Evening star., 1936-01-19


To give the United States undisput-
ed leadership, the N. A. A. on Febru-
ary l will launch a second concerted
campaign for records in the hope that
this country will gain such a COM
manding lead as to secure its holding
out against sporadic assaults by air.
men of all other nations.
The American drive for leadership,
however, is badly handicapped by the
fact that world record flying is an
expensive proposition Aside from the
cost of the airplane and equipment,
there is the added expense of sane
tion and registration fees to cover GER
tification of the mark attained. The
pilot who undertakes record also, in
many cases, is put to the expense and
bother of arranging for necessary
witnesses. The result is that pilots
who might easily set world marks for
this country fail to do so because of
the personal expenses involved in
bringing glory and honor to the Ma
ton and to American aviation.
France and number of other for
eign countries not only defray all the
expenses of world record flight at
tempts. but also pay cash bonuses to
pilots who bring the nation new inter-
national records.
That American pilots. in the face
OF the expense and trouble they must
shoulder themselves. should still have
carried this country to world leader
ship is tribute to their patriotism.
The Washington Aero Club does
not propose TO pay bonuses for records,
but it is offering to pay all sanction
and registration fees in connection
with world record flights within a 20
mile radius of Washington. The offer
stands until May /. The National
Aeronautic Association also has
undertaken to stimulate the opening
Of the record campaign by waving
the usual fees for the first successful
world record flight after its campaign
opens on February /.
The results have been immediate.
At least two local world record flights
are planned for February /, one by
local woman pilot not yet selected,
the other by Ben King. local sports
man flyer who during 1885 stablished
six world records and twice carried
the United States into the lead in the
see-saw race with France Other at
tempts are being considered.
In making its offer, the Aero Club
of Washington, it was explained. lis
establishing precedent which it
hopes will be followed by other or
CARNATIONS and which it is believed
will go long way toward maintain
ing American supremacy in world
aeronautics.'
The local club. a pioneer of its
kind, is blazing trail which leads
toward more popular acceptance of
aviation. 1t is applying the service
principal upon which the great au-
tomohile clubs have been established.
There is room for further expansion
OF the same type of activity in avia-
ton. sponsors of the Aero Club plan
believe, and if the N. A. A. doesn't
follow up the plan, eventually some
other organization will and will grow
to dominating position in the field
OF private and sports flying.
The local club has reelected Ches-
| ter H. Warrington as it's president.
Warrington. one of the most active
local sportsman flyers. has become
nationally known for his work in pro-
noting private flying. He was one of
the organizers and first president of
| the Washington Air Derby Associa-
| ton. He recently was elected ma
tional vice president of the Sports
man Pilots Association and is slated
to become next president of the Or
| ganization.
Other officers of the club are Louis
Inwood, John F. Victory and Richard
S. Boutelle, vice presidents; Allan M.
Smythe, secretary; j. B. Peterson,
treasurer, and Rear Admiral E. S.
Land, DR.. George w. Lewis. Adolf
K. Barta and Dr.. Roy E. Whitehead,
trustees.
Officers and men of VO-3MR, local
Marine Corps Reserve observation
squadron, training at the Anacostia
Naval Air Station, are preparing for
annual inspection March r. Inspec-
tion will cover flight maneuvers, in
fantry drill and ground training.
| The squadron was reorganized as
an observation unit last July, at which
time allowance was made for 78 men,
OF which an average of 35 were to
receive pay at the regular Marine
active duty rate for drills attended
The squadron now has more than the
quota OF those on pay status and new
men are carried only as volunteers
Because Of this situation, it is intended
to transfer men from the pay roll
when lack of attendance Indicates a
loss of interest and so create vacancies
for capable volunteers who will attend
regularly. Among the newly ad-
mitted enlisted men are Pvts. John C.
Meyers. E. w. Lawrence, Richard
Heys, Louis J. Naecker, L. G. Nc
Lean and Norman F. Paul
The squadron also has two new stu
dent pilots to add to the list of nom
/ COIklIllSolOAICu OllSCAo PAN dtCo
who are learning to fly privately in
addition to squadron duties. These
new candidates for wings are F. K.
Finan and r. B. Taylor, both privates,
| first class.
There has been an increase of about
| 1000 in the number of licensed air.
planes in the United States during
the last year and almost an equal in
crease in the number of licensed pilots.
On January there were 14,805 pilots
and 1871 aircraft holding active De-
partment OF Commerce licenses, the
Bureau of Air Commerce has an
to the respective merits of younger and
older executives. Some shortage in