Evening star., 1936-10-09
ASKSA|RPORTDATA
ON HybLA VALLEY
King Follows Suggestion OF
Eckener Who Suggested
Zep Terminal.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Senator william H. King. Demo-
crat. Of Utah. chairman OF the Senate
District Committee. will ask Gen. Os-
car Westover, chairman Of the sub
committee making a survey for the
District of Columbia Airport Com
mission, TO make special study OF
the Hybla Valley flying field, sue-
gested by DR.. Hugo Eckener as q sat-
isfactory area to be used jointly as a
Western terminus for the Zeppelin
transport company.
Senator King will place the recon-
mendation of Or. Eckener before the
Joint commission at an early meeting
and desires to get an early report from
Gen. Westover because King intends
to make a report in January TO Con.
gress. He expressed his anxiety today
to have the District airport problem
settled as soon as possible. and feels
that adequate provision should be
made to meet needs for a half century
to come. He said he hoped for action
by Congress In the coming session.
DR.. Eckener advocated use Of the
Hybla Valley field when he stopped Of
here this week en- route to New York
for his last overseas flight Of the sea-
son. He said he intends to renew his
demonstration flights in April. Az
that time Senator King hopes to have
DR.. Eckener testify before the Joint
Airport Commission of Senator's, Rep.
resentatives and others.
This commission has not previously
given consideration to the suggested
Virginia site.
Three sites have been given tenta-
tive approval by DR.. Eckener for the
Western terminus Of the Zeppelin
| trans Atlantic line-at Morristown. N.
j.. at Baltimore and at Hybla Valley.
Seeks Best Possible Site.
"As far as I know the Hybla Valley
site has not been considered by our
commission" said Senator King, but
as chairman OF the commission. in
the interests Of getting the best pos
will personally bring it to the attention
of the other members and will ask
Gen. Westover to make special study.
I hope to have DR.. Eckener give expert
testimony. Personally have an open
mind as to where the Washington
airport should be located. But / feel
We should look far enough ahead 10
provide facilities to meet requirements
for half century at least In advance
of our times.
With the possible exception OF ra-
dio, no modern invention and devel-
opment has made as rapid and impor-
tant advances as air transportation.
None is more important for national
defense. Not only for commercial and
passenger use, but for national de-
fense in time of war, the airport at
the Nations Capital should be ade-
quate, properly located and thorough
ly up-to-date. Extreme care should
be taken regarding the location and
then the District airport should be
kept In model condition, superior TO
that Of any other city. DR.. Eckener's
recommendation should be given care
full consideration as coming from one
Of the foremost pioneers in the field
of aviation and air transportation.
Our commission should look ahead
so that adequate facilities may be pro-
vided for the time when planes will
be bigger and air transportation more
extensive-and always figuring that
this field will be commandeered for
the use Of the Government in war
emergencies.
Two Fields in One"
1T is an excellent idea TO have the
two fields together-American termi-
nus of the Zeppelin transatlantic
transport line and the airport serving
the Nations Capital However, ! be-
lieve that We should give serious con-
sideration to making provision for
hydroplanes as well as airplanes, by
affording both water and land facili.
ties for landing. OF course, the Poto-
mac River will always afford an oppor-
tunity for water landings.
Il feel also that we should not be
in the least niggardly about adequate
provision now. Just as soon as can
get the members Of this joint com.
mission on the District airport to-
gether I will call a meeting. / will
begin writing my report at the earliest
possible date and will ask Gen. West
over to expedite his studies, so that
when Congress meets in January I
will be able to make recommendation
,.,sk Ii