Evening star., 1940-05-06
5000 See Air Show
Starring Burnett,
Daredevil Stunter
Flies 11-Yeur-OId Plane
In Langley Day Meet
At HybIo Valley

Marked by the daredevil aero
battles of Vincent "Squeek" Burnett,
flying an ll-year-old biplane that
looked its age but didn't act it,
the eighth annual Langley Day
air meet, held yesterday at Alexan-
dria Airport, Hybla Valley, Va, kept
more than 5000 spectators gaping
skyward throughout a four-hour
aerial program staged under almost
ideal weather conditions.
Sponsored by the Washington Air
Derby Association, the event was
termed by contestants and specta-
tors "the best program" Of the
eight-year series. A brisk wind
which at times gusted to 16 miles
per hour was the only drawback.
The breeze, however, failed to
hamper Mr.. Burnett's routine and
the veteran stunt pilot, an instruc-
tor in the Civil Aeronautics Au-
thortty training class at the Uni
versity of Maryland, had the crowd
in the palm of his hand after a
series of dives, loops within 100 feet
of the ground, slow, inverted and
segmental rolls and other skillful
maneuvers.
Square Loop" Is Climax.
One of these-the square loop
was the climax of Pilot Burnett's
demonstration. He is the only flyer
in the country who performs the
feat, c. A. A. officials witnessing the
maneuver declared. In the past
year Mr.. Burnett captured three
trophies IN competition with the
Nations best aerobatic flyers-the
Presidents Trophy at Havana,
Cuba, in 1899; the Freddie Lund
Aerobatic Trophy at the Miami air
races that same year and the City
Hill Trophy at Havana this season.
Seventeen pilots, representing five
States, including three women, par
ticipated in two closed course events
on the racing program, both flown
over a two-lap, 10-mile course. The
winner of the first race-for air.
planes with a rating of 80 horse
power or less-was 1t. Robert San
ders, Navy Reserve pilot, of 1922
Sixteenth street NV, flying an all
metal low-wing Ercoupe.
Perry Boswell, %, of Hyattsville,
Md, finished second and Miss Helen
Frigo of Arlington, Va, was third.
Miss Frigo, only woman to win a
trophy in the days competition
few blue Cub coupe. Mr.. Bos-
wells ship was an all-metal Lus-
comb.
A new champion was crowned in
the second race, for planes of 100
horsepower or more. He is George
Arents, "a, Of Rye, N. Y, who took
top honors with a 450-horsepower
'Beechcraft cabin plane, fastest ship
on the program. He won with ease
over Pilot G. w. Gully of Farrell,
Pa, flying 145-horsepower Mono
coupe. The Arents plane was the
only entry in the meet housing an
engine of more than 200 horsepower
and the winner raced through pre-
liminary heats almost without op-
position.
Trophies Awarded.
Last years winner-Russell Hay
of Pittsburgh, Pa.-was eliminated
in trial dash by Mr.. Gully. Pilot
Hay, in a l65-horsepower Cessna
cabin plane, was last in the three
plane race. Trophies were awarded
all contestants who placed in both
races. -
The program also included two
parachute jumps made by Ray
Morders, g, of the Washington Par
achute Club, from a height of 1000
feet. After a straight jump on his
first descent the white-clad youth
changed chutes, climbed aboard his
plane and leaped again in a de-
layed Jump, demonstrating new
type human umbrella,
Demonstration airplanes were ex-
hibited in flight and on the ground
by the country's principal manufac-
turers Of planes Of the private owner
and sports types. Amateur photog-
raphers were numerous and staged
field day walking about swapping
pictures of new model planes, pilots
and officials.
Fred A. Smith, vice president of
the Washington Board of Trade,
made brief speech over the public
address system to open the meet for
mally at pm. He was followed on
the air by Noble G. Shit, president
of the Derby Association, who ex-
planned the organization of the w.
A. D. A.. its purpose and the reason
for Langley day.
Bruce Heads Committee.
Clarence Bruce Of the Bureau Of
Standards acted as chairman Of the