Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-06
HAROLD F. PITCAIRN
WINS PLANE AWARD
Hoover May Present Collier
Trophy to Developer of
Autogiro in U. S.

Award Of the Collier Trophy for 1880
to Harold r. Pitcairn and his associates
for their development and application
Of the autoglro was announced today
by Senator Hiram Bingham Of Con-
necticut. president of the National Aero
naHtic Association. President Hoover
IL expected to make the formal presen-
tation of the trophy, one of the most
coveted in aeronautics, in the near
future.
The Collier Trophy is awarded an
nually "for the greatest achievement in
aviation in America. the value Of which
has been demonstrated by actual use
during the preceding year"
although there were many achieve
ments in aviation during 1880. includ-
ing several that were outstanding" it
was announced by Senator Bingham,
"the committee was unanimous in its
report that the development and OPP
plieation Of the autogiro was most note
worthy"
Capital Line Cited.
Among the strong contenders for the
trophy, it is understood. was the New
Yoxb. philadelphia & Washington Air
ways corporation, whose establishment
of hourly passenger service between the
National Capital and New York is re-
garded as one Of the most significant
advances in air transportation during
tho YEsr.
The committee making the award
was headed by Mai. Walter G. Kilner,
Army Air Corps. and was composed of
Porter Adams, chairman Of the Execu-
tive Committee of the National Aero
nautic Association. Capt Emory S.
Land, U. s. N: Or. A. F. Zahn. chief
of the division of aeronautics, Library
Of Congress, and Gilbert @. Budwig. di-
rector of air regulation, Aeronautics
BHnch, Department of Commerce.
The Collier Trophy, donated by the
late Robert j. Collier, was first awarded
to Glenn H. Curtiss in 1911 for his de-
velopment Of the hydroaeroplane. Or
vile Wright received the award in 1913
for development of the automobile sta
bilizer. Awards for the past three years
were: 1927. Charles l.. LawTance. for
the development of radial sir-coolcd
aircraft engines; 1928. Aeronautics
Branch, Department of Commerce, for
development of Always and air naviga-
ton facilities, and 1929, National Ad-
visory Committee for Aeronautics. for
development of cowling for radial air.
cooled engines.
AutogirO introduced in 1928.
Mr.. Pitcairn brought the first auto
giro to the United States In 1928. He
had been interested in the autogiro
since 1925, when he witnessed a fight
in Madrid by Jipe1 de. la Cierva, the in
Ventor. During che past year Pitcairn
autogiSos have made notable cross
country flights. They have been flown
by pilots without special training
1.-THE autogiro," the committee an
nounced sis the most revolutionary de-
velopment in heavier -tl1an-air craft
since the first flights of the Wright
Brothers in 1908. The lift of an ordi-
nary airplane is supplied by fixed or
stationary wings. In the auteg:ro the
lifting surfaces are four long winglike
rotors resembling in appearance q large
four-biaded propeller. These rotate
without engine power as the craft is
pulled through the air by conven-
ttonal type of airplane propeller oper-
ated in the usual manner by an air.
plane engine.
1.-The autogiro enables flying perform
at1ce hitherto impossible. It can take
on at low speed after a very short run
and Immediately assume a steep-cliInb-
ing angle. 1t can fly well over 100
miles per hour or as slowly as IS miles
per hour. It can be brought monen-
tar1ly to a standstill and hover. It
can bank and turn slowly without fear
OF loss OF forward speed It can glide
or descend vertically with a dead en-
CINE at speed less than that Of q
man descending in a parachute. It
cannot fall into spin AS q result
OF its inherent safety, little operating
skill Is required"