Evening star., 1932-02-07

For the first time, women pilots will
compete with men In the closed-course
races this year at the big annual avta-
tion classic. During previous races, the
activities Of the woman pilots have
been confined to acrobatics, closed
course races and cross country compe-
tition with other woman pilots
This year there Is to be but one
high-speed race exclusively for women
at Cleveland. This will be for the
Aerol Trophy, which has been in COM
eral years and which was won last
year by Miss Maud-Irving TAFT.
Opening Of all events at the Ma
| tional Air Races to qualified woman
flyers Is expected to meet with en-
thusiastic approval Of the Nations
leading feminine pilots, who have
struggled for this recognition for sew
eral years. This view of the matter
is taken by Amelia Earhart Putnam,
transatlantic flyer and holder of
several world records for women
pilots, member of the N. A. A. Con-
test Committee.
Il think" she said, II express the
| opinion Of the most experienced woman
pilots when I say they agree that the
time has come for making individual
]
! the basis for participation in racing
| events.
Heretofore some feminine flyers
have hesitated 70 recommend this
course because they felt women, due
| to lack Of experience. were as a whole
! inadequate for pylon competition.
| However, three years Of practice has
! certainly developed enough racing ma
terial to make the next step not only
feasible but quite desirable"
In the 1881 Transcontinental Air
! Derby divided into separate classes for
men and women. Mrs. Phoebe Omlie
! winner in the Women'S division. scored
a higher percentage than the winner
/ in the mems division. 1t was pointed
/ out as an argument in support Of the
belief that woman pilots now are IN a
/ position to compete with men.
/ Another innovation at the Cleveland
races this year is to be the establish
ment Of a 3-mile oval course for races.
in place of the triangular course Of
past wears It will be the first time in
the history Of air racing In the United
/ States that a course of this shape and
/ length has been used.
The entire course will be in full view
! of the grandstand spectators and is
expected to be safer, due 10 the more
gradual turns. than any of the previous
/ triangular courses with their acute
angles The large radius turns at the
/ ends of the oval will be marked by three
/ pylons each.
Under rules Of past years, however,
the maximum speed events, the Thomp-
/ son and Aerol Trophy races. are TO be
| held over l0-mile triangular course.
Frown on Parachute Jumps.
Believing that exhibition parachute
! jumps contribute little to the advance
nent of aeronautics, the Contest Com
mittee Of the National Aeronautic Asso-
| citation has voted not to recognize
| parachute jumping records Of any
. description. Parachute records. as a
result of this decision, may not be
certified as official records, nor may
such jumps be sponsored of1cially at
any air meet under sanction of the
National Aeronautic Association.
Though there are no rules OF the
/ Federation Aeronautique Internationale,
the world aviation governing body,
which is represented in this country
by the National Aeronautic Association,
relating to parachute jumps. this in
itself would not prohibit the American
body recognizing such records. Under
| the F. A. I. DELEGATION of authority to