Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-22
BOMBING PLANES
CHOSEN BY ARMY
Curtiss Condor and Keystone
Panther Are Selected
as Best.

important to other nations oil the
world seeking To obtain a well rounded
out air force has been solved as far as
thoss matters can be IN this rapidly
developing acronautical age, and every
one concerned with the subject is in a
state of pleasant relaxation, while the
aircraft manufacturers are in proouc-
ton on two types which are due to be
sent out into the service for groelns
tests.
A few years ago the Air Corps began
q program for the development OF mod
rrn. post war military planes TO re-
mace the war material then IN use ana
which still has not been entirely elm
mated The first problem tackled was
.ne acquisition of pursuit plane to
replace the British SE-5s. and French
"Spads," used In the service together.
With a hurried order of ThomaS-MorSe
MB>S singie-seaters.
The answer to the present need Tor
an up-to-date pursuit ship came IN the
Boesrg single-seater and the CurusS
pw-s, from which was developed the
present CurtiSS P-i, Then the old
Rritish De Haviland observation plane
came IN for replacement and after pa
tient research. the Curtiss Falcon and
the DOUGLASS observation planes drew
the assignment. From these two an
attack" plane or flying machine gun
and light bomb nest was developed.
Quest for q Bomber.
But sssll there was no bomber. In
the meantime, the big. numbering Mar
tin twin Liberty engtned 'jobS," built
right after the war, were holding down
this vital element OF military aviation.
They we're adequate in their day--they
carried bombs far out to sea and sank
battleships. but 1919 or 1920 design
obviously was out Of place.
Much time, patience and money was
spent by the Army authorities and the
manufacturers in joint efforts 70 get
bomber which had advanced as FAR
from the immediate postwar stock as
had the other type planes. Finally
competition was staged at Wright
Field, Dayton. Ohio, the Air Corps ex-
perimental station, and two bomberS
won out. both not only having lived up
TO the requirements set down by spe-
cial bombardment board, but in some
details having exceeded them.
So the Army has gone into produc-
tion-not too extensively. but sufnclent-
craft throughout the service, where they
win be flown by oil kinds of pilots, TN
Ger all weather conditions and under all
circumstances-a test which never has
been eQualed by the scientific method.
At Wright Field the planes declared
the winners of the competition were
nut through pretty rough PAGES by
those persistent test pilots, and the
bomhardment board was able TO sep
arate the wheat from the chat beyond
. reasonable doubt.
Two Are Selected.
The two winners are the Curtiss Con-
dor and the Keystone Panther. The
former Is powered with two $50 horse
power Conqueror. l2-cylinder, V-type,
water-cooied engines, while the latter
enbodies two 525-horsepower, 9-cylin-
der, radiaI air-cooled Wright Cyclone
engfnes-big brothers 70 the Whirlwino.
If both were called upon to 60 to
war today, the Condor would be night
bomber and the Panther would operate
in daylight MUrs. But for the time
being, the two win be considered as
night and day bombers, equally efhcient
under both conditions.
The two bombers represent such
marked advance over the old Martin
type that one would be inclined to for
get about the subject entirely and turn
to other interests were It not for the
fact that the industry already is prom
iStng to build q type that is better than
the Condor and the Panther u given
the chance. Such is the field Ut aero
nautscs--new today, obsolete tomorrow.
II was not intended at the outset OF
this discussion that the impression
should prevail that the Army Is al
fixed up with the various necessary
military type planes and that no more
attention will be given to acquiring
new ones for years to come. Just rs
much concentration is being placed on
the subject Of newer and better planes
in the secret chambers Of this country
as is being expended abroad
Have I3e-MiIe Speed.
Performance statistics on the new
shipS are not available Tor the public
as yet, under military policy. but 1t is
generally known in aeronautical circles
that the two ships each have top
speed Of around 100 miles an hour. and
can carry three machine gunners. each
operating two guns: one pilot and one
bombardier. from 1000 TO 1000 pounds
Of bombs. fuel for cruising range up
TO 500 miles. and can attain a maximum
altitude without the aid OF super
chargers on the engines OF around 49,
900 feet The speed and climbing char
acteristics Of the ships are based on
tests With full load Of bombs, fuel,
crew and ordnance.
Roughly, these ships are more than
a 50 per cent all-around increase In
efficiency over the old Martin type and
much IN advance also Of the present
keystone Pirate. which was acquired
solely as 'Stop-gap" for the rapidly
diminishing supply Of old Martin
bombers
In this day Of three-engined air
planes, OF after-diuner speeches on the
safety and reliability Of three engines.
not TO mention the increased perform
ance given the ship, the fact that the
Army bornbers are only double-engined
stands out gtrikingiy
But the explanation from the Air
Corps viewpoint Is logical and salts
factory when it is considered that the
thought In ever uppermost in the minds
Of the Nations defenders 10 prepare for
war In time Of peace. The bombers. as
their name implies, hence are military
planes, strictly war machines, with no
ambitions yet 10 fly the oceans and
hang up new airline distance records.
The two engines in the wings and the
big cockpit protruding far out In front
constitute the bOinbers' only means OF
protection from a frontal attack.
Two Engines Sufficient.
Place third engine In the nose.
mount the guns on fixed base AS in
pursuit pisnes-guns that FIRE through
the propeller, and when the gunner
wishes TO get bead on the attacking
plane he must move the entire plane
Eomhers nov are not as agile as pur-
suit planes. They cannot engage in
combat tactics. They fly In tight for
nation in the event Of attack and their
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