Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30

1t is agreed generally that closin
serious hazard at Washington Airpor
by the Department of Commerce to
necessary to save life and property.
The situation created at the loo
automobile traffic across the main 9
parallel at any other important air
has been described by famous pilot
serious air transport menace in exist
That disaster has not already &C.
CURED at the road crossing is due to
skill and experience of the pilots who
fly the airliners out Of Washington.
Several times serious crashes have
been prevented by quick thinking and
splendid handling of transport planes
by pilots. Once or twice pilots have
been forced to ground loop or make
stall landings to avoid collision with
automobiles. One pilot blew a tire
and crumpled a wing tip in such a
maneuver. Another, caught in an I'M
expected gust, bounced his plane into
the middle of Military road, missing
automobiles by the narrowest margin.
The situation Is too fraught with
danger to be permitted to continue.
The slightest error of judgment on the
part of transport pilot or the ignor-
ing by motorist of the traffic lights
which now are at the runway, by
sufferance only, could at any time pre-
cipitate disaster which would shock
the Nation. A collision between
loaded transport plane at take-off or
landing speed and one Of the many
buses which use Military road would
result in tragedy which would pale the
horror of the worst Of railroad grade
crossing crashes.
The McSwain bill providing for the
closing Of Military road is as truly an
emergency piece of legislation as any
now pending before Congress. Petty
squabbling over ways and means in
the face of the danger which exists is
inexcusable.
Washington, the most backward
city of its size in the United States
in providing for air transportation and
the most negligent Of all world capt.
tails in this respect, should have a
model air transport terminal. Nine
years of effort to push through Con-
gress legislation which would provide
such an airport have failed and fail
ure again seems certain this year.
The Nations Capital must continue
to muddle along with the makeshift
airport which circumstance has thrust
upon it. The least Congress can do
is to alleviate a menace which has be-
come intolerable.
The keenest racing competition IN
the history Of American competitive
air meet flying is anticipated in the
1885 National Air Races, to be held
at Cleveland August 30-September 2,
according to word from Clifford W.
Henderson. managing director of the
races.
The Thompson Trophy race, great
est of all races for landplanes, is to
be opened this year to international
competition and invitations have been
sent to Italy, France. Germany, Great
Britain and Russia to enter planes.
The race will be over 150-mile course
instead Of the previous 100 miles and
the prize money will be increased to
$4,000. The qualifying speed for the
event is to be 225 miles per hour.
In the Bendix Trophy race, trans
continental speed dash, sl2.500 in
prize money is up for competition.
with a possibility that for the first
time a woman may participate. Max
inc Howard, wife of Ben o. Howard,
may fly in this race in Towards
Mister Mulligan." with which she
already has establish spectacular speed
marks This airplane was built for
last years Bendix but was damaged
on the way to the starting point and
could not be put into shape in time
for the take-off.
The Bendix is open to all types of
airplanes and may be flown nonstop
without fueling en- route, with refuel-
ing in flight. or with landings at
fueling points. A prize of $4,000 is
posted for the race from Los Angeles
to Cleveland, with s2,500 additional
for continuing to New York and
breaking the transcontinental speed
record.
Louis W. Greve, president of the
National Air Races, has offered 5000
in prize money and a trophy for a
small-plane free-for-all, three heats
to be flown for the trophy, with sepa-
rate cash prizes for each heat.
Several new airplanes are being built
for this race.
Air Corps officers whose names have
figured largely in aviation history are
affected by orders for change Of
station which have just gone into
effect or will become effective during
the course of this month.
Capt. Lowell H. Smith, commander
of the first fight around the world.
has come to Washington from the
Command and General Staff School.
Fort Leavenworth, Kans., for duty in
the Office of the chief of Air Corps.
Capt. Smith, only officer of the Army
world fight now remaining in the
service, holds the Mackay Trophy for
his feat, which in 1924 carried the
fame of the United States Army Air
Corps to every section of the globe.
Lieut.. Col. Harold M. McClelland,
one of the officers who made the
flight to Alaska last Summer aud who
established at Rockwell Field, Calf :,
what amounts to a graduate college
of the air, with courses in instrument
landing, dead reckoning and radio
and celestial navigation, has been as
signed to the Air Corps Tactical
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