Evening star., 1925-07-26

people In ancient civilizations
who hoped for the ability to
4t Il initiate the flight of birds
That era of visions and
legendary aviators has been replaced
by reality, accompanied by such
amazing progress in the new art that
only world -circling flight or polar
exploration warrants front-pa space
these days.
1t was five years ago that the
Atlantic Ocean barrier was first
traversed in fight by an airplane, a
an airship. Finally we have been
thrilled by the circumnavigation of
the earth by three airplanes.
This is an appropriate time to re-
view the present status of aeronauti-
cal development, particularly in the
, U@tted States, with comment on the
pubbable direction of improvement in
the near future for this comparatively
new means of locomotion. 1t is only
20 years since the first successful air
plane flight was made by the Wright
brothers.
The progressively efficient forms of
transportation have contributed
largely TO our present stage of civili-
zation, but the process is far from
being ended. There remains much
misunderstanding between peoples
by more extensive facilities for inter
communication. In this way, aerial
transport has a most worthy mission
outside of its commercial Importance.
Airplanes and airships have already
proved their superior speed, but not
as Vet completely satisfied the travel
ing public regarding their safety and
economic efficiency in comparison
with the slower surface transport.
~
believing that the deficiencies in air
transport will soon be eliminated
First of all, the aerial highway
reaches every spot on the earth with
out initial cost for the right of way
or its maintenance-only the ter
minals need to be provided.
Both airships and airplanes have
been seriously handicapped in their
economic showing, on account of the
very great expense involved in en-
gineering research, unavoidable in
such new industry. Mechanical i'm
proVements continue to be produced
frequently, all contributing in some
measure toward safety and flight ef-
itciency, but the quantity production
OF each type of aircraft has been
small.
AS this development period passes
the economic showing will be far more
convincing. Statistics prove a con-
ELSnt increase in the safety Of air
planes, due largely to the unremitting
efforts Of research engineers. The use
of helium instead Of hydrogen for air
ships has eliminated the principal
danger from the lighter-than-air craft.
A most convincing demonstration
that the era of aerial transport has
arrived IS the record of the air mail
service for 1928. More than one and a
Salf million miles were flown, carry
ing in excess of 100000 letters, this
achievement being only 315 per cent
less than perfect performance of the
schedules. During a test Of several
days last August letters were ex-
changed between New York and San
Francisco averaging % hours, where
rs the normal period for mail by train
IS, at best, four days.
y y *
IN the early days of aviation the
few manufacturers could i'll afford
TO publish the results Of research and
experiments that had been costly to
them. Such information was regarded
as3 trade secrets. Frequent accidents
and loss of lives emphasized the neces-
SIty for more extensive scientific re-
search on the problem Of flight, by
Government agency that would dis
seminate authoritative information Of
value to airplane and engine de-
EIgners.
The United States, and all the lead
lng nations of the earth as well. have
provided institutions for aeronautical
research. For that purpose in this
country the national advisory commit
tee for aeronautics was created by act
Of Congress March 8, 1915. Progress
was slow at first, on account Of lack
of experimental facilities, but each
succeeding year has brought forth
most valuable aeronautical contribu-
TONS most Of which are distributed
IN. the form of printed technical re-
pe9ts. New problems are constantly
being presented for solution, and ad-
ditional engineering data are issued
from time to time on the older sub
jccts.
One of the acts of the national ad-
visury committee for aeronautics that
concerns the general public was the
adoption of an improved nomenclature
Tor aeronautics. For example, the
clumsy word "aeroplane" was con-
densed into "airplane" and ''dirigible
balloon" has become "airship." Sim
fairly, "seaplane" has entirely super
seeded the expression "hydro-aero-
plane" 1t is remarkable how quickly
The new terminology has been accept
ed throughout the United States.
All Americans have reason to be
proud of the achievements of this Gov
ernment institution, because of its
valuable contributions to the data and
literature of aeronautical engineering.
The direct result is shown in lives
saved and extraordinary increases in
performance efficiency of aircraft.
1t is natural that persons who are
interested in the progress and develop-
mspt Of aeronautics should organize