacific by air is with the
rigid airship," Mr.. Fritsche said. There
Is no prospect of success with present
types of airplanes over such long DIS
tances without stop as must be met In
transoceanic flights. Experience shows
that over transoceanic distances there
As a power ratio of % to ! in favor OF
the dirigible over the airplane.
Predicts Marvellous Development"
1--WE are in for a marvellous develop
ment of airsh.ps, and we soon must pc
gin to prepare for this development
The National Capital is destined to
play a leading part in the airship de-
velopment which is coming soon, Mr..
Fritsche said. This city, below the
snow and ice belt, has favorable cll-
matte conditions, and also is near the
center of the Atlantic seaboard and
within easy access of the principal cen
tiers of population from which dirigible
passengers will be drawn, he said.
The growth of airship transportation,
he said. will come as a powerful stiHnu-
lation to commerce and will enrich the
Nation.
Among members Of Congress present
were Representatives Burton L. French
OF Idaho, chairman of the appropria-
lions subcommittee on naval appropria-
tions: John Taber OF New York. Guy
q Hardy of Colorado, william B. Oliver
of Alabama, w. A. Ayres OF Kansas,
Frank Clague of Minnesota and Menal-
Gus Landlord of Virginia.
Motion pictures showing the use OF
Rliders and soaring planes and the trial
Nights of the Navy metal-clad dirigible
we're shown.