Evening star., 1934-12-16

Ill Vic QCNCAOHA4ASAAs Va ga 60 PSA
been favorably impressed with
river from Hams Point.
At his press conference last
dealing a death blow to the i'll
porters of the Gravelly Point ]
success during their seven years G
The President gave the impression
that he personally favors the Grav-
ely Point site, but feels that the sub
iect needs more study than has been
given it to date. From his present
knowledge Of the matter, he indicated,
the Gravelly Point site appears to him
to be the best of those which have
been suggested.
Immediately after expressing his
views on the local airport situation,
the President conferred with Public
Works Administrator Ickes on the
matter. As a result of this conference
it was indicated a study will be made
with q view to ALLEGATION Of public
works funds for the development Of
Gravelly Point IF everything appears
satisfactory"
Secretary Ickes, who was one OF the
first to come out in opposition to the
Mitchell plan, was quoted as saying
from what study have made Of the
Gravelly Point proposition. I am In
favor of it."
With the President and the public
works administrator known to be in
terested In the Gravelly Point project
and Army engineers ready to start
the filling of the proposed airport
area as q part Of their routine channel
dredging operations. advocates Of the
Gravelly Point airport plan feel they
have reason for anticipating success
full conclusion Of their long campaign.
Army Airmail Reviewed.
The unexpected revelation that
Army Air Corps airmail pilots during
lhe final period of their emergency air
mail operations last Spring had bet
ter performance record than the COM
mercial airmail pilots during the last
month of their service prior to cancel
lation of their contracts Is feature
Of the final summary of the emer-
gency period made this week by the
1OSI oulCc OtpdI Illclll.
During the three months Of their
emergency operations, the Army mail
pilots. going In. without preparation
or experience in scheduled airline
operations and without proper equip
ment, in the face of the worst weather
in years, increased in efficiency until
at the close of the period they were
flying with 100 per cent efficiency on
some Of the principal routes Of the
country.
During the period Of May opera
tions prior to restoration Of service
to private companies, Army mail
pilots turned in perfect performance
records on the Salt Lake City-San
Diego and Salt Lake City-Seattle
routes over the Continental Divide
and the heaviest mountain country In
the West and on the Cheyenne-Den-
yer route.
A 1852 per cent record Of per-
formance was achieved by the Army
flyers operating on the Chicago-San
Francisco section of the transconti-
mental route. For the Nation as a
whole, the Army pilots had q May
record Of 9297 per cent of all sched-
uled service actually flown.
During the last month Of service
before the Army took over the airmail
service, this weeks report shows, the
Nations commercial air transport
companies flew only 1901 per cent
of their scheduled mileage. Although
handicapped by orders forbidding
them to fly in thick weather without
commercial airline navigation equip
ment in their planes, Army pilots for
the entire month Of April flew 1854
per cent of their scheduled mileage.
The statistical summary released by
the Post ONCE Department shows
that the Army Airmail Service for a
period of approximately three months.
from February 19 to the middle of
May, cost the United States s2.249.-
004. This figure, however. still is
subject to minor readjustment pend
ing final settlement Of outstanding
claims, it was reported. Civil airmail
operations for several years prior to
cancellation averaged roughly around
SIS 6.000,00 q year. or 100000 for
each three months.
New High Speed Service.
Travel time between Washington
and Detroit will be reduced to three
and one-half hours and Pittsburgh
will be IS minutes from Washington
following the Inauguration by Pennsyl-
vania AirlineS within q few days Of
service with 180-mile- -per-hour Boeing
transport planes.
The new planes will provide the
fastest travel schedules in history to
many Great Lakes and Northwestern
points. Connections which the planes
will make possible at Pittsburgh, Cleve-
land and Detroit will complete the
high-speed air transport system in the
eastern half of the country in so far
as major routes are concerned, 1t was
claimed.
Pennsylvania Airlines will operate
the new planes on route connecting
with four of the major airlines of the
national system. materially improving
service in all directions, 1t was said.
The planes to be used are Of the type
in which Col. Roscoe c. Turner and
Clyde Pangborn finished third in the
London Melbourne race in october.
Big Air Meet Planned.
With more than 1870 Army Air Corps
airplanes of three types participating,
in addition to Navy and Marine Corps
planes and civil aircraft from all parts
Of the United States. the seventh an
nual all-American air races, to be
held in Miami January 1912, promise
to be the most elaborate Of the series
Of mid Winter classics.
The service planes. which are to
be in Florida at the time in connection
with official gunnery and training pro-
grams of the squadrons, will engage
in tactical demonstrations. but will not
enter into any Of the competitive fly
ing features Of the meet. Their ap-
pearance will be of importance as the
first large-scale public demonstration
of several Of the new type combat
airplanes developed during the past