Thrilling Aviation Feats At Airport Dedication
More than 20,000 persons attended the dedication exercises and races that featured the two day program at Robinson Field, Millersburg‘s new airport. No other event in the memory of the oldest inhabitants ever brought out such a multitude of automobiles and interested spectators as did this spectacular meet.
Except for a breaking down of the loud speaker apparatus, just as the dedication exercises were scheduled, and a slight confusion following this occurrence, everything on the program proceeded almost on the time scheduled, and the vast crowds were entertained almost every moment of the day, Because of the failure of the loud speaker, the dedication speeches on Saturday were postponed.
The Chief Burgesses of Tower City, Lykens, Elizabethville, Millersburg and Williamstown were present to participate in the exercises, but did not speak.
Four planes, carrying passengers, made the air tour to this valley, marking the beginning of the exercises. They flew high over the town, circling the upper end and returning by way of Williamstown and Lykens. Weather conditions were ideal for the races, with just enough breeze blowing to delight the pilots.
Outstanding features of the events were the races, dead stick landings, stunts and parachute jumps. Some of the foremost pilots of the east were present, including Martin Jensen, Casey Jones, George Zinn, Tony Little, Shelley Charles, William Patterson and others.
In the races Casey Jones gave thrill aplenty when he flew over the heads of the grandstand crowds, not more than fifteen or twenty feet it seemed, at a rate of about 160 miles an hour. In the stunting events George Zinn thrilled with barrel rolls, an outside loop, inside loop, and other seemingly impossible feats. Other pilots also performed aerobatics, and on Sunday afternoon Marion “Hops” Gilbert, owner of the field, and Millersburg‘s great aviation booster, showed himself to be the expert himself, winning second in the stunting events, with J. Shelley Charles, of Richmond, Virginia, first.
Several hundred persons availed themselves of the opportunity to make passenger flights during the course of the events. Not a serious mishap occurred during the hundreds of flights and in the various events.
Saturday a slight accident occurred when Miss Cox, of New York City, the only woman pilot present, damaged a wheel in making a turn after landing. The damage was slight however, and she was able to use the plane later after repairs were made. Sunday afternoon, in taking off the Sunbury Flying Club cabin monoplane damaged a wheel support, and in landing the wheel crumpled, causing the wing to dip and scrape the ground. Although somewhat shaken up pilot Alexander and two small children passengers were unhurt. The damage to the plane was repaired at the airport.
Saturday evening a banquet was held at the Hotel Lykens for the visiting pilots, which was attended by a capacity room of diners. Mayor Bowman of Millersburg was the principal speaker, and was followed by Burgess Schell of Tower City and Burgess Snyder of Lykens. in his remarks Burgess Schell brought the greeting of the people of Tower City to the pilots, congratulated them upon their feats, and especially complimented Pilot Gilbert of the Millersburg airport and his supporters for their great community spirit, and the progress they had made in building the airport, and in making the entire Lykens and Williams Valley residents airminded. The banquet was followed by a dance at the Moose Theater, in honor of the visitors.
Sunday’s events proved equally as interesting, with many people and automobiles in attendance. Ample parking space was provided, however, on the large field, the natural slope of which gave all a splendid view of the field.
The afternoon’s events were pleasantly interrupted by the unannounced arrival of Lieutenant Mills of the Middletown Army Airport. Flying in at an altitude that none saw him, the first notice of his arrival came when his twenty-four cylinder motor was heard in the clouds overhead. His antics in and out of the clouds furnished the unexpected feature that was greatly enjoyed.
Pat Brooks, promoter of the event, and pilot Gilbert, of Robinson Field, can feel justly proud of their dedication and air meet. It was bigger and better than was expected, and all were pleased with the meet. Millersburg has been placed on the air map, and pilot Gilbert has demonstrated to thousands that he is a pilot that ranks with the best.
The complete program was as follows: Saturday noon a tour of Lykens Valley, all planes participating; dedication and flag raising with chief burgesses of Millersburg, Elizabethville, Lykens, Williamstown, and Tower City participating; OX-5 race, five laps on triangular course, about 20 miles, won by John Neist, Easton, in 13 minutes, 6-10 seconds; C. W. Hunter, Millersburg, second; dead stick landing from 1000 feet altitude, won by J. Shelly Charles, of Richmond, Virginia; 550 cubic inch race, ten laps, won by Tony Little of Philadelphia, 20 minutes, 8.25 seconds; William Patterson, Annapolis, Maryland, second; aerobatic contest, open to all commercial pilots, won by J. Shelly Charles, Richmond, Virginia; free-for-all race, five laps, won by Jim Faulkner, Willow Grove, 8 minutes, 1.2 seconds; parachute contest, landing to mark, by Howard Reitenbaugh, and Violet Kilpatrick.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald,18 July 1930, via Newspapers.com.
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