New-York tribune., 1919-05-26
Samuel d. Mott Declares
Possibilities of CONNER.
cial Aviation Lie Six
Miles Above the Earth
Believes Idea Feasible
Altitude of Is or 20 Miles
Is Merely a Matter of
Equipment, He Contends
Special Correspondence

Al Ian liz I'll L, Nay Z5.-Ihe
future of commercial aviation is six
miles above the earth's surface The
birdmen must get above the storm
limit and weather must be eliminated
from the commercial aerial log. The
antithesis of the submarine will ac-
complish the achievement.
These were the salient points of an
address here tonight before the Sec
ond Pan American Aeronautic Conven-
ton by Samuel D. Mott, charter men,
Der of the Aero Club of America, who
has just completed a special study of
aeronautics with the view of future
attainment.
"We have read of many men tarry-
ing at Newfoundland for several
weeks waiting waiting for the wealth
er. That trial was a glorious under
taking, our navy's preparations were
widely made, and all honor the brave
men attempting the test But submit
that waiting indefinitely for ideal
weather conditions for long distance
flying over land or sea will not do for
the demands of commerce. Therefore,
by the process of reasoning that John
Philip Holland applied to boats to
sink beneath TIE stiled waters of the
ocean, ! conceive and would bring to
your attention the possibilities of the
antthesis Of the submarine, the ati-
tude plane or alti-plane, as distin-
guished from the airplane or hydro
plane, to go into the stiffness of nature
above the weather.
A Problem of Equipment
"The problem is evidently one of
equipment of our planes to function
in raretied air, and protection of navi
gators against its tenuity; likewise
protection of their body warmth and
comfort in extremes of temperature.
H ow high we may go no one may know
until tested. Personally | believe it
possible to go fifteen or twenty miles
aloft, if necessary. 1t is obviously
matter of equipment plus climbing
ability Of aircraft designed for the
purpose.
"What is tho object Of high flying?
Daily experience shows us that high
speed and density are Incompatible
We know the surface speed >of sub
marines is about half that of battle
ships; submerged, it is less, and the
greater the depth still less the speed
again we know that we furnish air
craft with four times the power to go
twice as fast, and the marine engineer
knows that he must furnish eight times
the power to go twice as fast. In other
words, from the ultimate height of
the air to the earth's core pressure is
progressive. Thirty three feet below
the oceans surface the pressure
doubles. For every 1000 feet ascent
the pressure diminishes roughly one
half pound per square inch. The pres
sure two miles high is 9S pounds per
square inch; at one mile high, 1898,
at three quarters of mile, 1906: one
half mile, 1888; one-quarter mile, l4.2.
and at sea level, 14.7 pounds, or, in
round numbers, Is pounds per square
inch.
Storm Limit Discussed
"Where is the storm limit? As mois-
ture and varying temperature are the
fundamentals of storms, their greatest
development is near the surface and
Wind strata are of varying tempera-
ture. Over the hottest regions Of
Africa zero conditions have been de-
tected within 1900 feet Of the ground.
"Why must there be storm limit?
Because storms and hurricanes do not
exist without moisture and heat, AID
air must have q certain density to hold
the moisture due to evaporation.
Hence there can be little or no wind
above the storm limit.
"The unknown factor in the high al
ttude problem is this: Will an altl-
plane in one-ffth density eight miles
high), with equal push, go five times
faster or one-ffth faster? The res,
is matter Of simple equipment and
good construction. In either case the
gain is substantial. If the former were
true voyage between New York and
London can be made in about three
hours by going eight miles high. ii
the latter is true the same voyage can
be made in about twelve hours running
time, assuming a surface speed of 200
miles an hour, which is practically 5
question of power.
Engine Weight Reduced
"In the exhibition in aeronautical
hall is an engine which explains why
we are flying day and why we will
fly faster tomorrow. 1t is a 400 H. P.
Curtiss engine weighing 1877 pounds
per II. P. and has driven an airplane
160 miles an hour.
"To my mind it is plain that the
high attitudes will be determining
factors in long distance flying. Greater
speed, greater distance, more comfort
and less danger in the quiet environ
ment. less danger because when we
double the time to do risky thing
we double the risk incurred; less gas
olene, less weight and expense, for
if environment permits us to go 100
miles with twice the fuel VIC formerly
used to go twenty-five miles our eco
nomic gain is obviously 100 per cent,
because we may then 60 100 miles with
the amount of fuel we formerly con-
sumed to go fifty miles"
Posthumous honors for the 1913 Of
ficcrs and enlisted men attached to
the marine aviation force and United
States naval officers Of the aviation
corps who lost their lives in the ser
vice of their country during the war
were awarded here to-day by the CON
vention at impressive services on the
Steel Pie.