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CLEVELAND... Air Center of America By F.C. Crawford President, Thompson Products, Inc. President, The National Air Races President, The Air Foundation Under the pressures of war American aviation shot ahead a quarter of a century during the six eventful years the National Air Races were suspended. The American people paid billions for this tremendous forced-draft development. Now for the first time at close range thousands of our citizens will see what their money bought! As Uncle Sam demonstrates his great bombers and fighters they'll learn the progress that's been made since 1939. They'll sense the power of the mightiest air force the world has ever seen. They'll fell a new pride in their country's vast creative energies. A new generation of American speed pilots makes its bow in our contests for civilian flyers. Some of them not long ago were in the wartime skies of Europe and the South Pacific. They now take over from the Doolittles, Turners, Chesters, Howards, and other great pilots who gave color and daring to prewar National Air Races. Yet the youngsters will not fly entirely unchallenged by prewar pylon veterans. Tony Le Vier, Steve Wittman, Earl Ortman and Paul Mantz will remain in active competition. The civilian pilots will fly modified military ships. They will set new records, further marking the swift strides of aircraft progress. The eyes of the flying world are on Cleveland these for thrilling days. Once more our city becomes the home of the National Air Races-aviation's greatest peacetime proving ground. Cleveland Merits this distinction. Our city is a vital hub in the nation's air transport system. Its airport is among the largest and best equipped in America. Cleveland is the foremost manufacturing center for precision aircraft parts and accessories. During the war its industries produced 25 per cent of all the parts used to construct America's great air force. Cleveland's new air foundation, underwritten at the start for $350,000 by the city's industries and public spirited citizens, was established to promote progress in aviation. The Air Foundation has underwritten the National Air Races. On Cleveland's airport are located the plants and laboratories of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, whose experimental and development work on aircraft engines is a keystone of our national defense. At the airport, too, is the huge bomber plant which gives us many new and unmatched facilities for the National Air Races, and will house the National Aircraft Show in November. The committee on airports of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce has charted an aggressive program calling for a $10,000,000 expansion of the Municipal Airport, a new $10,000,000 airport on the east side, a downtown airport, and seven airfields for non-scheduled flying. Cleveland heads toward its logical goal - "The Air Center of America." We are proud to be hosts to the military services, transport concerns, manufacturers, technicians and civilian contestants who have pooled their planes and skills to make possible this great demonstration of modern flying. To all of them we extend an official welcome, our sincere thanks, and a cordial invitation to be with us again next year. F.C. Crawford President
