Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16

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49, bombardment plane marks
the first of what may be o series
of important changes in Army
bambardnent aviation equipment
= and tactics. The new bomber Is
the realization Of a competition or
many wears duration conducted
BY the Air Corps.
Il Several drastic changes prob
ably will result from experiences
1Of the bombaFdment squedronS In
Che recent Ohio maneuvers. which
seemed to indicate that more IN
tense specialization is necessary
even In the already highly special
lied commandment branch OF the
aerial fighting forces.
Smaller but much faster bonn
Sardnent planes which will depend
for safety upon their speed, and
bomberS capable Of operating out
of sight and out of hearing far
.up in the cold, thin upper air
have been proposed. New types
of bombs also are needed.
I've Types Selected.
~ The new bombardment plane,
which is known as the b., OF
Curtis Condor, Is one OF two new
bombing types selected fofloWlng
a competition Of several years
duration for plane to supplapt
the old wartime Martin. The
other is the LB-7 Keystone
Panther, q twin mOtored plane
developed for day bombing. The
LIB" denotes light bonlbard-
tnent' and MANY planes OF tins
type now are in the lombard
ment squadronS.
The new plane bears the "B"
Resignation characterizing the
heavy bombardment class. 1t Is
especially designed for night
bon1bardment and Is expected to
prove one of the most deadly
weapons Of the kind ever devised.
The b., the second Of its class
built, incorporates many renne-
ments suggested by experience
during the past two years. In a
preliminary demonstration flight
before F. Trubee Dawson, Assist
ant Secretary Of War for Aero
nautics. at Mitchell Field. N. Y,
during the past week, the BE- car
ried $500 pounds OF bombs at q
speed of more than two miles
minute.
The giant weighs five tons
empty and can carry q military
load of 1883 pounds to an alti-
tude of II 900 feet, or nearly three
and one-half miles. 1t will have
a top speed OF about 1870 miles per
hour and will be able to cruise for
800 miles without refueling, 1t is
estimated.
Carries Crew Of Five.
Five men compose the crew OF
the BIZ. They are the pilot, the
bombardier, who also Is assistant
pilot: a forward gunner, in the
nose of the plane, q Starboard
gunner, who also is the radio
operator, and port gunner, VINO
also is a photographer.
A feature Of the plane Is It's de-
fenSive arrangement. Immediately
Rmhind each OF the two engines,
which are between the wings, Is q
gunner'S cockpit in which the port
and Starboard gunnerS are sta
toned. Each gunner handles two
heavy machine guns and their
position makes it possible to ward
off attacks from the rear above
and below. The gunner In the
nose, also with two guns, sweeps
above and below to the front. All
three gunnerS can ward OF at
tacks from the sides.
The Condor mounts two Curtis
ConQueror water-cOoled w" type
12-cylinder engines OF 025-horse-
power each. These engines are
geared and at 400 revolutions per
minute turn the propellers over
at about 1900 revolutions. This
makes possible the use of larger
propellers, each weighing about
220 pounds and measuring IA feet
from tip to tip.
Narrow Streamlined radiators
which offer the minimum OF air
resistance and the smallest pos
Sible target, are mounted above
each engine The wing span Is
30 feet, nearly three times that Of
a pursuit plane, and the length Is
more than At feet. It stands 1872
feet high. AS in the LB7. the
entire framework of the plane Is
metal, with fabric covering.
Uses Huge Tires.
Gasoline tanks of 100 gallons
capacity each are built into the
engine nacelles and an emergency
gravity tank is built into the
upper wing. Each of the landing
wheels Is built to carry a load OF
four tons and has built-in
hydraulic brake, which can be
operated independently while
taxing The tires measure 81 by
TO- Go
Is their cubic content that the air
alone, when under pressure,
weighs two and one-half pounds.
To maintain communication be-
tween the members Of the crew, a
complete system of telephones has
been installed, with a selective
man. The total weight OF the
phones, wiring and switchboard,
has been reduced TO minimum
Of 112 pounds.
The most complete radio in
etallation is provided, including
radio telephone and telegraph
sending and receiving outfits and
q radio beacon set for navigation.
After its demonstration at
MltCIle1 FlGlu Lie SOLlOOE was
flown to Dayton by Lieut.. Levi l..
Berry, Air Corps The trip Of
more than 600 miles was made
without a stop in five hours. at an
average speed Of more than 100
miles per hour. Following the en-
gineering tests at Dayton the big
ship will be flown to Langley Field,
Hampton, Va, for service tests. 1t
probably will stop at Boiling Field