Evening star., 1934-10-28

Inc attitude or many EngllShmen
toward the great showing of the
American stock models was reflected
BY the London Evening News. which
said: We are miles behind other
countries in commercial air trans
ports. The race was an ordinary trip
for the Douglas The efficiency of
American engines and aircraft was
such that at no point did it have to
stay long on the ground. Only one
Royal Air Force fighting plane is as
fast as this flying train. To compare
1t with our civil aircraft is too de-
grading
The winning British plane, a special
racer, designed and built solely to
compete for the trophy, limped in on
the last leg of the race on one engine
The big Douglas, finishing second, was
all ready at the close to go on de-
livering thousands of miles more of
flying in regular service, on daily
schedule, putting its racing pace to
the use of any air traveller or the
poster of any airmail letter.
The race, though it went to Brit
ish airplane and British crew, really
is lasting victory for American air
planes, in the opinion of many in the
aviation world. The big Douglas
which took second place will go into
regular service between Europe and
the Far East and will be followed by a
half-score of its sister ships, consoh-
dating the leadership of this coun-
try's transport planes as no single race
victory ever could do.
Army Reserves Active.
Procurement of appropriations suf
ficient to provide for complete year.
around training directive for Army
Air Corps Reserve officers to keep the
Organized Air Reserve at maximum
efficiency at all times has been agreed
upon as the principal goal of the Air
Reserve Association Of the United
States.
Although year-around training for
the Air Corps Reserve now is provided
by law, limited appropriations have
made it impossible TO carry out an
adequate training program.
The association voted its willingness
to have the War Department elimi-
nate the two-week active duty period if
sufficient funds cannot be obtained to
provide for this in addition to the year.
around program, feeling that the con-
sistent, regular training would be of
more value than short period of con-
centrated activity followed by idlenesS
during the greater part Of the year.
The program was agreed upon at the
annual meeting of the National Coun-
Gil of the Air Reserve Association a
few days ago in Columbus. Ohio, at
which local Air Reserve officers were
represented by Capt. Brintnal H.
Merchant.
1t was pointed out that consistent
scheduled training is fully as neces-
sary for the Air Corps Reserve as for
the National Guard Squadrons, mas
much as the National Guard now is
limited solely to observation squad
rons, while all bombardment. attack
and pursuit squadrons outside of the
Regular Army are Reserve units.
The local Army Reserve squadron,
the 409th Attack Squadron, now is
carrying out as complete a training
schedule as curtailed funds will per-
nit. Unit training is conducted every
Sunday morning at Boiling Field, con-
sisting of formation flying, training in
instrument flying, navigation and
radio-beam practice. Some night fly
ing and individual training is carried
on at other times.
Maj. Roy E. Whitehead, Air Re-
serve, chief medical examiner for the
Bureau of Air Commerce, now is act
ing as commanding officer of the
409th, with Capt. Merchant as opera
tions officer. There now are II active
pilots in training.
Last Air Meet Today.
What probably will be the last local
air meet of the season is to be held
this afternoon at College Park Airport,
College Park, Md. A hot-air balloon
race and double parachute jump will
be the novelty of the afternoon, which
will involve more than two hours of
continuous flying events, starting at
2 O'Clock.
George c. Brinckerhoff, manager of
the airport, has scheduled an airplane
relay race, with six pilots participat-
ing, as the first event. The race will
cover a 40-mile course, landings being
made for the exchange of crews.
A delayed-opening parachute race
between George De Grange and Dick
Cooper is scheduled. Both men will
jump simultaneously at an altitude of
10000 feet from an airplane flown by
Rr1nckernoff. Honors will go to the
first man reaching the ground, which
means that the man who delays long
est in opening his chute will win.
They will trail clouds of white flour
to mark their descent.
Ted Kreis, winner of the Langley
day bomb dropping contest last Spring,
will defend his championship against
Harley Clapsaddle.
In the closing event two hot-air BAL
looms will take of in race for alti-
tude. At a predetermined height a
parachute jumper will drop from each
balloon in a race for the ground, in
volving another double delayed drop.
Steinhauer in New Post.
Announcement has been made of
the temporary departure from avia-
ton of J. Earl Steinhauer, assistant
manager of College Park Airport,
transport pilot, veteran race official
and one of the most popular OF local
aviation personages.
NAOS
being sufficiently heavy, it was judged,
to necessitate both a manager and
assistant manager, Steinhauer has
gone over to the North American Oil
Refining Co., with headquarters in
Washington.
Steinhauer has been a leading figure
IN aviation in the District since the
early days of Hoover Field, where he
was in charge of the shop and repair
work for number of years before
going to College Park He also took
a hand in passenger hopping and
student training and has made long
charter flights into many parts Of the
United States He numbers among
his personal friends many of the Ma
tion'S outstanding pilots.
Flight operations for officer pilots
of VN-6R, local Naval Aviation Reserve
Squadron, scheduled for today, include
tactical-radio, tactical and navigation
training