Evening star., 1932-08-21
DERBY TAKE-OFF
b SLATED At 8 PM.
Races Start to Climax Spec
tacuIar Two Days for
Capital.
Continued From First Page.)

st. Louis, Ill; Indianapolis, Clnclnnatl,
Akron and Cleveland.
The Washington starters were minus
one Of their notables today as result
of the appointment of Lee Gehlbach
Of Mount Clemens, Mich. star OF many
air meets and races, to replace Russell
Boardman at the controls of the 800
mile-per- hour Gee Bee racer, built es-
pecially for the Thompson Trophy race
on Labor day, the final day Of the ma
tional air races. Boardman, co-holder
of the world distance record, estab-
lished in his flight with John Polando
from New York to Istanbul, Turkey,
was injured during the last week in the
crash of last years Gee Bee entry in
the Thompson race, while making
speed trial.
One of the best-known pilots starting
from washington in the derby today Is
Doug Davis Of Atlanta, the only surviv-
ing winner of the 100-nile closed-course
event in the National Air Races, which
in 1880 became the famous Thompson
Trophy race.
Davis is regarded as one of the finest
stunt pilots in America and is veteran
of the National Air Races. He won
fame 18 months ago when, while flying
as co-pilot with Francis H. Jerdone Of
washington in a giant 18-paSSenger air.
liner, carrying 18 distinguished pas
sengers on the inaugural flight of new
airline, the plane smashed its landing
gear in taking off from rough field.
Displayed Goodness.
Jerdone and Davis, in one Of the finest
exhibitions of cool-headed airmanship
on record, landed the big plane without
scratching single one of their l8 pas
sengerS and without serious damage to
the plane.
The National Capital will be repre-
sented in the derby by Henry G. Brown,
operations chief for the Ludington Air
lines, who will fly his own Travelair
biplane; and Edward W. Stitt, Roxboro
place who recently became a plane
owner through the purchase for $400 of
a well seasoned old campaigner of the
skies.
The two women pilots leaving Wash
ington are 22-year-old Pittsburgh
misses-Helen Richey daughter of the
superintendent of schools of McKees-
port. Pa, and her chum. Helen Mac
Closkey. Miss Richey will fly a Bird
biplane; Miss MacCloskey tiny Mono
coupe cabin monoplane.
The start of the derby this afternoon
will follow day of aviation activity at
Hoover Airport beginning
AZ d.lIl Will lllc puD1lC UlSpCC-
tion of the contesting planes The
public will be permitted to walk among
and look over the derby planes for one
hour
At 10 o'clock the official national air
race stunt team, composed of Betty
Lund and Arthur Killips, will take the
air for q half-hour demonstration Of
acrobatic flying. Mrs. Lund, the widow
of Freddie Lund, famous civilian stunt
flyer who was killed in an aerial COL
lsion during a race last year, is one of
the worlds best women stunt pilots.
Throng Gets Thrill.
She and Killips thrilled the crowds
yesterday with remarkable demonstra-
tions of stunt flying. Mrs. Lund, who
holds the world record for women for
airplane rolls, put on an exhibition of
slow and snap rolls. inverted fling and
spins. Killips, brilliant newcomer to
the field of National Air Race aero
battles, put on sparkling demonstra-
ton of virtually the whole bag of tricks
of the "big league" stunt pilot.
At 1890 the. board of technical ex-
perts of the Washington Air Derby
Association will make its final inspection
of the contesting planes.
At II o'clock two parachute jumps
will be made by a parachute team
sent here from Cleveland by the Ma
tional Air Race Committee. The jump
ers will attempt to land in front Of the
administration building at the main
field.
A number Of sportsmen pilots from
fields within 200-nile radius of Wash
ington are expected to land at the air.
port at II 80 o'clock to witness the re-
mainder of the days program.
George Brinkerhoff, local flight instruc-
tor and acrobatic pilot, is to take the air
at noon for a demonstration Of stunt
flying. His exhibition will be followed
by passenger flying until l O'Clock,
when Mrs Lund and Killips again will
take the air for half hour of aero
battles.
At 1870 o'clock the derby planes will
be transferred from the Hoover" side
of the airport to the main field pre-
paratory to the take-off for the derby.
While the planes are being lined up in
the order Of their take-offs, as fixed by
handicapping officials, James G. Ray,
famous autogyro pilot and star OF au-
togyro landings in the White House,
Capitol and Smithsonian Institution
grounds, will put on a demonstration OF
autogyro flying.
Final Instructions Due.
The derby pilots will receive their
final instructions from derby officials ct
2:l5 pm. and will begin warming up the
motors of their planes at 2:30 O'Clock.
The first derby plane is to take cff
promptly at o'clock, followed by the
27 others in their handicap order.
At o'clock the sportsmen pilots are
to take off for home airports. At $50
NJ tho fret Ian nf the derhV will
be announced over the field loud-speak-
er system. Passenger sightseeing flying
will begin after the derby take-off and
continue, except during the period of
the sportsmen pilots departure, until
about 10 pm.
The winner Of the derby is to receive
the Cord Cup, a 12-cylinder custom
built automobile and $4,000 in cash.
The leader in the division not repre-
sented by the winner will receive a Cord