Evening star., 1928-11-25
By JAMES NEyIN MILLER.

TIME fantastic sight of a man til
an automobile speeding furiously
after a giant parachute that Q
sudden gust of wind had swept
along the ground was offered a
few spectators at Wright Fieyd. Dayton,
Ohio. the other day. not far away from
the research laboratories of the Army
Air Corps.
The man was Mai. E. l.. Hoffman,
known the world over for having de-
vised the standard parachute now in
wide Use in the United States The
mammoth chute that he was chasing
is likewise the product of his own in
genuity, calculated to bear an entire
airplane and its human content to the
ground in case of engine trouble. In
fact, the major only that day had
demonstrated to his own satisfaction
that the new device could successfully
carry to earth l,600-pound bomb. So
he was not anxious to see his lifeboat
Of the air take an unheralded journey
into the heavens.
But winds aren't always to be de-
pended upon, as this particular one
demonstrated. Right after the noun
tain of silk had landed. following its
unique test, mechanics stationed at the
field raced after it. intent on catching
the shroud lines and securing them fast
up. and now so great was the lift and
strength of the chute, which measures
81 feet in diameter. just three times
ss large as the man-bearing kind, that
the men who caught at 1t were lifted
unCeremoniously into the air
Then it was that Mai Hoffman gave
chase. Since his car was parked near
by, he quickly jumped into it, got the
engine running and headed for the
wildly careening umbrella Of the air
Thereupon he began to experience a
few thrills such as he never had known
before. Of course. he couldn't very
veil stop his car. since that procedure
would have meant the loss of the race.
So, While he came abreast, the major
grabbed one of the shroud lines think
ing maybe the speed of the machine
would put a halt to the chute's maneu-
vers. But his strength proved to be of
no importance whatsoever against the
terrific power of the frolicsome. wind
filed contraption. Very soon he was
pulled headlong over the automobiles
steering gear and dragged along the
ground TO become quickly entangled
within the shrouds.
None too far away from him Maj.
Hoffman could see that 1,60o-pound
test weight humping heavily along
the ground, liable at any moment to
fall upon him and crush him to death.
For seconds that seemed ages he fought
to free himself. and was barely able to
maneuver his body from the nath of
the great weight WHEN on it came,
humping down split second later
upon the very spot where he had been.
x * x +
THEORETICALLY, Americas Co
Hath" of parachutes is reproduc-
ton in all major respects of the man
bearing type, being possessed of pilot
chute that preceded the larger one in,
its downwerd f1lght-ventS in the dome,
the same high quality and weight of
silk, and the same type of shroud lines.
However. there are greater number
of panels and shroud lines-96 of the
former and 46 of the latter. The SELL
ing cost has not been estimated ex-
actly thus far. but certain experts say
it will be in the neighborhood of 81 400.
Concerning the hopes for the Hoff-
man device in the eyes of the United
States Army flying officials. the follow
tHg statement was given out recently
ty Brig. Gen. william E. Gilmore. chief
of the experimental division of the
Army Air Corps:
Air Corns officials are reticent to
make extravagant claims for the possi-
hilities of this parachute, but the tests
30 far conducted have been encourag-
ing and will be continued. While every
tt-ing is being done to make CONNER
cial aviation safe, Maj Hoffman's de-
vice will prove It's worth when the un-
usual and unexpected occurs to big
passenger liners in midair.
Present designs of commercial air
liners provide for the carrying OF 8 to
IL passengers. in addition to the pilot
and mechanic. In case of fire or other
flying hazard, TAI. Hoffman's parachute
offers the possibility Of saving the en-
tire personnel of the flight without sub
jecting the members to the strain of
making individual parachute jumps
The device is capable Of carrying most
of the modern air liners now in COM
mercial use, and of landing them safely