1929 Congressman Melvin J. Maas in Glider – St. Paul Airport Press Photo

This original July 9, 1929 press photograph shows Congressman Melvin Joseph Maas of Minnesota seated in the open cockpit of a primary training glider at St. Paul Airport. Wearing a business suit and aviation goggles, Maas sits poised on the glider’s exposed wooden seat frame, surrounded by its wire-braced structure and fabric-covered wing above.

Melvin J. Maas (1898–1964) was a decorated Marine Corps aviator in WWI, later serving multiple terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. A strong advocate for aviation, he played a prominent role in military and civil aviation policy during the interwar years. This image captures him at a time when gliding was emerging in the United States, with many demonstrations and competitions aimed at popularizing the sport.

The glider in the photo is a classic primary trainer — a simple, open-frame sailplane modeled after German designs that introduced countless pilots to the basics of powerless flight.

• Date: July 9, 1929

• Location: St. Paul Airport, Minnesota

• Subject: Congressman Melvin J. Maas

• Aircraft: Primary training glider (open-frame)

• Photographer/Source: Likely local press photographer; stamped and captioned on reverse

• Dimensions: Approx. 8" x 10"

• Condition: Very good; light edge wear; clear image with excellent tonal contrast.

• Provenance: From a vintage news photography archive.