Evening star., 1936-12-20

AS Time mas gone Dy, IIllS type Oh
information has become increasingly
important and the necessity for con-
ducting the flights daily, without
interruption. has become greater.
Modern weather forecasts are being
based more and more upon upper air
conditions.
To increase the safety Of these
flights. which, during the short Winter
days, start and are completed before
dawn, it Ia necessary that the air
plane be provided with the most
complete and perfect navigation
instruments.
During Winter months, icing con-
ditions are encountered frequently in
this locality. To prevent failure OF
instruments due to formation OF ice
in the Ventura tubes by which they
are actuated, it has been necessary 10
modify the engine Of the local mete-
orlogical airplane to accomodate
vacuum pump, 1t has been announced
by the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics.
Because OF the changeable weather
conditions apt to be encountered here
during the early morning hours 1t
also has been necessary to equip the
airplane with the best OF two-Way
radio communication so that constant
contact may be maintained with the
station in case of emergency.
1T is believed" the bureau ex-
planned. "that this station now has
the best-equipped astrological plane in
existence in this country. In spite OF
the excellent equipment, due credit
must be given the aviation pilots who
conduct this flight up to 1900 feet
daily for the purpose OF obtaining
this valuable information"
Weather" flights now are made at
many stations throughout the United
States. in addition to Anacostia. Army
posts send up daily planes in many
locations. At Seattle National Guard
airplane is used. The Weather Bureau
also has contracts with commercial
pilots at a number of points provid-
ing for daily flights.
Despite the fact that daily flights
have been made at Anacostia over a
period of years, there never has been
a serious accident in connection with
the service The local flights are made
by enlisted pilots holding awaiting
ratings, the duty being rotated from
time to time.
NOMINATION of candidates for
posts as officers and directors of
| the Washington Air Derby Association
for 1887 have been announced. The
election will take place at the annual
meeting to be held next month.
Chester H. Warrington. organizer
and first president of the association
who now is completing another term
of Office as head Of the group, will
not stand for reelection. He has been
| nominated for the secretaryship.
without opposition Mr. Warrington
also is president of the Aero Club of
Washington, chapter of the National
Aeronautic Association.
Nominees for the presidency are
j. Earl Steinhauer, now vice presi-
dent, and Harrison Buddy Somer-
vile. past president
! Candidates for the vice presidency
are Clarence S. Bruce of the Bureau
of Standards. now secretary; Somer-
vile and George C. Brinckerhoff.
manager of College Park Airport.
There also are three nominees for
the post of treaSurer-Somerville
Conrad Faick and Mrs. J. H. Prinz
The following association members
have been placed in nomination for
directorships: George o. VaSs. Capt
Brintnall H. Merchant, J. Earl Stein
haur, George c. Brinckerhoff, Dr
3. L. Jarman. Chester H. Warrington
H. A. L. Barker. Harrison Somerville
Miss Helen Frigo. Miss Harriet
Sackett. j. E. Kreis. Miss Elsie Shan
non. Clarence S. Bruce, Paul Edward
CARRIER, Whitney Leary. Edwin C
Graham. John A. Remon. R. B. Swope
V. B. Murray. Russell Benson, j. P
Mcdonald and Mrs. ]. H. Prinz.
Steinhauer for many years has been
active in the promotion of private
and sports flying locally. As main
tenance chief at the former Hoover
Field, he became nationally known in
the aviation world. He later became
assistant manager of College Park
Airport and took leading role in the
handling of meets there for Sportsmen
pilots. He has served as an official
in virtually every aviation meet held
in or near Washington for many years
and. because of his reputation locally,
he was selected as an official of the
1886 national air races. He holds q
transport pilots license.
Somerville, who was president of the
| Derby Association in 1895. owns his