Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
.REFUEL|NG PILOT
DEPICTS PROCESS
Hoyt Believes Question Mark
Feat Will Accelerate Com
merciaI Aviation.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, LOS
ANGELES, January S. Experience
gained in the endurance fight of the
Army plane Question Mark has demon
strated that aerial refueling IS a prac-
teal achievement now for commercial
aviation, Capt. Ross G. Hoyt, pilot OF
refueling plane No. /. told the Asso-
ciated Press today. Hoyt's account oil
refueling contacts follows:
Despite our heavy loads of gas
and the weight of three men, our ship
hops of like pursuit plane. We climb
to the altitude of the Question Mark
and then throttle down and fly along
side of 1t on the left side to get its
course and speed.
Il pick a Landmark ahead for q
straight course and maintain 1t. The
Question Mark dips beneath us and Is
lost to sight, from me, although 1t Is
times 1t comes as close as 10 feet, and
then I can see its tail.
"Lieuts Woodring and Strickland
lower the hose from the fuselage ano
Maj. SpatZ fits it into the funnel and
the refueling proceeds at IS gallons a
minute All do Is fly straight course
My only signals come from Woodring
by a rope attached to my arm. One
long pull means slow up; two pulls
speed up; a constant jiggle means the
refueling is over.
las soon as the Question Mark Is
through refueling she glides along tC
the left and then l land.
Takes Nine Minutes.
I'VE have had no trouble with the
contacts. have made nine contacts in
the last "a hours for an average OF
9 minutes each, making 81 minutes
actual contact in "a hours.
THE only difference between flying
in formation and making contacts Is
that we can see each other in forma-
ton, while in contact the pilot can
not see the plane beneath him. This
may cause anxiety, but the answer is
confidence between the two pilots. All
we have to do is to watch our speeds
and attitudes and maintain a straight
course. When we hit an upward cur
rent, both ships move in unison and
there Is no change in the planes
positions.
Il get into contact little nose heavy
to get relief from being tail heavy when
the fuel has been delivered, thereby
lessening the load on my plane.
When the contact is completed, Mai
Spatz waves ok signal to Woodring
who climbs off the gas valve and the
Question Mark flies away.
Last night was the first time broke
contact. had picked a mark in
Hollywood as a course and was flying
directly toward it. We got so close ]
could see Grey Cliff, and when could
about count the pebbles / nosed up
/ knew Capt Eaker was watching the
refuel line and l was the only one
watching ahead. Capt Eaker of the
Question Mark keeps his eyes on my
landing gear during the contact to pre-
vent the planes from coming together
We separated and got away all right.
Spatz Takes Consignment.
1.-The delivery of oil in 5-gallon
containers apd food and supplies is q
simple matter. Woodring lowers the
package on a rope and it drops into
the COCKPIT and into Maj. Spatz' arms
I'VE have demonstrated the practical
aspect of simple refueling in air and il
will enable commercial aviation COM
panies to increase their pay loads"
Lieut.. I. A. Woodring, describing the
refueling, said
II let out 80 feet of coiled 4-inct
hose slowly. It strikes the wing of the
Question Mark and glides down into
Mai SpatZ' arms. AS soon as he grabs
it he signals and we turn on the gas
He signals when he has sufficient gas
and we turn it off and he is gone"