Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08
ANACOST|AP|LOTS
TEST new TYPES
Flyers Are Kept Busy All
Summer With Untried
Plane Models.

Pilots Of the flight test section ct the
Anacostia Naval Air Station have put
in busy Summer with new planes Of
many types submitted for test by air
craft manufacturers to meet the demand
for new types Of military aircraft for
duty with the fieet and ashore. The
local air station during the past year
has become the Nays chief flight test
base, and all new types Of ships are
sent here to be put through their PAGES
before acceptance or rejection by the
Navy Department.
The big xPY-l monoplane patrol n.y.
ing boat, under test since last Spring,
now Is undergoing tests with o third
motor, mounted on trestle above the
wing. The two cupboard motors are
mounted below the wing. Since the
third engine was installed the big ship
has been flown light, weighed with full
load and given two sets of speed runs
and one climb to service ceiling.
Curtiss Is Flown for Speed.
An experimental Curtiss lighting
plane, designated the XF0C.2. has been
flown for high speed and two climbs
made. loaded In accordance with pro-
duction specifications.
Another type of tighter, the F4B-l. q
Boeing Single-seater, was flown for de-
termination Of spin characteristics, and
was tested over the speed course with
minor cowling changes.
The F7C fighter. equipped with Cur
tiss Ventura cowling, was weighed and
required Night tests completed. A ANAL
report Is being prepared.
A Keystone XNK-1 was put through
.lvn = r. -. n.
contractor to be equipped with Curtiss
with the new floats, and O civilian pilot
for the contractor demonstrated the
spinning qualities Of the plane, which
have been checked by pilots Of the flight
test section.
New Sikorsky Is Tested.
A new type Of Sikorsky amphibian
patrol boat, the PS-3, after undergoing
tests, was flown to the Sikorsky factory
for modification back to the standard
PSI type, now In the naval service.
One of the most interesting planes
submitted for test has been the XT5M-1
these letters and figures indicating that
1t is an experimental torpedo plane,
series 5, built by the Martin factory,
and that 1t u the first Of this series.
The plane Is q big single motored diving
bomber, the Navy designating bombers
under the torpedo plane class. It Ii
intended to meet the Navy qualifications
for q plane capable Of carrying O fairly
large load of bombs and yet possessing
sufiicient strength and maneuverability
TO engage In the new diving type Of
attack perfected by Navy aerial tao
ticians.
A Ford tri-motored plane, belonging
to the Pratt d whitney Co., visited the
station for two days, during which 1t
was weighed and flown over the speed
course by the company's pilot.
Fleet Spotter Is Tried.
An O2U-3 fleet "spotter," or observa-
ton plane, was received from the Phil
adelphia Naval Aircraft Factory for
catapult tests. The plane is equipped
with q new shape V-bottom float for
use on the Navy catapult.
The flrst production N2C-1 has been
received from the Curtiss company for
test.
The test section also has received an
aHrograph celebration panel, to be used
aS o check against the readings of tenn
perature and relative humidity OBJ
tanned by the aerograph flight. During
one Of the aerograph flights, made last
month, an ice storm was encountered.
The plane ran into sleet at 9,400 feet
and again from 10. 800 feet to the maxi
mum altitude Of the flight, 10000 feet.