Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23
Aviation
BY JOSEPH S. EDdERTON.

ton of the new midtranscontinental
airman and passenger service, it was
announced. OF the IA flights scheduled
out OF New York during that period,
two were Cancelled because Of bad
weather. Five Of the arrivals in New
York, however. were Cancelled short
Of their destination because of dark
ness. The airway rs to be lighted
about January /, after which day and
night service will be possible.
During its first two weeks the new
line few l52,304 miles, or an average
Of 10,880 miles daily, while the schea-
ule calls for 1855 miles daily. Pas
ssngers carried totaled 2,04l, an aver
age of las daily. Capacity loads were
carried from New York on each Of the
last six days Of the two weeks and on
two occasions extra sections were oper-
ated to accommodate the overflow.
The consolidation of the Maddux-
Transcontinental Air Transport sys-
tenn with Western Air Express to COM
pose the new Transcontinenta and
Western Air organization has played
havoc of the Naval Reserve aviation
squadron at Iona Beach, Calf, ac-
cording to a report to the Navy De-
partment Offioer-pilots of the SQUAD
ron include many Of the transport
pilots for the consolidated companies.
1T looks" said the report to the
Navy Department, "as though this base
would lose, for q time at least, some
of our oldest and most important pilots.
One pilot left California on q new
assignment and during his first ID days
out, his assignment to run was
changed seven times.
at is believed that those transport
pilots hailing from this base are more
familiar with more parts of the en-
tire United States end Mexico than
any cup CT pilots in the land, dis
tinct advantage IN national emer-
gency."
Catapult Business.
Aviation people who do their flying
from the battleships and cruisers have
or even to their fellows who fly from
the carriers. Planes on the fighting
ships are carried on deck, where over
hauls must be made in all kinds Of
weather On the cruisers the cupboard
wings and even part Of the motor over
hangs the sea alongside ship.
The planes must weather whatever
storms the ships encounter and often
come out second best with the elements.
The U. 8. 8. Texas few days ago en-
countered short and severe hurricane,
during which the wind attained q We
locity Of approximately 100 miles per
hour. The Texas carries three sea-
planes, all of which had been dashed
down on the launching catapult. Wing
lines were doubled and pulled talit and
heavy lines were passed around the
pontoonS and under the catapult track.
Chemically treated tarpaulins placed
over wings and fuselages to minimize
fre hazard from flying sparks, bellied
out with the wind and ripped. Finally,
steel hooks a half an inch thick which
were holding down the middle plane
were pulled straight by the force Of
the wind and slipped from the eyes
on the catapult through which they
had been hooked The auxiliary lines
parted and the plane was blown from
the catapult to the deck below.
The catapulting Of planes from battle
ships and cruisers also creates condi-
lions the ordinary airplane pilot never
mas to face, not even the carrier pilots
who take-off from and land on A flight
deck.
Imagine the CONSERVATION of two
aviation officers aboard q crusier a few
days ago when the portoon of their
plane was catapulted out to sea from
beneath them and they and the plan
squashed down disconcertingly on to-
Of the catapult!
Business Booming.
Development of the new higfi-spe:
Ford tri-motored transport plane has
resulted in a demonstration of the i'm.
portance attached to increased flying
speeds for transport operations. Before
the new plane made its appearances
the Ford Airplane plant had fallen of
In orders and production to q point
where only $50 men we're employed
half-tirle. ~
Since the new plane has gone into
production the plant has gone into
24-hour operation with more than 500
skilled workers on full-ttme. a ma ioritv
OF the increased force having been cali.
ed back during the past go days. The
business not only includes orders for
the new high-speed models but for con-
version of the old type SAT models
70 the new type by Improvement OF
streamlining, lowering of wing engines.
addition Of motor cowling rings ana
streemlining of the landing gear. The
new types are on order for both the
Army and Navy.
The new type has q cruising speed
OF 122 miles per hour and a top speed
OF l52 miles per hour with full load
one OF these planes recently estab-
!lshed a new of1icial world speed record
Tor planes carrying q 1000 kilocraYS1
load by flying a 100-kiEometer closed
per hour.