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PLANES ROAR WELCOME TO RACE PATRONS

Flower Pageant Starts Program; Derby Flyers Due Tomorrow; Girl Stunt Flyer to Perform

by A. H. Roberts

Aviation's winged host swept down on Cleveland yesterday, to receive a welcome which bespoke the city's enthusiasm for the men and women of the air. And then the show began, the 10-day National Air Races, with 120 racing flyers aiming for new speed and new thrills.

The army was here. And the navy. And the marines. And the five European flyers. And Al Williams. And Dorothy Hester. And the parachute jumpers. And the autogiros. And airplanes of every size, speed and description.

FLOWER PAGEANT STARTS THINGS

Drums boomed in Euclid ave. and planes roared overhead as the Plain Dealer flower pageant, five miles of flower-banked floats, streamed downtown at noon between sidewalks jammed with spectators.
While the pageant wended its 12-mile way from city hall to the airport, the army, navy and marine squadrons, picked for their skill in formation flying, wheeled overhead in tactical maneuvers that never fail to bring a thrill. 
And the neck-craning was by no means confined to the airport and its immediate vicinity. Shortly after noon the downtown throngs were treated to the spectacle of 37 planes, flying in perfect formation, as they performed at an elevation of 1,500 feet over the business district.
The colors were raised, as massed bands blared, when the floats lined up before the thousands in the stands, and the 1931 National Air Races, greater than 10 predecessors, officially were on. More than 2,000 musicians played the national anthem as the flag was hoisted.

DERBYISTS DUE TOMORROW

Fifty-odd flyers, tanned and grimy after a week's race by air across the continent, will arrive tomorrow afternoon as the high-point of the day's program. Their flight has been the greatest mass competitive event in the history of cross-country races. 
The weather not only was ideally fair yesterday but promised to be so today. Blue skies, flecked with fleecy clouds, formed a background for the flashing man-made birds that could not have been improved upon.
Last night thousands remained at the airport for a brilliant night spectacle. Searchlights stabbed their bright fingers here and there about the sky, picking out a navy squadron in formation; Captain St. Clair Streett, flying the army's "aerial comet," looped and dived with a stream of fire in his trail, while on the ground fireworks crackled.
Today's program, opening at 1 p.m. and continuing in three-ring circus style until 9:15 p.m., will be run off under the designation of "All-Ohio" day, and a survey of roads leading to Cleveland last night indicated that all Ohio would be there - literally speaking. Nineteen different events - all thrillers - were carded for the day, included as the headliner the arrival of the men and women flyers who have been winging their way across the country from Santa Monica, Cal., as contestants in the transcontinental air derby, which started a week ago.

WOMEN LEAD WAY IN AVIATION

The first of the derby racers were scheduled to arrive before mid-afternoon and it was indicated that a neck-and-neck race was being staged as between the men and women. These "mere women," as some of the old-timers used to laughingly call them, have more than won their place in the aviation sun, and Phoebe Omlie, consistent leader during the first few days of the derby, was bidding fair to come in as the leader of them all.
The marines, in tactical maneuvers - an exhibition of autogiro flying, both weird and wonderful - aerial acrobatics, dead-stick landing contests - straightaway speed dashes - novelty flying - parachute jumping - night flights with fireworks displays. These and many more spectacles were carded for today.
Men used to emulate the birds in their stunts with planes. Now these men - and the women, too - have left the birds far behind in the matter of aerial evolutions. There is scarcely an event on today's program, or on those of the other days, for that matter, that doesn't show how man has outflown the birds in some respect or other.

NIGHT FLYING ENDS DAY'S EVENTS

Today's program, as will be the case during every day of the races, was scheduled to end with the most spectacular of all aerial stunts - night flying. Tonight's flights are to bring the celebrated marine corps flyers into action. Tomorrow night will witness maneuvers of army flyers. The navy, too, will have its turn in these breath-taking night flights before the week is ended. 
Tomorrow's program, signalizing a day dedicated to the Exchange clubs, Knights of Pythias [[?]], American Boy Scouts, natives of the British empire and residents of the Ohio city of Bucyrus, is to include 21 different events, the most spectacular of which is to be the arrival of transcontinental free-for-all flyers, competing the Bendix trophy race from Los Angeles to Cleveland, which has prize money amounting to $15,000 at stake. This cross-country dash, weather permitting, will end here between 2:15 and 3 p.m.
Dorothy Hester, 20-year-old girl stunt flyer, who is on the program for a daily exhibition during the meet, and her appearance tomorrow, between 3 and 3:15 p.m., is apt to include a try for a new world's . record in the matter of loops.
Four of the 42 races carded for the entire meet are scheduled to be run off tomorrow. Including the men's 400 cubic inch straightaway speed dash, the women's A.T.C. 650 cubic inch race, a 510 cubic inch straightaway dash for men, and a men's 115 cubic inch free-for-all.
Tomorrow, as is to be the case during each day of the meet, four renowned foreign pilots will go aloft for an hour, showing Americans the best that the European continent has to offer in the way of spectacular flying. These five, be it understood, are not subject to some of the restrictions which govern their equally reckless American brethren and so are expected to tear the lid off in the matter of thrills. With them each day will be Al Williams, former U.S. navy speed flyer, in a special biplane built for acrobatics.
Flight Commander Richard L. Atcherley, noted British birdman now recovering in Berea hospital from a cut on the forehead and minor bruises suffered when his plane nosed over in landing near the airport Friday, isn't going to let the mishap keep him out of the aerial picture, he declared. He is to leave the hospital soon—probably tomorrow and then he'll be in the thick of things.
Civilian acrobatic exhibitions, more marine tactical maneuvers, parachute jumping and more illuminated night flying are on tomorrow's program.
The outstanding race of the entire meet is the 100-mile Charles E. Thompson trophy race, in which 11 of the country's fastest planes will compete Labor day. Tomorrow is to include a prophecy of the tremendous speeds to be expected that day.

STAGE IS SET
Program Starts This Afternoon; Many Fliers in Attendance.
By JAMES V. PIERSOL
(Staff Correspondent of The Detroit News)

CLEVELAND, Aug. 29.—Elaborate preparations were being completed here today for the opening late this afternoon of the 1931 National air races.
While Army and Navy squadrons, and numerous civilian fliers, were rigging their planes for a series of exhibition flights in connection with the opening ceremonies, contest officials were preparing for the first of the closed course races and the finish of the transcontinental derby Sunday.
Flags of many nations waved among yellow, red and black pendants decorating the green landing area and the newly painted stands. Airplanes dropped in from all sections of the country bringing the 122 men and women pilots who will compete in the 10-day series of events, and many spectators.

GERMAN ACE ARRIVES.
Among the contestants are the leading pilots of America and five European nations. Maj. Ernst Udet, famous German ace, was the last of the entrants from other lands to arrive. He flew his Flamingo plane here from New York just before dark last night.
Maj. Udet will fly a daily exhibition with an international stunt team including Lieut.-Col. Mario De Bernardi, of Italy; Capt. Boleslaw Orlinski, of Poland; Maj. Alois Ku-oita, of Czechoslovakia; and Flight Commander R.L.L. Archerley, of England.
Commander, Atcherley