Evening star., 1928-12-30
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

ME JCdA 1o1o ID AANfl VIII
promise for aeronautics al
over the world. Develop
Il ments in the United State!
are expected to be especially note
worthy.
In this country commercial
aeronautics, under the powerful
impetus Of wealthy combinations
Of air lines, railroads and financial
houses, should make notable prog
reSS. New air passenger and eX-
press lines, to be inaugurated in
the Spring and early Summer, are
expected to place the United
States on a parity with, If not
actually in advance of European
nations in the operation of air
transport lines, despite aid given
European systems by government
subsidies.
Expansion of the network of
United States air mail lines, which
hold a position of undiSputed
world leadership, is to continue
on an even greater scale than in
the past few years, according to
present indications. The domestic
web of contract air mail routes is
to be augmented by lines extend
ing into the West Indies, Central
America and eventually into South
America.
u. S. Seeks Air Records.
American flyers, civil and mill
tary, are preparing to regain for
the United States ground which
has been lost in the field of aero
nautical competition. German
flyers have captured record after
record until today the two coun-
tries are tied with 80 world air
records each.
The United States Army this
week is to begin spectacular eX-
pertinent which may capture the
world refueling-in-the-air endur-
ance record and airplane nonstop
distance record. The tri-motored
Fokker transport plane Question
Mark, which recently crossed the
Nation to Mines Field, Los Angeles,
where the attempt will be made,
will be refueled from specially
equipped Douglas observation
planes, two of which have been
provided for the purpose. Should
likely that the coming year may
witness the first nonstop around
the-world fight attempt conduct
ed by means of aerial refueling.
Three civilian pilots at ROoSe-
velt Field, N. Y, are almost ready
for a refueling record attempt,
picking up fuel in flight with
new type of ground pickup de-
vice developed for the use of air
mail lines.
Competition for the Schneider
trophy, the worlds premier speed
event, promises to be keener this
year than ever before. The race
will be held over the Solent in
England. Four British pilots al
ready are in training, although
the race will not be flown before
August. An American manufac-
turer has been at work for months
developing a motor for the United
States entry. It is probable that
speeds of six miles a minute or
better will be attained.
Many Events Are Arranged.
Many ross-country speed and
endurance contests are to be held
In the United States next year, in
cluding one entirely new event, a
competition for $4,000 cash prizes
and a cup offered by Robert E.
Gardner of st. Louis. Five pre-
hminary cross-country elimina-
tion races will be held from the
four corners of the Nation to
Parks Field, East st. Louis, the
latter part of May. The winners
will compete in a cloSed-circuit
race for the cup.
Not only will the year be notable
for aerial achievements, but the
aeronautical laboratories are ex-
pected to contribute much during
the coming IL months to the ad-
vancement of aeronautical science.
A number of important pieces of
research now are well on their
way toward completion. Cleaner,
faster and more efficient aircraft,
more accurate navigational aids
and some degree of progress in
HAC DoCCAC dSdllISC 1OS dIlu WSdGItcI
are anticipated. The National Ad-
visory Committee for Aeronautics
is at work on a number of out
standing aviation problems at the
Langley Field laboratories. The
Bureau of Standards is ready to
begin the testing of airplane
motors at it's new laboratory
building on the Arlington Expert
mental Farm area, where expert
ments may be conducted under
conditions approXimating those
found in actual service.
Several new types of planes are