Evening star., 1938-09-28

rounded by newspaper men
North Beach municipal airport prob
ably will be made available by w. P. A.
to prepare detailed plans for the GRAY
ely Point project.
1T Is planned to have this group
work under the supervision of the
Civil Aeronautics Authority, not only
to make the new terminal one OF the
aviation show places of the country
but to put the big airport in commits
sion with the least possible delay" the
authority announced.
Ten Minutes Away.
The Gravelly Point site is described
by the authority as being 31a miles
or 10 minutes from the Post Once
Department. The area to be devel-
oped includes approximately 75o acres,
Of which 500 will be made" land, by
use Of dry I'LL and dredging.
The area to be developed will pro-
vide four runways Of minimum length
Of 5000 feet with unobstructed ap-
proaches in all eight directions at
flight angles as nat as 1-to-40.
This Is one Of many features in
which the Gravelly Point site is
greatly superior to that of the
present Washington air terminal,
which. tn certain directions, cannot
Be approached by an airplane at q
gliding angle Of even l-to-20 without
danger Of collision with the tops OF
adjacent hills, an increasingly impor-
tant consideration as transport planes
become larger and larger" the author.
ity explained.
The authority said that Washington
Airport has the advantage over Gray
ely Point OF being ~ miles or 7
minutes from the Post Office Depart
ment. It has q present area of l47
acres which could be expanded to a
maximum Of 5S5 acres by addition of
part Of the Arlington Experimental
Farm and private property to the
south and east of the airport. Such
an expansion, it was explained, would
make it possible to lay out four run
ways with a minimum length Of 5000
feet, though the Arlington hills would
constitute "a serious obstruction
hazard on some Of the landing ap-
proaches."
Both the Gravelly Point and Wash
ington Airport sites offer possibilities
for development Of combined land, and
seaplane facilities, though Washington
Airport would have been limited to
marine aircraft Of small draft and its
future expansion in this respect would
have been distinctly limited" It was
stated.
The initial development Of Gravelly
Point contemplates the four 5,o00-foot
runways with . paved width of $50
to 200 feet, together with necessary
drainage, lighting. fencing and other
facilities, . suitable terminal building
and at least one large hangar with
auxiliary service buildings. All run
ways are to be ready for service within
IL months from the start of construc-
ton, the G. A.. A. announced.
Washington Airport will continue to
be used by air transport lines and
private flyers until the new Washing
ton National Airport, as it has been
designated by the c. A. A., is ready for
service.
Practically all the property involved
In the Graveily Point project already
Is owned or controlled by the Federal
Government, 1t was pointed out.
Would Build Model Airport.
Members Of the Civil Aeronautics
Authority are strongly of the opinion
that Washington is the logical hub Of
the Nations airway system and that
the Capitals No. air terminal should
serve Is a model for municipal, State
and Federal airport development
throughout the country" the authority
stated. But 1t should be clearly un-
derstood that the development of such
Z terminal ut Gravelly Point calls for
the construction, at the earliest prac-
ticable date, Of No. 2 or alternate all
weather airport on high ground, away
from the river and Is free from ground
fog Is possible.
preferably the latter development
should be located closely adjacent to
existing lines Of surface transporta-
tion 90 that 1t may also be utilized as
bad-weather terminal for Baltimore
air tramc, as that city soon will have
. close-in airport which cannot be
used under adverse weather conditions
because Of surrounding hazards and
obstructions."
Unlike Washington Airport, which is
subject to floods, the c. A. A. stated,
the surface Of the Gravelly Point
deld will be above flood stage of the
river. Although it was admitted the
neld will be ohscured by occasional
river fogs, "as will any close-in air
port serving the city Of Washington,
1t Is conservatively estimated that the
new terminal can be used at least IS
per cent Of the time.
Because Of the occasional river fogs,
the authority said that early considera-
ton must be given to construction of
. supplemental all-weather airport
sufnciently distant from the city
to permit long, unobstructed instru-
msnt Approaches through low-hauginS
eaoudA. and sven blind" landings. =
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