Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14
BY HAMILTON WHITMAN.

| Copyright, 1891. by the Associated Press)
ROME, June 13.-An air Joy ride OF
10000 miles over IL European countries
has convinced Capt. Frank Hawks,
American speed ace, that the United
States has much to learn from Europe
concerning flying field management.
On the other hand, America has
few lessons to offer on such matters as
proper surfacing for landing fields, the
use Of brakes on planes and the speed
| ing up of mail and passenger service.
1.-THE fundamental difference between
European and American fields is that
here they became social centers," HAWKS
said today. Every large European air.
port has magnificent 1ield houses, res
| taurants, cafes and beer gardens. Peo-
pie with only small interest in actual
| flying use these fields for recreation ana
sports. This is something in the spirit
Of the American aviation country CLUBS,
but the European fields are open to the
public instead Of being small ana e&-
elusive"
Hawks said the finest field that he
has seen in Europe is Templehof In
Berlin.
Close to Center of City.
IT think Berlin has the best field In
Europe, at least the best I've seen ana
I have been in IL countries and nave
stopped at most Of the important helds
In those countries One reason for this
is that Templehof is only IL or Is min
utes from the center of the city, factor
that helps draw crowds.
THE tables there are loaded with
beer, there Is a general holiday Amos
phere and all this helps sell aviation to
the public.
"one Of the biggest differences be-
tween American and European heloS Is
the lack of paved runways in Europe. l
have not tried landing at any OF these
European airports in rainy weather, but
/ know what they must be. European
fields are far rougher than American,
but the ground crews are superb, snow
ing remarkable speed and ease in han
ding planes.
Another point Of variance is the
lack of brakes on European planes
Also, here they fly passenger ships on
schedule in weather much worse than
Is thought safe in the United States.
This is not caused by recklessness, but
by different point of view.
Schedules Are Slower.
Schedules Of European lines are
somewhat slower than those in Amer
! lea, Mail lines in the United States
are much faster, better and longer than
anything in Europea. Also we do much
more night flying at home, particu-
! larly of mail.
There is a lack of variety in the
models of sports planes in Europe
which is explained by the fact that
there is no such great market for this
| type as in America and the chances for
| competition in the field consequently
are limited. England, for instance,
uses almost entirely Moth planes.
Since the Moth already has all the
business In this limited field it is most
improbable that any one else would be
able to manufacture small ships IN
that country. The same is true in
other European nations.
Europe uses direction finding by tri-
angulation much more than we do, but
we have Department of Commerce re-
ports and beacons, SO flying facilities
are about the same.
"On the whole, European receptive
ness to American ideas was summed
| up by the head of one of the largest
| European lines who said to me:
America has been slow getting started
| but in the last three or four years has
! forged far ahead of Europe and We
now are slowly adopting American
ideas, such as brakes, paved runways
and plane improvements.
1.-THE only difficulties an American
finds flying in Europe are the language
barrier and the unceasing formalities.
To pilot accustomed to flying at will