New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-17
ARMY Plane TO
REfUEL IN AIR
Will Conduct Series Of Tests in
California


the dawning Of 1929, an army plane
called the Question Mark" is due
to take off at Los Angeles on an en-
durance test flight which may her
aid another era in the rapid develop
ment OF aviation.
Secretary Davis revealed today
that the feasibility of refuelling in
the air will be tried on a big scale
there shortly after daybreak on jan
uary /, with Major Carl Spatz, Cap
tain Ira Eaker, Lieut.. Elwood r.
Quesada and Lieut.. H. A. Halverson,
as pilots and Sergeant Ray Hooe, as
mechanic, aboard.
The fight is intended both to put
the modern airplane engine to the
acid test Of endurance and to deter
mine the strain of protracted flight
on the human system.
To Refuel Ship
There will be but one objective
after the plane takes off at Los
Angeles" said Maj. Gen. James f.
Fechet, air corps chief. "and that Is
to keep the ship in the air until the
motors cease to hum"
The Question Mark, leaving Boil
ing field here today in company
with one Of the refueling planes, will
go to Rockwell Field, Los Angeles,
by way of Middletown, Dayton, Scott
Field and Oklahoma City. Authori-
zation for the test was granted after
a successful series conducted over
Boiling field here yesterday by these
two planes. A third plane will be
arranged for at San Diego. Calf,
making two refueling planes.
No objective has been set with
respect to the length of time the
plane will remain in the air. The
problematical feature of the mis-
sion is best indicated. officials stated,
in the naming of the ship.
while it will be interesting to
learn how long airplane motors will
continue to run under actual flying
conditions and without a landing
being made" said Gen. Fechet,
our primary concern is to deter
mine the practicability of refueling
while in the air"
Two officers will be on duty in the
pilot compartment of the Question
Mark as long as the flight lasts. In
asmuch as Major Spatz will attend
to the transfer Of supplies and Cap
tain Eaker will be at the wheel dur
ing the contact period-of which
three to six day-these two officers
will pilot the ship during the day
time while Lieutenants Halversor
at night
Arrives In Washington
The Question Mark and refueling
Plane No. arrived here yesterday
from the air corps depot at Middle
town, Pa, where during the last sew
eral weeks they have been under
going equipment with special APP
paratus. The refueling plane has
two $50 gallon gas tanks and one 40
gallon oil tank to which is fastened
SO foot hose, az inches in
diameter. A similar hose is attached
to the oil tank. A rope for lowering
food. water. messages and other sup
plies has been provided.
II Feet Apart
During refueling periods, the
Question Mark and the supply ship
will come within II feet of each
other. the endurance plane flying
beneath and slightly behind the sup
ply ship. Major Spatz. who will
have charge Of the transfer Of sup
plies. will wear goggles, a rubber
face mask. rubber gloves and a rub
Der raincoat. He will be stationed
on a small platform built in the en-
trance compartment of the plane.
This will place him shoulder high in
the opening that has been cut in the
top of the ship at this point. AS the
hose is lowered from the supply
plane above Major Spatz will catch
it, pull it through the opening and
turn a valve allowing gasoline or Oil
to pour in.
The gasoline supply can be trans
ferred at the rate of IS gallons per
minute and it is planned to take on
800 gallons during each refueling
period.