8/8/2019 Gill Robb Wilson

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Reformation forthe Grass Roots

Gllt ROBB WltsoNlublkher

ECENTLY I saw an old Soviet airshow plogramacross which was scrawled, "Fly higher, faster,

- - farther than any one else." Signedr Joseph Stalin.There, in cryptic admonition is the taproot of Red air-

power-summit interest in grass roots programing.And who will deny that Soviet planting of arts and

motivation in millions of eager youth has not broughtan abundant harvest to Communism.

This breadth and depth of seeding is in the ultimatemore meaningful than current triumphs in erperimentalscience. Nuclear missiles have their place in the desper-

ation of freedom, but be warrred-they are not airpower.

Airpower is a living thing of many facets and mobilities,Missile power has one facet-the retaliation of annihi-lation. And if, God grant, they decay in their cradles,what then of a nation which has no great sinews in itssky?

Presently, American grass roots programing is the

most colorless segment of our aviation spectrum. Here,where our future is in incubation, the ffre has died out.By what reasoning?

Can there be harvest without planting? Does thebent twig no longer incline the bough? Is freedom dis-

dainful of motivation? Is our air industry saturated

with skills and our commerce with passengers? Do our

rural communities hold their young people? Will ourmultiplying millions multiply in stature without expand-ed opportunity for zestful self-expression?

During the Presidential carnpaign we heard much ofexpanded opportunity for the citizen-of frontiers forself-expression-of leadership for living.

Well, here is an area which needs it, and the timeis psychologically right. The key is intelligent interestat the summit. FAA Administrator Quesada had madeup his mind to that efiect and had action on his sched-ule. In the Congrcss are grass rooters of imposing stat-

ure, such as N{ike N{onroney and Barry Goldwater, rvhounderstand the nature of airpower. They know Amer-

ican communities are isolated from the air age-that the'pursuit of happiness" is poor hunting in oui skies. -{,n

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Adrninistration which interested itself in grass rootsprograming would have no dearth of wise counsellors.Nor is this a matter of subsidy. The subsidy we need isleadership, vision, enthusiasm in high places.

Reformation to contrive grass roots programing prob-ably should start with a section in FAA organized forthat pu-rpose.

There are certain inequities to be corrected-some bylegislation, some by regulation. There are certain serv-

ices to be instituted and others to be improved. A sec-

tion in FAA devoted to these and kindred matters wouldkeep government in touch with the grass roots.

But beyond this there are matters in which the in-fuence of even the White House could constructivelybe exercised-

Flight strip development could be integrated withthe national road building program and hundreds of

communities thus be served.

A volunteer flying corps could be established in the

National Red Cross and trained in local disaster relief,search and rescue, and from a long range viewpoint,for selvice to civil defense in time of war.

Encouragement of sports flying with local, nationaland international competition would be helpful. Clubactivity, including soaring and parachute iumping,rvould

bringopportunity for milcl adventure to many

thousands if the FAA set its mind to such a program.

W .rhe Cluil Air Patrol could be transfolmed into a

\ervice-wide yorth program for ground school and soar-

ing trairliug. Thereby the Defense Department could

achieve both rnotivation and skills which would save

millions in selection and training of eventual recruits,

There is no end to rvhat a iittle creative imagination

might accomplish in grass roots prograrnilg.

But, we reiterate, the key is the interest of top lead-

ership. When somebody at summit level in the UnitedStates autographs an admonition to the Amcrican grass

roots to "Fly higher, faster and further than anybody

else," and sees that the opportunity is provided, a lotof us will feel better about the future of our children.