Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-14
RADIO GREAT HELP
TO AIR NAv|GATORS
Establishes for Commercial
and Military Purposes Def
mite Connecting Link.
BY CARL III. BUTMA\.

N
both military and commercial ar
planes with the ground Is seen by
Army officers through the co-operl,
ton of broadcasting and commercial
radio stations The naYigatorS or the
air have for some time been assisted
in several ways by radio, cnltuy
through direct communication be-
tween base station and IL plane
although radio has served in the
capacity of relaying Information
especially weather reports. 10 DOM
stations and planes i'll the AIR. IL mas
also been used directionally. ADAPT
ing to air navigation the principles
of marine radio-beacon service anu
direction finding.
Latest Development Cited.
The latest development lies In CO.
operation with permanent lana STA
tions in relaying 10 greater INSTANCES
Than the tl.ansmitter of the plane can
reach MESSAGES Of import and re-
quests for information. In other
words. the range of the plane set may
be increased and the pilot KEPT III
touch with distant planes or land STA
tons through a commerclal or pro'io
east station. Recent tests between IN
ARMY plane 1900 feet in the air over
Dayfon. Ohio, and the Crosley broad
cast station NIW at Cincinnati nave
demonstrated the feasibility and 1u-
rure possibilities of this new radlo
link for aerial navigators. success
attended the tests in which II SlSliai
C'orns Air Service 1874 set was tried
out by capt. w. II. Murphy or the
Army Messages from the plane Were
picked up by WLW and rebfoadcaSo
for the listeners and sent over a teie-
l
rommandant of Lunken Field, some
* r,iIas from Cincinnati. He could
also talk with the flyer. Through
his wire and radio hook.up MAJ.
Hoffman was able to advise capt.
N,,rnhy of conditions Mt his held'
where the plane proposed 10 lai'o' de
we'll as to give him speclflc ADVICE loi
landing. Another test made II posi-
BILE for a plane to land at strange
field solely by directions radloed IRON
Dayton.
Army Report on Tests.
Commenting on the tests. semi
official Army report states as iotlowe'
.The use of the commercial sta
tions for lengthening the radio range
az the plane set or for bringing tlle
olane in touch with a fleld not EQUIP
ned with radio transmitting ana
reiying sets, has great posslplhtice
Of usefulness. especially 10 planes ny
ing long distances. w edthet oiia
may have occurred after the taKe-oi
go tta nIane from its starting point
upon which Ii may ne nio9' lii'i0i 90 NV
TO get information.
."The flight may extend into par'
of the country of which maps OF tne
dyinr field were not aNallaple. anu IL
+ha nilot before his arrival couio learn
the topographical conditions sur
rounding il and the best manner OF
annroach and landing in it. the ala
would he considerable. If plot We're
living across the mountains 10 lIollS
Island. for instance, ana the LUIS
island field lay in heavy fog. the pliol
calling in could he told or ana r III j,
rected, possibly, to q New Jersey 'ie1u
out of the fog area.
Signals for Light in Storms.
"rf a pilot. delayed by storms or
beadXindS, needed to SEND WORD anedo
10 a field to have the lights turned on
for him or to have some one on Ma III
70 HELM him gas his plane after cios
ing hours. the help would ne corstu
arohle He might have to procure
hangar sDace for his plane for the
NIGHT and. in the absence OF same:
could be directed to another neio
nearby. ,,,,a
"If commercial radio stations couio
he contracted with to deliver service
Of this type 70 airptanes. listening IN
at definite times each day for them
each quarter or half hour, for IN.
stance. the flyer could put in his call
eft the proper time and be assured or
practically as good communication IA
c;lities as IL he were calling by tele-
nhone from an office building on the
ground. In this fashion commerclai
transport lines also could keep In con,
slant touch with the stations ahead
from the start to the finish OF
fight. "