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A Quarter Century of Aviation Progress

THE return to Cleveland of the NATIONAL AIR RACES this year is a civic event of more than ordinary significance; for it marks the 25th Anniversary of the world's first air race held in Rheims, France, in 1909.

The progress made in the science of aeronautics from the frail craft of that time to the present swift and comfortable modern air liners, the five-mile-a-minute racing planes, like those competing here, is one of the most remarkable accomplishments in history. But, before we look back at that historic meet and other history-making events which took place a quarter of a century ago, let us look back a few centuries.

We find that the conquering of the air was man's dream throughout the ages. The world's literature abounds in references to the flight of man. The Bible refers to Elijah's "Flying Chariot of Fire;" Homer's "Illiad" mentions "An Ethereal Plane," and we find wings engraved on the tomb of King Tut. According to the official Chinese records there is the story of "Shun," the Chinese Emperor, 2200 B. C., who is supposed to have flown a self-powered flying machine. Ancient drawings somewhat substantiate these claims of early history.

Common in Greek Mythology is the story of "Icarus," who flew too close to the sun, melting the wax with which his wings of feathers were affixed to his body, and fell into the sea. The legend of Pegasus, "The Winged Horse" is familiar to everyone.

Roger Bacon in the 13th century gave us the first known scientific prophecy of human flight when eh discussed "an engine with wings."

The Arabian Knights Tales, 900 B. C., record frequent allusions to flying magic, common of which is the story of Archytas, friend of Plato, who made a wooden pigeon which actually flew by its own power.

[[image caption]]The first flight of man with a motor-driven, heavier-than-air machine, at Kitty Hawk, N. C., December 17, 1903.[[/image caption]]]

In the middle ages, we find Leonardo de Vinci, the Italian master and painter of Mona Lisa, giving to the world designs and plans for "mechanical flight," including parachutes. He made human flight the preoccupation of his whole life; his last conscious effort being sketches of flying machines. "There shall be wings," he declared, "if the accomplishment be not for me, it is for some other," - a statement made two years before Columbus discovered America. Official photographs of his designs for flying apparatus are preserved in the library at Milan. Resemblance of his drawings to the earlier planes actually flown is amazing.

To France goes great credit for early experiments in the development of lighter-than-air craft.

[[image caption]]Government trials at Ft. Myers which resulted in the purchase by the U. S. Government of the first airplane ever owned by any nation.[[/image caption]]

In Chicago last year the Gordon Bennett Balloon Races marked the 150th Anniversary of the first air voyage with human beings, made by the great French scientist, de Rozier. A half-million people stood in awe as de Rozier, accompanied by the Marquis d'Arlands, rose in the original Montgolfier balloon from the Garden of Chateau Mouette in Paris. They ascended 300 feet, and 20 minutes later safely landed in a nearby field.

Napoleon was the first General to utilize balloons in war-fare in 1794, and President Lincoln, first president to use the science of aeronautics as a means of defense in the United States; for balloons were used for aerial observation in the Union army, during the Civil War.

An outline of aerial progress would be incomplete without mention of Count Zeppelin's first successful flight in his dirigible air ship in 1900 when he had the craft up for 20 minutes, propelled at eight miles an hour, by two sixteen-horsepower motors.

On October 7th, 1903 came the first trial flight of the great Langley Aerodome and the beginning of a controversy which is still unsettled. Thru failure of the launching device the craft fell into the Potomac, leaving doubt as to its ability to fly. This left the field open for the Wright Brothers to make the firs successful flight in the world's history of a power driven, man-carrying airplane. This was accomplished on December 17th, 1903 by Orville Wright.

From this moment the United States took the lead
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1934 NATIONAL AIR RACES PAGE 15