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AIRMEN OF 5 COLLEGES JOIN IN NEW FLYING ASSOCIATION

L. B. THOMAS '20 PRESIDENT

Representatives of Harvard, Yale Princeton, Columbia, and Williams met in New York on December 30 to form the Intercollegiate Flying Association. The purpose of this league is to add aviation to the list of annual contests between the leading universities of the country.

The new league was formed at a special meeting in the American Flying Club building which will be the headquarters of the association. The representatives, of the five universities were all officers in their respective clubs, which are composed almost entirely of former service aviators.

First Race May 8.

Immediately after the association was formed, it was decided to hold the first air race between university members on May 8. This race will be modelled on the New York Toronto and other cross-country air races organized by the American Flying Club. Each university will be allowed to enter three contestants in the race, and there will be obligatory stops on the landing ground of each college.

In the Association's constitution the primary purpose for which the different clubs joined is outlined as follows: "To combine all of the separate college aero clubs for the purpose of promoting and furthering aviation through the holding of intercollegiate races, for the acquisition of aircraft and aircraft landing places, and by other kindred means for the promulgation of aviation among college men."

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Arrangements have been made for the admission of other universities upon application and a vote of the member. It was specifically decided that only undergraduates of the colleges who are members of the association can compete in the annual race. A number of aero clubs in the larger cities have already offered their support and co-operation in the movement.

Aim to Train Aviators in Colleges.

At the meeting attention was called to the fact that the formation of the association is one of the most powerful aids to aviation that has been developed in this country. Henceforth every big college will be somewhat of a training school for efficient pilots. All the service men will soon have left the universities, but they will be replaced by younger students attracted to the new sport in part because of its military importance.

The officers of the association for the coming year were elected by the delegates as follows: President, L. E. Thomas '20; vice-president, R. Craigmyle of Columbia; secretary, R. K. Perry of Williams; treasurer, Juan Trippe of Yale.

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