Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-29
New Devices Are Accepted
AS Revolutionary in Flying

The autogyro and the adaptation of
the Diesel engine to aircraft inspire
many hopeful editorial predictions as
to the future of aviation The former,
it is thought, will have a tendency to
make large flying fields unnecessary,
while the latter is expected to add to
safety and remove some difficulties in
fuel handling
LAS last Summer developed into
field day for the ocean flyer" says the
New York Herald Tribune, so this
seems to be turning into one for the
aero inventor. And of the two seasons,
it is possible that this one. notwith-
standing its relative lack of spectacu-
the more important maker of aviation
history Successful tests of two revo-
lutionary departures in airplane and
motor design. respectively, have adorned
the front-page news columns The
fight from London to Paris Of De la
Cierva's autogyro, constructed on the
principle of the helicopter. has caused
immense excitement in technical cir
Giles. despite its subsequent crash. And
now, before the aviation authorities
have ceased to gasp from the shock
of this startling innovation, they are
invited to contemplate the successful
Vi Vic llIct
aircraft engine ever built. These two
inventions are the first, since the
Wrights got off the ground in their
homemade machine, 25 years ago, real
ly to alter the factors of flight"
Agreeing that both developments
promise to be revolutionary, the Wor-
cester Gazette adds that 1.-The new
motor apparently succeeds in doing
what has long been a dream of me-
chanical engineers-the applying OF a
Diesel type of internal combustion en-
CINE to flying. The Diesel engine has
numerous advantages" continues that
paper. lover an ordinary gasoline mo-
tor. It uses cheaper fuel. 1t requires
no complicated electric ignition system,
since explosions are brought about by
heavy fuel oil is far less OF a fire and
explosion hazard than tanks of gaso-
line 1t would have the further adj
vantage of eliminating ignition inter-
ference. through constant sparkling,
with radio reception and transmits
sion"
Perpetual amazement at the featS
of flying produced by up-to-date mod
els need not altogether blind us to
of revolutionary alterations in Struc-
tural technique" advises the Atlanta
Journal, as it describes the perform
ance of the autogyro in its flight across
the English Channel, stating that 1t
came down almost vertically, arriving
at full stop on the ground, only 200
feet from the perpendicular point where
gas was cut off in the air. This is
only about one -tenth the distance COW
cred by an ordinary plane, even after
the wheels touch earth" states the
Journal with the comment: over
head propeller blades suggest at once
new capabilities for airplanes, Nor are
they alone among the novel adapta-
tions now being experimental with by
engineers. just as we learn its shape,
the airplane may suddenly be trans
formed into an entirely different crea-
ture. safer and more versatile"
"Is the airplane to go? Is it to be
succeeded by the autogyro?" asks the
Waterloo Tribune, with the explana-
ton: 1.-The British, Italian and Spanish
governments have ordered autogyro
machines for army experimentation
after witnessing demonstrations. We
can understand what windmill propel-
lers are capable of in the way of power.
In the autogyro we may have great
step forward in safety"
1T is only natural" according to the
Detroit Free Press, that there should
be much speculation as to the avail
ability of the autogyro as a mail car
rier for use in meeting incoming ocean
liners. Other employment for it may
be found, and meanwhile everybody in
terested in the future of aviation will
wonder whether the Spaniards machine
Is not destined some day to blaze alto