Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-08
WILLIAMS TO TRY
SPEED SHIP TODAY
Trials Will Start With Taxing
Plane Over Water
Course.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Aviation Editor of The Star.


ANNAPOLIS, Md, August s.-Amer-
ica's most powerful racing plane, built
for Lieut.. Afford Williams, Navy pilot,
for competition in the Schneider
trophy races in England next month,
will be put through the first phases of
its trials on the Severn River in front
Of the Naval Academy today.
Today's trials probably will be con-
fined entirely to taxing along the sur
face of the water. Entrants in the
Schneider race will be required to GO
through two rigorous taxing tests at
open sea on the day prior to the races
Today's tests will be trial of a new
cooling system devised by Lieut.. Will
liams for the 1,1o0-horsepower moto,
in his midget plane.
During the period the plane is on tn.
water the motor is cooled by passing
the water through radiators built into
the undersurfaces of the pontoons.
Tests Are Important.
The taxing tests are regarded as un-
usually important in the case of tha
racer because of the tremendous take
off and landing speeds, which are eX-
pected to range between 100 and 15C
miles per hour. The trials will enable
! Lieut.. Williams to become acquainted
/ with the performance of his plane or
| the water and enable him to judge the
I effecting of cutting it down" at speeds
greater than the average plane evel
/ realizes in full flight.
| It was expected last night that Lieut.
| Williams would make the taxing tests
this morning and might take the plane
sup for its first flight this afternoon
Wind conditions, however. were not re.
garded favorable for flying, and Lieut.
Williams did not appear at the air sta
ton this morning.
Mile Course Is Measured.
The flight test will be made over {
speed course laid out by the Navy neal
Kent Island, east of the mouth of tht
Severin River. A mile course has beer
measured and timing apparatus in
stalled under direction of Lieut.. E. w
Rounds, Naval Reserve, on duty Will
| the flight test section at the AnacoS'
tia Naval Air Station.
The passage of the racing plane owe
wires marking the ends of the mill
stretch will be timed by cameras work
ing in combination with special record
ing chronometers.
A single film will show the position
of the plane with reference to the wire
and also the exact time to within ;
100000 of a second. naval officials ex
planned.
Trials to Determine Entry.
Whether the United States will b.
represented next month in the Schnei
der trophy race will be determined b.
trial flights of the plane.
Lieut.. williams said that he wouit
like to leave for England as soon a
possible, and that the tests will b
made at the first possible moment.
st would like to leave tomorrow TO
Europe if it were possible" Williams
said. st will leave as soon as we car
complete tests which will show whethe
it is advisable to enter the plane in tn
Schneider race at al.
1.-THE first flight which will be under
taken here will be made to find out hov
the ship behaves in taking off ant
landing, and will determine whethe
the plane has been correctly designed
After the first flight, If we find tn
ship is all right, we will hold a spee'
| we can make"
Lieut.. williams took violent issue will
reports that his plane will exceed 4O'
miles an hour.
"I never have made any speed claim
|C.,,+;r,,od ~, Dooo o TyoIiIp,y1 81