Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

+ strong enough at every point to
withstand the terrific strains OF
high-speed maneuverS Of the most
violent description.
That designers have been able
to meet all the many require
ments and still obtain the speeds
within the range of the modern
combat planes is tribute to their
ability. The new Army PHO
pursuit planes are credited with
a top speed, wide out" of more
than $50 miles per hour. In adj
dition one of them has climbed to
| $4,000 feet and a squadron of them
has operated at 10000 feet in
formation, with full load. They
are rugged and highly maneuver-
able. II any one can build better
planes for the purpose, the Army
Air Corps will buy them and the
designer and builder may become
we'll to do on his profits.
A photograph of the P-12C,
shown on this page, reveals the
coWling ring around the Wasp
radial air-cooled engine with
which the plane is powered. This
coWling ring is the distinguishing
feature of the P-12C type and is
credited with adding materially
to its top speed, said to be ap-
proXimately 1874 miles per hour at
sea level with full load. The pilot
has visibility inside the ring be-
tween the cylinders of the engine,
which would be blocked of with
the full cowling of the type
evolved by the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics in its
Langley Field laboratories.
The Army Air Corps is begin
ming to take delivery on an order
for 131 purSuiters of the P-12C
type and the Navy also has or
dered a number of the same type
for use as carrier fighters to equip
its Sea-going Squadrons.
Faster Types Studied.
Both the Army and Navy are
interested in the faster types of
planes which have been developed
commercially. David S. ingalls,,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
for Aeronautics, has said that the
Navy is studying planes of the
type used by Capt. Hawks and
may purchase one or more of
them for experimental purposes.
officers Of the Army Air Corps,
it is understood, also are studying
the Lockheed Sirius type used by
Col. Lindbergh, with view to its
possible adoption, with necessary
notifications, as an attack plane
or fast light bomber.
Both services have tried out fast
cabin transport types and the
Army Air Corps has purchased an
all-metal Consolidated FleetSter,
which has been used extensively
during the past Summer by Maj.
Gen. James E. Fechet, chief of the
Air Corps, and F. Trubee Dawson,
Assistant Secretary of War for
AeronauticS, on long inspection
trips. The Army and Navy have
tested the new all-metal Northrop
low wing cabin monoplane and
the Army now has two of these
ships on trial. A plane Of the
same type has been purchased by
Clarence M. Young, Assistant Sec
rotary of Commerce for Aeronau-
tics, for his official USE
Transport planes are virtually
the only types of civil aircraft
which may be taken over. by the
Army or Navy in case of emer-
gency for military purposes. There
is need for cargo planes in both
services and any Of the standard
types of commercial transport
planes may be used for this pur-
pose. The Army and Navy both
use FordS, SikorskyS and Loenings
for transport purposes and the
Army also uses tri-motored
Fokkers.
The cargo planes serve the fly
ing services as the Golfers and
supply ships serve the Navy. They
accompany flights Of tactical
planes in extended movements
from one base to another, carry
ing loads of supplies, tools, equip
ment and mechanics.
Both services are watching
carefully all Of the developments
in commercial aviation and are
overlooking no opportunities tC
improve the Nations aerial line
of defense. The Army and Navy
planes which go into the service
squadrons are the best for the
purpose which can be obtained
and if they are not as fast a!
some of the racing types of COM
mercial planes it is merely be-
cause they are not and cannot
be built for speed alone but must
be designed for all-around mill
tary efficiency, in which speed i!
but one of several important
elements.