Evening star., 1928-12-17
ARMY COMPLETES
AIR REFUEL TEST
Preliminary to Endurance Ex-
pertinent Starting Jan. |
Proves Success.

Flying low through the cloud mists
which hung over the hills of Virginia
few miles south of Washington, the
crews of two Army airplaneS today
completed successfully the initial test of
an air-refueling experiment through
which the Army hopes to set up an
endurance record that will far eclipse
the present. mark. The two ships in
yolved in the experiment today, which
started from Boiling Field little be-
fore 10 O'Clock, will leave the Army air
field at o'clock tomorrow morning
on the first leg of tranScontinental
hop which will bring them to Rockwell
Field, Calf, about the first part of
next week. Their first stop viii be
made late tomorrow at Scott Field,
Belleville, ILL., near ST. Laulais.. ..s-.sase
Today'S test was described by Mai
Gen. James E. Fechet chief of the
Army Air Corps and spectator from
the air of the refueling experiment, as
eminently successful and one that prob
ably points the way to a new world
endurance record by the Army as well
as the beginning of new era in the
art of keeping plane in the air.
Fifty gallons OF gasoline were lowered
In less than a minute through o 75-foot
hose dangling from the fuSelage of a
Douglas transport plane to the cockpit
OF three-englncd Fokker ship flying
lust below the Douglas The planes
iey at an altitude of about 1900 feet
at an air speed Of 80 miles an hour
Crews OF both ships are selected men.
chosen for their physical and mental
qualifications from the crack pilots of
the service. The Douglas transport was
piloted today by Capt. Ross G. Hoyt.
with Lieut.. Elwood Quesada beside him
IN the cockpit. The FOkker. in charge
OF Maj. C:rl Spatz, who is to be in COM
mand of the endurance test. was han
died during the refueling experiment by
Capt. Ira C. Eaker.
Test to Start January 1.
The actual endurance test will start
January /, after the planes which have
been equipped with the refueling appa-
ratus have flown across the continent,
ana nave been equipped with carefully
tested new engines. The major purpose
OF the experiment, however is declared
by the Army not to be the mere setting
OF new endurance record, but to put
modern airplane engines to the acid test
OF absolute endurance and to investigate
the practical value of refueling in mill
tarv as well as commercial aviation.
The length of time an airplane can
remain in the air Is measured not alone
by the human factor, but by the fuel
which can be carried II the ship can
be refueled in the air and the personnel
can Withstand the strain of continuous
prolonged air travel, no one can fore
see how long the ship can remain in
the air. II refueling can be adopted
as routine function in aviation. much
time will be saved.
The present air endurance record is
held by the German aviators RiSticz
and Zimmerman, who flew 65 hours
and 81 minutes. A preliminary test was
held yesterday afternoon at Boiling
Field, when Gen. Fechet himself aided
in the actual hose contact between the
refueling ship and the endurance plane
A screen OF mystery had been thrown
around the entire operations, which the
War Department lifted only today, after
all the equipment necessary to the sue
cess of the mission had been perfected
and carefully arranged plans had been
drawn up and approved. The War De-
partment laconically advised press rep
resentatives to be at Boiling Field early
today to witness highly important"
project about which no further in
fromation was given out until the hour
Tor the gasoline transfer arrived.
Then facilities for an inspection OF
the equipment were made available and
the two planes took Off The endurance
plane has been carefully fitted up for
the test with hunks, lavatories, small
electric stove and special arrangements
for gasoline and oil transfer. to which
Will be added a radio set through
which contact will be made with ground
observers.
First Try Unsuccessful.
The actual transfer today was wit
messed only by Gen. Fechet, two OBJ
servers in Photographic plane and
those on the ground, who happened to
see the test as the two ships flew
through the mists which shrouded the
Virginia hills The air was rough, and
the pilots experienced some difficulty
in keeping their planes together for the
| refueling operation. Their first at
tempt, made directly over Boiling Field
was unsuccessful, and they then turned
around and flew back over the field
Actual contact was not made, however
until the ships had crossed the Potomac
and were over, nearby Virginia. The
| Test lasted less than an hour, and was
made to see that everything Is in
readiness before proceeding on to Cali
| fornia. Both planes were equipped for
the experiment at the Air Service depot
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