Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-23
C. I. LUDINGTON
On the Boom in Aviation

THE astonishing speeds attained by army
l. and navy pilots in the recent Pulitzer
race at Detroit and in the one -kilOmeter
trials which followed have again focused
attention on the development of flying, ac-
cording to G. T. Ludington, formerly of
the Naval Air Service and delegate from
Philadelphia to the Second National Air
Congress.
"Maughan's dash through space at the
rate of PAS miles an hour" said Mr.. Luding-
ton. "was not simply spectacular stunt.
made possible by an impractcally small
gine. 1t was the elimination of months or
study, research and experimentation by
Curtiss engineers and army officers. In an
effort to attain this maximum speed it was
necessary not only to discover and decide
on the best wing section and the most eff
cent streamline form for the fuselage, but
also by an infinite amount Of patient work
to clean up the design so that no small
detail in the way of exposed. resistance
making parts which could safely be elimi-
mated might be left
Reducing the Drag
"For instance, by doing away with two
unnecessary but conventional landing gear
35 per cent and the substitution of thin
radiators incorporated in the wings for the
usual nose or 'Lamblin radiator added
twelve or fifteen miles to the speed.
Thus when the little Curtiss roared over
the finish line we who were watching knew
that the American designers had in this
direction at least scored an outstanding tri-
umph over those of the rest of the world.
.'It Is not only in the planning of racing
airplanes that our designers lead. The alti-
tude record Is held by an American plane
and pilot Most of us probably considered
this simply as a stunt when we read of it.
From the point of view of the pilot. on
whose endurance and skill the success or
failure of the exploit depended, it was but
from another viewpoint it was but the logi-
known as a super charger. which enables an
airplane engine to maintain its power at
high attitudes.
''Scientists who realize the possibilities
of this invention believe that they are con-
servative in prophesying hitherto undreamcd-
of speeds mt great heights for large pas
senger- carrying planes equipped with 1t.
The Plano Of the Future
ut does not appear to be too great a
stretch of fancy to imagine an airplane
capable of transporting twenty or more PAS
sengers in inclosed and heated cabins over
distances Of 5000 miles at heights of sc, 900
feet and at speeds of 300 or more miles an
hour. The super -charger, combined with the
! variable pitch propeller, both present day
| actualities developed by American engineers.
makes this n realizable possibility rather
| than a fantastic vision.
.'If this is so and American designers are
| the equal of any--and rs IL generally con-
! ceded, our pilots are as good MS If not better
| than those of other natiOns-why is the de
| veloDment in the United States SO slow and
yvhy does Europe seem to be so far ahead of
| msY I have been asked this question many
times. and the answer Is not simple one.
In fact, when two years ago l Travelled in
| comfort and safety over most Of Central
| Europe, and on most Of the European air
| routes, l believed that we were hopeessly
behind. But while as yet our services are
not run with the regularity of the famous
| cross Channel lines. and while We have few
| nlanes outside OF the military and naval
services to compare with the great French
| ,;oliaths or the British Handley Pages
| nevertheless feel that we are beginning tC
show results.
Where Our Trouble Lies
| "Our trouble seems to be this as yet W,
have no regulation Of civil flying. This ha,
resfltcd in much flying in old-type ma
chimes, improperly cared for and often in
| comnetently handled; in much useless
.stunting' at low attitudes and in such per,
formances as wing walking and jumpin.
| from plane to plane. The wonder is not tha
| there have been SO many shocking accidents
| hut that the number has not been fa
greater. a., .o
| hocouse nirplnne wrecks are sensational nc
,iJents and the public has quite NATURAL,
ooma to look upon flying machines as highl,
dangerous toys This attitude means tha
thorc is small chance of an operating com
many securing traffic. In fact. 1t has beer