Evening star., 1939-12-10
Airport Building
Plans Revealed;
To Be One Of Finest
G. A. A. Sees GroveIly
Point TerminuI as
A Model One
Continued From First Pase.)

GQulU1V CAR1hA1cO, OAAy A4A SA10 cCAA0S
that they are designed to serve the
needs Of the most modern Of ali
utilities-the transport airplane.
The buildings viii be grouped
compactly within an area In line
with the 20o-foot elevation Of Fort
Scott to the west Of the field and
not far from the group Of Federal
Bureau Of Roads buildings. In this
way, it was pointed out, they will
offer no additional hazard to flying.
Spectators Are Considered.
Spectators as well as air passen-
gers are being considered in the
building OF the airport. It will be
possible for spectators to circulate
completely around the terminal on
observation terraces without enter
ing the building or interfering with
the flow of passengers and mail
traffic. Automobiles can enter or
leave the airport area without cross
| ing trafllc on Mount Vernon high
way BY means of the clover-leafed
separation Of grade which will be
employed near the north and south
limits Of the development.
while the airport terminal itself
provides primarily for the han
ding of passengers. mail and ex-
press to and from planes" Col.
Smith said, "1ts observation terraces,
restaurant. coffee shop, lunchroom,
lounglng and dressing rooms afford
all the facilities in connection with
an air terminal which have proved
so popular and so fruitful in the
development of patronage for air
transportation at such foreign ter
minals as Templehof in Berlin and
Schipol at Amsterdam in a more
compact, useful and, We believe,
much more beautiful fashion"
Advancement Of Terminal.
The main terminal will consist Of
three levels, a penthouse and ter
races. With one exception the first
floor on a level with the flying field
will be strictly q service floor
Through 1t mail, baggage and ex-
press will be handled without inter-
ference with the flow of passengers
on the next level above.
The exception Is the provision in
the southern wing Of the ground
floor for q presidential room. It
will be reserved for use Of the Presi-
dent and distinguished guests, SINH
lar in purpose to that provided at
fhn TIpin,, atafino sSa9s1s1
The reception room will be reacl1ed
by a graded road leading from the
trafnc circle. This road also Will
give access to the flying field, the
mail and express rooms and to the
service quarters Of the various air
lines which occupy the hylng f1eld
front Of the ground floor with space
for their dispatchers, flying and
mechanical crews, service men and
service equipment.
Ten feet above the ground floor
viii be the passenger concourse,
with terrace along the flying field
side and access to the traffic circle
on the other side. It will be neces-
sary for passengers to descend from
this level to the field for boarding
planes of the present type. However,
Col. Smith pointed out that with the
probable early adoption of transport
planes with tricycle. landing gear, in
which the plane door will be about
10 feet above the ground, movable
gangways may be used for access
to such plans direct from the con-
course or terrace on the passenger
level.
Two-Storied Waiting Room.
Behind the columns and glass
front on the passenger concourse
will be the two-storied waiting room
and ticket ofnces. One wing Of this
part Of the building will be occupied
by airlines offices, other Offices,
dressing and toilet rooms. In the
other wing will be a coffee shop and
lunch counter, with an open terrace
surrounding it. Up a night Of stairs
from this area will be q formal
dining room with complete glass
front toward the flying field and an
open-air dining terrace outside. -.
A penthouse structure with con-
troll tower giving visibility to the
entire field will be reserved for the
airport management. It will include
traffic control and radio ofnces, In
addition to other facilities for ex-
pert handling Of planes. In the
rear Of the penthouse will be 4
Weather Bureau onice and special
observation platform.
= Terraced parking areas will be
arranged on the shoulder OF rising
ground north and west Of the air.
port proper. There will be three
levels, each I feet above the other,
and capable Of accommodating 5000
automobiles. There will be further
emergency parking for 5000 auto
mobiles. Along the west edge Of
the flying area will be elevated
benches capable Of accommodating
5000 spectators.
Conceived as . Model
"This airport" said Robert H.
Hinckley, chairman Of the au-
thority, was conceived as much
more than q service to the Nations
Capital City. It was conceived as
q model for what other such te1mi-
mails may be. %s5
washington, Of course, was for-
tsnate In the possession Of = site
capable Of development 70 close to
the city. But that very proximity
imposed esthetic obligations never
before incurred In airport construc-
tion In this country.
mot only have those esthetic
obligations been met In these plans,
but, We feel sure, the utilitarian
necessities have been met for the
present and for as far into the
future as our knowledge Of aero
nautics can reach.
Approaches from eight directions
are clear and safe. For miles in
each direction it is possible for a
plane to approach the runways At