The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-22

pilot with the u. S. Army Air Corps on
the western front during the World
U %af the sp f. WoTtR Tex tns eTes stan
BY CAPT. MALCOLM BUCHANAN
The airplane as vehicle is here
to stay.
In a comparatively short period
of time the strange, silver winged
contraption that figured in the
dreams of Professor Samuel Pier
pont Langley. and in the magma
ton of adventurous Darius Green.
has passed through a remarkable
process of evolution and has
emerged reality.
The types of airplanes are as
varied as the different types of
automobiles. They are built under
two general clasSifications-military
and commercial. Under the mill
tary we have five types-transport,
observation, bombing, attack, pur-
suit.
Fly 100 Miles an Hour
Commercial planes may be CLASH
fed under five general heads
freight, mail, passenger, business,
pleasure. The greater the load the
more powerful the plane must be,
and thus commercial planes vary in
accordance with the use for which
they are intended.
The freight. passenger and bust
ness planes are the ones with the
greatest possibilities, the business
type probably having the edge on
the other two in that it is employed
for mapping. photography, fast COM
mercial delivery, sky writing, the
busting of crops with germicide,
and grass planting over large areas.
Today's airplane is designed, on
the average, to operate at 100 miles
an hour whereas the plane of yes
terday operated at an average speed
of seventy-f1ve. An indication of
the speed that will be attained to-
morrow is given in a recent worlds
record of more than 32O miles an
hour.
Many Kinds of Wings
An airplane has five fundamental
parasitic wings, which support the
craft in fight; the fuselage body
which carries the load; the power
plant, or motor and propeller; con-
troll surfaces Cailerons, rudder. ele-
vators), which give the pilot con-
troll of his ship; and the landing
gear.
There are almost as many kinds
OF wings as planes. Wood is the
material usually used in cons;ruc-
ton. There are two long solid ~
beams which reach from the wing
tip to the body called spars.
They are held in place by cross
members placed at intervals of
from six to 10 inches the entire
length of the wing.
Controls in Cockpit
These ribs and beams are braced
by wires that cross each other from
corner to corner-something like
bridge construction.
The leading edge of the wing
usually projecting six or eight
inches forward from the main spar
is covered with a sturdy wood
which will withstand wind resis-
lance. This front edge is the first
point of contact with the elements
and needs extra strength.
All OF the control mechanism and
instruments are in the pilots coca
pit, and they must be so arrange
to give room for a comfortapie
seat.
The early engines developed from
twenty to eighty horsepower; to-
day we have some that can develop
1000 horsepower and weigh little
more than the early, low horse
power types.
The modern airplane cockpit re-
sembles the switchboard Of an cleo
trical power plant.
1t includes an altimeter, which
gives the altitude; air speed ind,
Gator: clock: techometer, which re-
cords the revolutions per minute g..
the motor; oil gauge; ammeter
switches for motor ignition; thermo-
stat, which registers motor heat; air
pressage gauge for gas tanks; turn
and bank indicator, for giving po-
sition relative to the horizontal III
fight, and the compass.
How Plane Is Operated
In addition one finds a throttle.
spark and radiator shutter levers