Evening star., 1935-05-05

jump tS to be made by George De
Grange and Dick Burgess Of Penn
sylvania, noted amateur acrobatic
flyer, Is to put on q demonstration
Of acrobatics. A glider spot landing
contest has been added to the pro-
gram. There will be six airplane
races, including five straight speed
events, one for women only, and
q relay race. Acrobatic and bomb
dropping contests and woman's
spot landing parachute Jump are other
scheduled events. A formation Of
Maryland National Guard observation
airplanes Is to put on q demonstra-
ton Of tactical maneuvers.
Grandstands have been erected for
more than 5000 persons and there
will be parking space for an almost
unlimited number of cars around the
field. Tickets for seats may be
obtained at the airport. A public
address system will bring announce
ments and running comments on
races and entrants to those in the
stands and adjoinig parking areas.
The starting gun will be fired at IL
noon today and there is not expected
to be break in the program until
the sundown gun at about S pm.
The United States is tied with Great
Britain for fifth position among the
air powers Of the world, according
to a survey announced by Edward
p. Warner, former Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy for Aeronautics,
vice chairman of the Federal Avi-
alton Commission and editor Of the
magazine Aviation.
Warner, In the annual statistical
number of his magazine, denies en-
phatically the claim of Adolf Hitler
that Germany now has air parity
with Great Britain. He places Ger
many in seventh position among the
air powers.
In so far as Q mere counting of
noses Of airplanes" Is concerned,
Warner says, Germany is only slightly
inferior to the British and Amer
ican air forces.
1T Is when quality Is taken into
account" he explained, that the dis
parity really becomes apparent. Moth
ing replaces continued experience
and trial in this field, and years of
forced abandonment of military air
craft construction and operations have
left Germany with q wide gap to
close before her forces can be expected
to equal those Of other great powers
in quality either of machines or of
operating skill"
Mr.. Warner places the German
force at seventh place among world
powers, with total of 80 squadrons.
Great Britain and the United States,
he claims, have at least 80 squadrons
each and are tied for fifth position
among the powers. The greatest air
fleet of all in size, according to
Warner, is possessed by France, with
q total Of 165 squadrons. Russia he
puts in second place, with q total of
130 squadrons, while Italy is third
with ITO squadrons and Japan fourth
with 100 squadrons.
Among the other air powers which
must be considered seriously, accord
ing to the former Navy air chief, are
Poland, with So squadrons; Yueo-
slayia, with So; Czechoslovakia, with
81 xSAA1dAl6 aklo IklC xNCLIlCIl6klQS,
36 each; Spain, "a; Turkey, 20, and
China, 18.
Warner explained that his esti-
mates are based upon ofiicial figures
in so far as they are considered trust
worthy. Some of the official state
ments, he says, are of little value,
and with some countries, particularly
Russia and Germany, there is q
good share of crystal-gazing and in
structed guessing involved" He feels
that there are enough reports avail
able. even in the cases Of Russia,
Japan and Germany, however, to
''give our conclusions substantial
basis"
He pointed out that the difficulty of
reaching q real conclusion as to &C.
tual air power is increased by the
fact that airplane numbers mean
little unless there Is definite knowl-
edge Of their types and distribution,
some comparative rating of average
quality Of equipment, and knowledge
of the average ability of pilots.
He said that some countries carry
on their rosters large proportions of
obsolete airplanes in virtually dead
reserve on the theory that in case of
war they would be better than Moth
ing and could be rushed into some
sort Of service despite resulting
wastage.
On the score Of comparative ability
of military pilots Of the various coun-
tries, Warner said: "It Is o piece of
recklessness to say anything at all on
that point, but we are reckless enough
to estimate that in average quality
and in fighting strength per unit Of
equipment the United States, Great
Britain and Italy would distribute the
first three positions, with France and
Germany somewhat down the line,
and the Russians and japanese still
farther down. Though the French
are now engaged in Q modernization
program that will improve the av-
erage quality Of their flying equip
ment enormously within the next two
or three years"
The contrast between air passen-
ger flying when the first transport
line began operations In 1914 and
today has been strikingly emphasized
by Noel A. Mitchell, pioneer living
air passenger to pay cash for an air.
line ticket.
Twenty-one years have elapsed
since Mitchell made his pioneer flight
between st. Petersburg and Tampa,
Fla. During those Al years, . mere
day In the life-span Of any agency
Of transportation, airlines have grown
In efficiency, equipment and appoint-
ments to degree difncult to realize.
Mitchell In 1914 paid SITS for .