Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18
Navy Handbook to Guide Air1nen
i IN Making G Courses for Seaplanes
Provided
/. Govern men toA tin
BY a. q. WEST.

E1EIGN SAN OGt 81 10 A<1lAS ICY
then Secretary Of the
NM Smithsonian Institution
and one OF the foremost
astronomers OF his day,
mounted platform constructed in
huge oak tree overlooking the slopes
of Rock Creek Park, he gained valu-
able information of the mechanical as
poets OF flight from the circling buzz
zatds whose descendants are still the
feathered guardians Of that hillside.
But the observations of the eminent
scientist did not extend to the scope
OF knowledge that even the tiniest
bird may regard as his rightful
heritage. Aerial navigation, includ-
ing data on air lanes, air currents
and suitable landing places where
food and water are readily obtainable
is of vital import to the atrtnan.
ana since the successful fight or q
French balloon in 1873, the foremost
nations Of the world have slowly &C
quired information as to Natures
aerial highways. -
With the tremendous growth OF
aviation during the World War, the
insistent demand for comprehensive
data as to anchorage facilities for
seaplanes along the coast, as well as
for well equipped landing fields
further inland, has steadily increased,
and the United States Navy Is about
to issue an interesting publication
known as 1.-The Naval Air Pilot, g.
modern blue book of the air.
This handbook of charts Is the COM
bined work of several important de-
partments of the Government. includ-
Ing the United States Army Air
Service. the United States Geological
Survey, the Lighthouse Service, the
=
whose maps the charts are based,
with work by the photographic Once
OF the United States Navy, In new
and unknown fields
In connection with the new air
s'blue book" is the inauguration OF
the worlds first marked seaplane air.
way, which was produced by paint
ing the roofs Of the lighthouses along
the seaplane route between Wash
ington and Norfolk with distinguish
ing markers for the use Of aircraft.
This route is the most frequently
travelled 5eaplane course in the United
States, and, with the assistance Of
Capt. King, superintendent Of the fifth
lighthouse district. at Baltimore, Nd,
the markings have recently been COM
pleted on this airway, under the direc-
ton of Commissioner Putnam Of the
Lighthouse Bureau.
Pilots Of seaplanes flying this route
will thus be able to find q means of
ORIGINATING themselves even in thick
weather, according to Lieut.. Logan
Ramsey, U. s. N, pilot for the Hydro.
graphic ONCE Of the Navy.
IF this system proves to be Of as
much value as Is confidently ex-
pected," said Lieut.. Ramsey. aother
seaplane routes win also be marked
in the same way, and when night fly
ing increases to an extent to make 1t
worth while lights with Nvertical
beams for the guidance OF seaplaneS
probably Will be installed.
The photographic ONCE Of the
Navy has been in receipt Of many
complaints from pilots Of naval sea.
planes as to their inability to disttn-
guish the lighthouses In Inland waters
in thick weather. Their structure Is
often quite similar, and from any dis
lance clearer markings were required.
1.-THE theoretical side Of aerial navi-
CATION first received attention from
the Government in. 1907. when Ad-
miral Bradley A. Fiske suggested that
methods of celestial navigation be in
vestigated and developed. Mariners
obtain information as to their locality
when out Of sight Of land by using
their time and by measuring the alti-
tude Of celestial bodies above the
horizon.
but airplanes operating above the
surface of the water frequently have
no horizon that IL visible. and most
OF the time. when the altitude is 1000
feet or greater, the horizon, even.
when visible, is not sharply defined
enough to enable the observer to OBJ
tain good sight.
Interesting methods have been de-
veloped by the photographic Office,
among which is a special chart for