Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-16
BY FREDERICK r.. NELLY,

If the American people want the
preponderance of world aircraft rec
ords, which now are in Europe, on
this side of the Atlantic, they must
express their desire ''in writing and
the honors once more will come back
to the United States.
This is the response and promise
of Army and Navy airmen on duty
here to the general expressions of dis
satisfaction now being registered
throughout the country over the per-
Torrance of United States military
aircraft from the standpoint of estab,
fishing records.
1t is true that both the Army
and Navy hold very small per-
centage of the aircraft records now
possible of acquisition, which in turn
is still a very small percentage of
what they used to hold.
Aircraft records have been at
tackled and defended, but the trend of
belief here, where virtually every
movement of the thousands of mill.
tary aircraft throughout the United
States is controlled and directed. is
that they are not only valuable but
are absolutely necessary for the
proper development of the aircraft.
Situation Has Changed.
When a few years ago the United
States held virtually all the i'm
portant and unimportant world air
craft records, the average American
could swell out his chest, pat himself
on the back and shout: I'VE know
more about aviation than any other
country. We lead the world Today.
however, with only about a dozen
records in possession of this country
out of three score in existence and
1913 possible to establish, his argument
must be, if he is true to his con-
science: I'VE know less about avia-
ton than any other country and we
are last on the list"
But that last statement is not true.
the airmen vehemently declare. They
have every reason to believe that this
country leads the world in commercial
aviation and is at least abreast of
other nations in the technical develop
ment of aircraft.
The nation with the largest number
of aircraft records is able to exert,
and quite fairly, too the psychological
effect on its people that it is far in
advance of competitors. The records
also indicate initiative on the part of
the air people, an offensive cam
paign, desire to progress and sue
coed ami quite naturally the reward
is better equipment.
Had the United States ignored air
plane racing in the last 10 years, 1t
is doubtful If its standard pursuit and
fighting planes, now in actual serv-
ice would be equal to If not superior
to other standard equipment abroad.
The Army and Navy spent huge sums
of money on racing planes, little,
| dangerous, high speed, sensitive craft
that only the best of pilots could
handle. They ran the speed record
for long distances up to $50 miles an
hour and for a short distance up to
266 miles an hour.
Fighting Ships Follow.
But from those racers fast fighting
ships were born. OF course, they are
I not, or at present cannot be, as fast
as the racers simply because they
must carry armament, fuel for long
cruising and combine safety in land
! ing at low speeds. To take care of
| all these factors, weight must be
added and resistance must be in
creased, with the result that the
pursuit ship is slower. But 1t is uni
versally agreed the Curtiss and Boeing
! pursuit craft, standard equipment of
the Army, Navy and Marine Corps
would not be faithfully performing
/ today at around les and ITO miles an
| hour but for the racers.
| And so 1t goes with other types of
craft. To construct them and expert
] ment with them for record. breaking