SECRETARY'S REPORT 93 



is administered by the National Aeronautic Association. He repre- 

 sented the National Air Museum at the meeting of the American 

 Helicopter Society on April 27, and at the inauguration of flight of 

 members of the Ninety-Nines, association of women pilots, in Wash- 

 ington, June 7, prior to their take-off for Havana, Cuba. On January 

 20, he received the trophy of the Washington Air Derby Association 

 for his promotion of air education and recording of aeronautical 

 history. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN EXHIBITS 



Assistance was extended by the United States Air Force in im- 

 proving the condition of Air Force planes in the collection. 



The painting of the four main halls of the Arts and Industries 

 Building required the partial dismantling, draping, and erection of 

 scaffolding around the eight aircraft suspended in those halls. Upon 

 completion of the project, all these planes required cleaning and re- 

 pairing. In the East Hall of that building it was necessary tem- 

 porarily to remove the three Langley aerodrome models, the Lilien- 

 thal glider, the Stringfellow triplane model, and the Gallaudet 

 hydro-kite. Renovation of exhibits in the Power Hall of the Arts 

 and Industries Building required the removal of two aircraft: the 

 Voisin bomber and the Pitcairn-Cierva autogyro; while the instal- 

 lation of the racing plane Buster in the Aeronautical Hall necessitated 

 the removal of the Pitcairn Eoadable Autogyro. A number of other 

 planes in the Aircraft Building required repair. These projects 

 continued throughout the year and limited the time available for 

 preparing new exhibits. 



The Goodyear Aircraft Corporation assigned expert personnel to 

 remove, reconstruct, and replace the gas-bag canopy of the PilgHm^ 

 first airship designed to use helium gas, 1925. It has been shown in 

 the Aircraft Building since 1933. Goodyear cooperated with Rohm 

 and Haas in supplying a new Plexiglas canopy for the coclq^it of 

 the Republic F-84 Fighter airplane. The Pratt & Wliitney xiircraft 

 Division of the United Aircraft Corporation designed and constructed 

 a new base for the Type 4360 engine of 3,500 h. p., which was one of 

 four that powered the first nonstop flight around the world, accom- 

 plished by the Luchy Lady II bomber in 1949. The continued assist- 

 ance of these companies is sincerely appreciated. 



Three exhibits were added to accredit renowned fliers. From 

 Gen. Frank P. Lahm, USAF retired, there was received a group of 

 gold medals and other awards given to him and his father, F. S. Lahm, 

 recalling the winning by General Lahm of the first International 

 Gordon-Bennett balloon race in 1906 and the beginning of military 

 aviation in the United States, 1908 and 1909. The story of a World 



