Evening star., 1931-12-27

Arctlc, into Egypt and on regular
ny and South America, and the
the U. S. S. Akrpn, beginning it's
years standing held its annual meeting
in Washington for the first time
recommending creation of grea,
aeronautical museum for the Capital
The Ludington Line smashed all record.
once more by carrying 9,119 passengers
between Washington and New York
during the month. The Department ot
Commerce summoned aircraft manu-.
facturers to q conference on proposed
amendments to the airworthiness re-
quirements. Many amendments were
adopted.
August-Frank Hawks stopped in the
Capital, seeking nine intercity speed
records In one day, establishing seven
Mrs Hoover went to Akron to christer
the U. S. S. Akron, giant Navy dirigible
September-The Ludington Line cele-
brated its first anniversary by breaking
on Labor day, all records for intercity
passenger carrying on single day. The
line opened 68-minute service between
Washington and New York, and on one
fight smashed the record set by Hawks
the month before. The Department OF
commerce completed construction of in
termediate fields on the Washington
Norfolk airway. Local aviation interests
began a fight to block construction OF
obstacles to transport operations over
Columbia Island, the struggle resulting
IN what now appears to be victory, In
view OF the orders by the President for
consideration of alternative plans In
place of those for two giant granite
shafts on the island.
October-TeSts of the first mechani-
cal pilot for air transport operations
were completed by Eastern Air Trans
port and the device turned over for De-
partment Of Commerce tests. Mrs. Hoo
yer christened the American Clipper
worlds largest amphibian, at Anacostia
Mai James H. Doolittle stopped al
Washington Hoover Airport while set
tlng a speed record of IL hours 25 min
utes connecting the capitals of Canada
the United States and Mexico. The
Ludington Line inaugurated 8O-minute
passenger service between Washington
and Norfolk.
Akron Makes First Visit.
November-The U. S. S. Akron paid
her first visit to the National Capital or
test flight Just prior to establishing q
world record for the greatest number of
passengers carried In any aircraft. The
Department of Commerce licensed East
ern Air Transports robot pilot, which
vas put IN regular service. Ludingtons
frst accident in more than a year of
f1ylng resulted in the deaths of five al
Camden, N. j., this crash being followed
within 48 hours by fatal crashes as the
Anacostia Naval Air Station and at
Washington Hoover Airport. Eastern
Air Transport opened passenger service
Richmond to Norfolk, with connections
to Washington.
December-The final blow in the
struggle against the Columbia Island
columns was struck. when the Wash
lngton Board Of Trade Aviation Com
mlttee went to the White House with
the petition Of all 40 transport pilots
operating out OF Washington and re-
quested modif1cation of the plans to
eliminate the threatened hazard. Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Healey Day landed
here. after remarkable flight around
the world in light two-seater. Annual
reports OF various Federal aviation
bodies urged co-ordinated plans of Gov
eminent military plane purchases to
tlde the aircraft manufacturing indus
try over the period of depression. as a
matter Of national defense.
Airmail Progress Noted.
The year brought several important
local alrmail developments, including
the opening of mail service between
Washington and Pittsburgh, giving di-
rect connection to the West; extension
OF the coastal system to include a
NUMBER OF new cities; opening of the
dlrect Florida line: placing of mail on
daytime passenger planes, and the in
creasing of airmail schedules. No air.
mail pilot operating out of the National
Capital was killed or badly injured dur
ing the year, though Verne Treat took
ous MS second degree membership in
the Caterpillar Club by virtue of a
lump Tor life in nearby Maryland, after
nus plane picked up enough ice to force
1t out of control in dense fog.
An important local air transport i'm
provement was the opening for service
OF the Hunters Point radio beacon
station on the Virginia shore of the
Potomac to guide pilots into the Capt.
tal along the paths of four beams. The
Boiling Field airways weather station
was moved during the past Summer to
Washlngton-H Hoover Airport. establish
ing thiS field officially as the Capitals
clVtl air terminal. The first of a new
type of 36-inch revolving beacon light
adopted by the Department of of Com
merce was installed on st. Elizabeth's s
Hospital hill as visual guide to night
nylng pilots. A new Department of
commerce intermediate field was built
at Bowie, Md
CONSTRUCTION work was carried on
during the year at the three Capital
f1ylng fields. Washington Hoover Air.
port was enlarged by filling In of ad-
Joining marsh land and the donation
OF land fom the Arlington Experimental
Farms. Work of improving Boiling
Field included filling Of a large area
with material pumped from the Poto-
mac River. Construction of the new
Army flying field was begun. Much
permanent construction was undertaken
at the Anacostia Naval Air Station
including new barracks building
heating plant, engine test stand, roads
and aprons.
Naval Aviation Grows.
This year has been one of unusual
Importance to naval aviation, It marked
the completion of the Navy's ive-year
aircraft program, bringing the naval
aviation strength to 1000 planes. II
witnessed the completion Of the U. S. S
Akron, worlds largest airship, and the
beginning of construction of a sister
ship, the zRS-5. Construction of the
first true American aircraft carrier,
the U. S. S. Ranger, wss begun. The
Navy began construction of a great
West Coast airship base at Sunnyvale
Calf. The Navy also was enabled to
begin a program of high speed aircraft
development with funds especially al
lotted for the purpose by Congress.
Though the year failed to bring COM
pletion of the Army Air Corps FIVE
year program, it did witness completion
of the huge West Point of the Air.
at Randolph Field. Tex; the adoption
of many revolutionary types of high
speed combat planes. and the greatest
concentration Of military planes for
mass maneuvers in world history.
A few Of ttie highlights in world
aviation:
January-A sWuadron Of giant italian
flying boats cNnssed the South At
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