Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDdERToN.

military model. Moreover, new
observation types are being devel-
oped by the Army and the Falcon
is threatened with obSolescence.
The average transport planc
could be of use to the Army onlG
for transport purposes. Though
able to carry heavy loads, they
could not be used for lombard
ment work. Their visibility is poor
for military operations; they usu-
ally have a motor in the nose,
which must be clear for military
practice, and they are not bal
anced properly for the dropping of
bombs. The dropping of a 1000
pound bomb from the ordinary
transport plane probably would
Jerk it into spin, so abrupt would
be the change of the center OF
gravity, according to Air Corps Of
ficerS.
Ineffective With Loads.
With lighter types of planes OF
the pursuit, attack and obscrva-
ton types, the addition of military
loads would ruin the performance
of the better types of commercial
planes of somewhat the same
characteristics.
You may be able to find several
types Of commercial airplaneS
which will fly and perform nearly
as well as the standard Army at
tack or observation planes. Add
military load of guns, ammunition,
bomb racks and bombs, special in
strumentS, extra fuel tanks to in
crease the range of operations and
oxygen apparatus for high-alti-
tude work, the result is an air
plane so heavy and loggy as to dis
qualify it for military use, even
though its design otherwise may
be acceptable.
With their added weight and the
necessity for high maneuverabil-
ity, fighting planes must be more
ruggedly built than commercial
planes designed merely for
Straight-away flying. Load mill
tary equipment aboard q fast, ma
recoverable commercial single
scatter and If you put it through
the violent maneuvers incidental
to dog fight" you probably will
tear of the wings.
The Army Air Corps now has
under construction two revolution
airy type Of military planes, one 4
two-Seater pursuit and the other
a twin-motored three-place recon-
Nuisance plane Of great speed and
capable Of operating at attitudes
above the range of any military
plane now in the fighting squad
ronS.
Guns at Both Ends.
The two-seater pursuit plane
probably would put an end to the
type of dog fighting" so common
during the World War, which was
necesSitated by the fact that the
only weapons OF the pursuit plane
of today point forward and must
be sighted by pointing the entire
plane, leaving the tail entirely UNI
protected. The two-seater will
carry a rear gun and gunner and
will be as deadly from the rear as
front in front.
The reconnaissance plane will
have two 525 or 500 horsepower
engines built into the wings OH
either side of the fuselage. The
fuselage will be Streamlined into
the wing, making a single unit.
The landing gear probably will be
retractible, pulling up into the
wings. The result will be the near
est approach to the flying wing"
this country has seen.
There are no commercial coun-
terparts Of either of these planes,
and the converted commercial
plane which was armed and sent
into the air against them I'M
doubtedly would fall an easy prey
to their guns through lack of
speed and maneuverability.
The chief virtue of commercial
airplane development from the
military standpoint is the estab-
lishment of great airplane facto-
rieS which could be set to work ON
short notice producing military
aircraft.
In case of emergency. however.
the country's only reliance for
aerial protection would be upon
the Air Corps squadrons as they
are today organized and equipped.
in the opinion of military experts.
The military flying services should
be kept in perfect condition, with
new equipment as such equipment
is developed and proved, and the
force of reserve pilots. should be
maintained in a condition of con-
slant readiness for duty.