New Britain herald., 1924-04-07
AIR PILOTS ARE
 GUIDED BY RADIO
Aviators Enabled to Fly 400 Miles Without Seeing Land

Dayton, O., April 7.-iIigh above the clouds. out of sight of land, yet bound for definite destination, air plane pilots ill the future may thus be guided by radio.
 The promise is made through ob- serration Of recent tests conducted here with radio bcacons and other instruments by which ayiators were anabled to fly across country with out a landmark to guide them.
 Not long ago, Lieut.. F. H. Barks- dale and Instrument Engineer Brad Icy Jones, fled from McCook Field here, direct to Mitchell Field. New York, q distance Of 575 miles, in less than four hours and did not see land three-fourths of the way.
 Two important mechanical instru- ments figured in this feat.
 But more recently another flight the clouds, and a system of radio signaling was responsible for the pilots guidance.
 Combination of both methods of airplane guidance above sight Of land may be the outcome of further tests with both sets Of instruments.
 On Long Flight
 The purely mechanical instru- ments used in the Dayton-New York night consisted of an earth induc- tion compass" and an 'inclinometer."
 The earth induction compass is a small cylinderical affair with pro- peller which is attached to the rear of the plane to remove it from mag netic influence and which controls an indicator on the instrument board in front.
 The inclinometer Is the eyes of the airplane," telling the position of the ship in straight flight, the course it takes in bank and the fore and aft inclination of the plane.
 Before he goes up, the flier's course is predetermined, the distance 10 destination is carefully figured, and the degrees necessary to keep the pilot on his course painstakingly calculated. All the pilot has to do is keep the compass needle at zero and watch the indicator showing the number of miles he has travelled When the required distance is coy- cred the aviator noses the ship down. ward and lands where he had planned.
 Worked Accurately
 We passed through all sorts of clouds and over all kinds Of terri tory" said Jones in explaining how the instruments operated on his last voyage. We flew 400 miles with never sight of land.
 As our instruments told us We were getting near New York. we watched them closely and by signal ing. we both agreed at the proper time that it was time to dive down and take a look.
 As the plane noscd downward We began 10 recognize landmarks and knew that our instruments had been set correctly and that we had read them right. Closer inspection Of our surroundings showed us that we had dired down right over Mitchell Field. our ultimate destination"
 Signal Device
 The radio beacon is another step Tn inc same direction.
 By use Of this instrument. inc aviator receives definite signals by which he can tell whether he is run- ming true to his course. The letters A and T were repeated over and over in the recent test flight.
 As long as the aviator flew over The correct course both letters were xr Aa rwerved off. one letter became louder Than the other and by this difference hs knew which way to turn 10 get back.
 The receiving srt he used was Of fhe ordinary airplann variety.
 The signalling device was developed by the Bureau ef Standards in Co., operation with the Signal Corps and the Army Air Service.