Evening star., 1935-12-01

PAd44J 10 dJ "OlA 4lOW O1l LWO 1ukC
AS early as April n. 1880, the
Legion went on record in favor of
recognition by the Federal Govern
ment Of the amateur pilot. This was
at time when the amateur was not
considered as having any part In the
development Of aviation, Mr.. Waggy
explained. About a year ago The
Bureau Of Air Commerce created the
grade Of amateur pilot for licensing
purposes and he now Is recognized by
the Government and the various avia-
tion organizations.
In November, 1880, the Legion be.
gan campaign for the creation Of a
national guard or army reserve outfit
in Washington made up of local men
who could fly, whether or not they
met the requirements Of the Army,
Navy or Marine Corps aviation organ
izations. 1t was Waggy's idea that the
local flyers should be organized into a
squadron for emergency service. This
has been accomplished. with the SUD.
port Of Representative Melvin ]. Mas,
who holds majors commission in the
Marine Corps Aviation Reserve.
The local Legion also was active in
the campaign against the flying of
passengers by private pilots, who were
eligible for licensing after only 10
hours of solo flying. On December
"a, 1880, the Legion issued a state.
ment in which it was stated that in
the opinion of the Legion no pilot
should be allowed to take up passen-
gers until he had at least so hours
Of solo time. This proposal has been
embodied in Department of Commerce
regulations.
Taking it all in ALL" Waggy said,
"the D. C. Air Legion has had a real,
and good, effect upon the develop
ment of aviation rules and regulations
and it is hoped that the National
Association Of Air Legions will have O
similar influence"
Important problems concerning the
immediate future Of American avia.
ton will be tackled by representatives
OF the aircraft industry at a meeting
OF the governors Of the Aeronautical
Chamber Of Commerce of America to
be held in Washington on December 9,
AT the meeting of the governors in
Washington, we shall consider matters
Of vital importance to the aircraft in
dustry in the United States" said
Thomas A. Morgan, president of the
chamber.
"a resolution of q number Of air
transport lines holding mail contracts
will be presented at the meeting. In
that resolution the contract mail
operators agree to withdraw from
membership in the chamber in order
to carry out the spirit, as well as the
letter Of the new airmail legislation
which provides that a clear line Of
demarcation shall be drawn between
manufacturing and operating COM
panies.
ut is our purpose that the Aero.
nautical Chamber continue to be the
trade association for the manufactur.
ers Of aircraft, engines, instruments
and all accessories, these manufacture
ing pants being the heart and soul Of
American aviation because they form
a reservoir Of equipment for all
branches Of flying, including the ma
tional defense"
This country's determined bid for
first place in world aviation has
aroused such a spirit of competition
abroad that a see-saw battle for
leadership in world aviation records
has developed with the United States
and France alternating at the top.
Several times during the past half
year the United States has forged
into first place, only to have France
come back and regain its lead. Of
fetal reports from the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale at Paris
to the National Aeronautic Associa.
ton here, shows that France again
Is In first place and that Italy has
forged upward in the world aviation
score chart.
In September the United States led
the world with As records. France
was second with 40 records. The
present standing Of the nations and
their records are: France. SO: United
States, 81; Italy, %; Germany, 8,
and Poland, 8.
Poland took from the United States
six world balloon records in the Cor.
don Bennett races in September.
Soon afterward Italy took two air.
plane records from Germany and six
from the United States.
Thus, after driving to first place
after tagging as second for eight
years, the United States has fallen
push forward to world leadership in
the air." N. A. A. officials announced.
Both the French and Italian govern.
ments have offered substantial bonuses
to aviators breaking records held by
other countries"
Senator William G. McAdoo of Cal.
ifornia, president of the N. A. A., has
again sounded the call for American
effort to recapture its lost ground.
1--WE want international records"
he said, because we want to maintain
American leadership in the develop
ment and progress Of aviation. Our
position as leader in worlds records
has been challenged without further
successes, it IS question of days only
until we sink lower on the interna-
tional charts. hope, therefore, that
transport companies, manufacturers
and individual flyers, in a spirit of
sportmanship and achievement, will
engage in new and greater efforts to
retain American leadership In the
air."