Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04


evels.
steady increases which resulted in
of airmail and express flown and
anSport planes of the country.
behind the records of 1880 and
the aviation industry.
) flown admittedly were abnormal.
ing the first half~of 1880 purely
we're several short lines in various
rates for short distances, which
nal business could explain.
the country. The result has been a
tremendous increase in miles flown by
the American air transport lines. The
July flying totaled 4,213,403 miles,
which is just a little too far to try GO
comprehend in terms Of travel. The
total for July, 1880, was 3,9l0,93l miles
which gives some indication of what has
been happening to aviation during the
past year.
This country's transport planes,
which fly from fixed point to fixed
point on fixed schedules, in a manner
calculated to upset any fixed notions
which may have been entertained q
few years ago as to the future of COM
mercial flying, covered a total distance
Of 22,455.878 miles during the first seven
months of 1881. as contrssted with the
1892 e9l miles during the same pc
Rod last year The increase, in per-
centage, is approximately 80
And. although the passenger total for
the seven months was below that for
l1st year, the passenger miles flown in
creased, showing that the air traveller
of 1891 is flying farther than he did
last year. Passenger mileage for July
was 14,6S1,694 making total from
January l to August some 60,17o,000
miles, as compared with 1890, 1852
miles for the same period of last year.
Big Motor Approved.
What is claimed to be the most
powerful radial air-cooled aviation en-
CINE ever developed has been thorough
ly tested and given an approved type
certificate by the Department of Com
merce. Though the motor is claimed
to deliver IT'S horsepower at sea level.
it is approved by the Department of
Commerce only for SIS horsepower,
though this Is rated at an altitude of
5000 feet.
The actual horsepower at sea level
Department of Commerce engineers
say, may run we'll in excess of the rated
horsepower covered by the certificate.
The motor, designed largely for use
in Army bombardment planes. Is de-
velCped from the widely used series B
/ Hornet, obtaining added power through
considerable increase Of the compress
sion ratio. Use of supercharger and the
/ delivery OF power through a three-to-
two reduction gear
Considerable efficiency Is claimed for
/ the engine. which is said to deliver one
horsepower for every LIS pounds
weight at 5000 feet and one horsepower
for every 1,18 feet at sea level, running
at 1000 revolutions per minute. 1t
weighs 9l5 pounds. including carburetor.
magnctos, combination hot-spot and oil
regulator. air scoop. generator drive
and propeller hub parts.
The motor incorporates several novel
features, one of the most interesting be-
ing the use of the chilling effect of the
vaporlzing gasoline to cool the oil.
which is passed through radiator core
placed in the intake system between
the carburetor and supercharger A
hot spot system is provided to warm
the oil in cold weather The super
charger is operated at higher speeds
than has been the custom, a l2-to-l
gearing being used. The compression
ratio has been pushed up from ST.
to 81.
Though Kpore powerful. the motor is
no larger IN diameter than the older
types, though the length is increased
somewhat. necessitating the use OF
longer motor cowling for streamlining.
Beneficial Black Spot.
When the black spot was put on n
man" in the good old days 1t was an
event Of dread pcrtent; a warning to
pay up back insurance premiums. break
out the family hymnal and prepare in
really big way for the life to come.
Today when the black spot Is put on
an airplane pilot, especially when it is
put on an airplane pilot landing toward
big airport food light at night, it is
likely to mean inst the reverse II L.