Evening star., 1929-09-01

being worked out before the eyes
of the greatest gathering OF spec
tatorS ever to witness an air meet,
but some of the most pressing
aeronautical, industrial and engi-
neering problems are being at
tackled by the Nations foremost
leaders at great series of meet
ingS in connection with the ma
tional air races.
There have been nearly dozen
important conventions of the
leading aeronautical organizations
there this week and some of them
will continue into the coming
week. Because of the more spec
tacular events at the Cleveland
airport they have received little
public attention. They promise,
however, to bear much fruit dur
ing the coming year. Their re-
suits will be felt not only in the
aeronautical industry, but by the
steadily growing portion of the
public which is taking to air
transportation.
The manufacturers of CONNER
cial airplanes and engines attend
ing the industrial conferences OF
the Aeronautical Chamber OF
Commerce, for example, have
agreed this week to study the ap-
plication of service conditions and
uniform discounts as practiced in
the automobile industry to the
aeronautical industry as a key to
the development of better service
for the airplane owner.
Plan Service Plants.
Leaders in the manufacture OF
planes and motors reached an
agreement that the development
of avast system of service stations
and parts distribution centers
should be undertaken. This will
mean increased satisfaction and
safety to the airplane owner and
operator. 1t should mean increased
prosperity for the industry.
Efficient engine service, aero
nautical experts agree, demands
extensive shop equipment, close
inventory of costs and special
training of personnel. All this
works to the benefit of the in
dustry, the owner and the air
travelling public. -,
Plans also were considered at
Cleveland for the adoption of
standards by which the private
plane owner and transport opera
tor may obtain the correct type OF
fuel and lubricants for his engine
by name rather than by COM
plicated technical specifications.
This is intended to simplify the
purchase of gas and oil by the pri-
vate pilot or itinerant operator
who flies away from home.
1t has been recommended that
both mobile and stationary re-
fueling equipment be installed at
major airports to cut down the
amount of time necessary to re-
fuel planes and to speed up pres
ent schedules on regular lines.
Against Monopolies.
Action has been taken to dis
courage the granting of franchises
by private airport operators or
municipalities to one fuel or Oil
company. It is recommended that
all companies be permitted to in
stall their equipment at any air
port they may desire to serve, so
that competition may be set up,
to the benefit of the public.
At another meeting engineers
attacked the problems OF light
metals and their alloys, solution
of which is of vital importance to
every phase of heavier and lighter
than air operations. Aircraft,
whether lighter or heavier than
air, demand the use of the lighteSt
available material of construction
consistent with adequate strength,
it was pointed out. Builders have
created a market for aluminium
alloys such as duralumin. Mag
nesium alloy is even lighter and
is beginning to be used. The in
dustry, however, is not satisfied
and is looking forward to develop
ment of alloys of beryllium, which
has an atomic weight only one
third that of aluminium and
magnesium and specific gravity
of little more than two-thirdS that
of aluminium.
One of the most interesting eX-
ampleS of the use of light alloys
in aircraft construction seen at
the air races was employed in the
Navy all-metal airShip ZMC-2,
which was flown to Cleveland
from Detroit. The ship, purely
experimental, has an envelope
made of alclad aluminium alloy,
coated with pure aluminium to
prevent corrosion.
Study Airport Problems.
Aircraft construction and air.
port problems of various types
came up for consideration at
joint meeting of executive and
engineer members of the Aero
nautical Chamber of Commerce
and the Society of Automotive
Engineers.
Efforts were made to determine
the requirements of airplaneS in
the matter of the amount of elec-
trio current and beam candle
power and the best type of lamps
for safe landing at night. Speci-
fications for standard landing
light equipment are to be adopted
as soon as agreement is reached
on the basic requirements. Air
port and airways lighting stand
ards also were under considera-
ton.
The troublesome problem of
proper propeller pitch adjustment
to obtain maximum airplane
speed and efficiency has been
mulled over during the week.
This is a problem which has agi-
tated the industry for many
years. A large propeller pitch,
suited for high speeds, manifeStly