Transpo 72

U.S. International Transportation Exposition (better known as Transpo 72) was a transportation exposition held at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia from May 27 - June 4, 1972. The $10 million dollar event was sponsored by the newly-created U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT). [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906042,00.html?iid=chix-sphere]

Purpose, sponsorship

In addition to featuring futuristic technology ("Flying trains, square dancing helicopters and the fantasy of a wonderland," according to a news release), Transpo 72 covered all current modes of transportation. General Manager William J. Bird explained, "We want to emphasize totally integrated systems in our future transportation . . ."

Mass transit, buses

In 1971, the Urban Mass Transit Administration (UMTA), predecessor of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), funded four companies at $1.5 million each to set up a demonstration of their automated guideway transit (AGT) development results at Transpo 72. [http://faculty.washington.edu/~jbs/itrans/dpmhist.htm]

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a Canadian and US bus manufacturer controlled by Greyhound Lines, introduced their model MC-8 Crusader motorcoach, an intercity model which became so popular with both large and small bus operators that General Motors lost its position as the major manufacturer of such buses in North America, exiting the market entirely in 1980, two years after MCI updated the product with its MC-9 model.

Vehicle safety

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was a major participant, including sponsorship of the "International Vehicle and Highway Safety Conference," featuring discussions on international cooperation in vehicle and highway safety. The first U.S. Secretary of Transportation, John A. Volpe, opened the event. [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byday/fhbd0527.htm]

A major attraction at Transpo 72 was a consolidated International Experimental Safety Vehicle Exhibit at which twelve different experimental safety vehicles were displayed. [http://129.10.155.92/mvhappdfs/ESV.third.int.conf.SECTION.THREE.5.72]

Air show, fatal accident

All of the new U.S. super jets were there: Lockheed's L-1011, the McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 and Boeing's giant 747 freighter.

Overhead, jet fighters of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Navy's Blue Angels and the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows performed dramatic aerial acrobatics. Tragically, on the last day of Transpo 72, on June 4, the Air Force Thunderbirds experienced their first fatal crash at an air show. Major Joe Howard flying Thunderbird 3, (Phantom F-4E s/n# 66-0321) experienced a loss of power during a vertical maneuver. Although Major Howard ejected as the aircraft fell back to earth from about 1,500 feet tail first and descended under a good canopy, winds blew him into the blazing crash site.

Records

A balloon release of 100,000 balloons at Transpo 72 was the first balloon release to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records. [http://www.1balloon.com/]