August 5, 2025
AERO CLUB NO JOKE, HE SAYS.
Col. Lumpkin Declares Something
New Needed to Get Fall Crowds.
The Kansas City Aero Club might have been formed at the Coates house last night if the "Charter Members," who rallied around the foolscap last Friday night and signed their names, had been present. Colonel John F. Lumpkin, one of the "charter members" was at the Coates house last night.
"What about this Aero Club meeting tonight?" Colonel Lumpkin was asked.
"Hadn't heard of any," responded the colonel after his usual cordial greeting. "Some of those fellows may look upon this thing as a joke but I don't. Kansas City has got to have something new and entirely novel to get the people here next fall. Just the Priests of Pallas parade isn't going to do it."
"This is one of the biggest crop years the West has ever seen," the colonel continued, "and country people in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas are going to have lots of money to spend. We have got to get out of the belief that people are going to travel to Kansas City every fall just to see a parade.
"What Kansas City needs is something new, brand new.
"We need an Aero Club which can get money enough from business men to get the Wrights here, that fellow who flew over the English Channel, and men like that who browse about in the atmosphere on aeroplanes. Bring them here and the city won't hold the people, but it will take the money."
Labels: aeroplanes, Coates house
