Evening star., 1939-08-19
Aviation Day
Finds Nation
Rushing Plans
Army and Navy
Bases Are Opened
For Inspection

Behind the scenes of quiet cele-
bration today of the Nations first
Aviation Day, military and civil ON
cials are taking the first steps to-
ward a gigantic program designed
to give the United States pre-
eminence in the air.
Congress recently asked President
Roosevelt to proclaim each August
19-the birthday of Orville Wright,
aviation pioneer-as Aviation Day,
but there was no indication of a
Nationwide celebration which some
hope eventually to develop.
The doors of all Army and Navy
air bases were ordered thrown open
today, however, for inspection of
some of the latest developments in
air defense The Army Air Corps
said there would be no special flying
demonstrations, but the Navy sched-
uled four special events.
At Worlds Fair.
Two squadrons were ordered to
participate in aerial maneuvers over
the Worlds Fair in New York.
Others were to take part in JACK
sonville fla celebration.
Other Navy aircraft were sent to
st. Petersburg, Fla, and a group
was scheduled to participate in night
exercises at San Francisco.
Beacon Field and Hybla Valley
Airports observed the day with a
series of parachute jumps along the
Richmond highway below Alexan-
dria, Va. Louis Barr, Washington
parachute expert, was scheduled to
perform at both fields. Passengers
were taken for short flights at a
nominal fee.
Only two weeks ago, in celebrating
the 30th anniversary of the pur-
chase of the first military plane in
this country, the Army Air Corps
announced its newest ships, mostly
bombers had set more than dozen
new national and international flight
records.
Increase to $500 Planes.
An unprecedented War Depart
lO6l Gill tdLo lOl case
in the Air Corps strength from
1000 to $500 planes in two years.
The aircraft cost will be about Sl16.-
900 900. Equipment, armament and
related costs will run the total TO
about 100000 900. The Air Corps
will increase its enlisted personnel
from 10000 to about $4,000.
planes to its current total of about
1000 in five years, with TOO con-
templated for this year
Civilian aviation already has
made tremendous gains and the
Civil Aeronautics Authority has
been authorized to train 95 900 new
military pilots in the next few
years.
The C. A. A., created year ago
to Correlate Government regulation
of civil aviation. is preparing to
train 10000 young men at 300 COL
leges and universities in the school
year which begins next month.
More than 300 received similar
training at 13 colleges the past year.
26,144 Hold Certificates.
The c. A. A. said its records
showed 26,l44 pilots held official
Government certificates for nom
military flying. 5000 more than
year ago. All but 755 of these are
men. Two years hence, the C. A. A.
said, there should be about 10000.
Private certified airplanes total
II ,160, about 400 more than a year
ago. During the first six months
of this year, 1927 airplanes were
produced for domestic civil use.
with only about 40 going into the
transport branch of the industry.
The C. A. A. made public these
other indications of the industry's
growth
| Federal Airways have increased
| 10 per cent to more than $4,000
miles; the American Flag flies on
planes from Nome. Alaska. to
Buenos Aires. and from Marseilles,
France. to Hong Kong. China: twice
weekly flights are being made across
the Atlantic; fatal crashes have
been reduced; traffic control had
been modernized and expanded;
l.572 new landing fields, beacon
radio and related sites have been
acquired in the last year.
John F. Victory. president OF the
Aero Club Of Washington, today
sent the following telegram to
Orville Wright at Dayton. Ohio:
The Oldest aeronautical organi-
zation in America sends cordial
greetings on this first National Avi-
alton Day designated by law. We
congratulate you on the signal
honor accorded by Congress and
wish you many happy returns of the
! day"