Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-12
ARMY TO OBTAIN
DEADL|EST PLANES
100000 Contracts Are
let HeraIding New Day
in Aerial Warfare.

The beginning Of new day in aerial
warfare is heralded by the signing Of
contracts totaling approximately 81
100000 for new equipment for the
Army Air Corps, which will bring into
existence the most deadly aerial wea-
pons the country has seen, of types en-
tirely new to military aviation.
Tremendously powerful two-seater
pursuit planes which draw upon the
experience Of high-speed civil aircraft
designers to gain superior perform
ance, low-wing attack planes which
carry bombs in internal bomb bays and
guns in the landing gear streamlining,
"gull-wing" observation planes of great
speed. fast twin-motored long-range
reconnaissance planes and new twin
motored bombardment monoplanes are
included among the types new to mill
Latest Designs.
All the tricks of aviation design
which have been worked out by de-
signers in giving this country first
place in high-speed air transport have
been applied to the new fighting planes
to give the aerial Army planes the like
of which the world has never seen.
The 100000 orders will provide for
100 of the most powerful radial air
cooled engines yet built. for use in
the Army's big bombardment planes
and for So fighting planes Of various
types for use in the combat squadrons.
The largest single order went to the
Douglas Aircraft Co., Santa Monica,
Calf, calling for total Of IS obServa-
ton and light bombardment planes,
complete with spare parts. at con-
tract price totaling $718,875.
Eighteen planes are of the standard
observation type and are for use in the
National Guard observation squadrons.
Five of the observation planes are to
be Of the new high wing gull type.
These planes are said to be faster than
any observation types ever produced in
this country and are unique in appear
ance. The main monoplane wing level
Is slightly higher than the fuselage,
but in the center the wing dips grace
fully. merging into the fuselage. so as
to give the pilot the greatest possible
visibility.
Five Planes Revolutionary.
Five more of the planes are listed
as lob 5ervation planes" but they are
of even more revolutionary type. They
are to be twin-engined monoplanes de-
signed for long-range reconnaissance,
operating at high attitudes and great
speeds. Powered with chemically
cooled engines built into the wings,
they are virtually flying wings" with
every possible portion Of the construc-
ton built into or merging with big
wings to reduce air resist
planes will go out into the service
squadron for gruelling tests in the field,
which may result in the creation Of
distinct type Of combat squadron un-
like any now in the service.
Seven light bombardment planes,
also ordered from Douglas. will closely
resemble in appearance the twin-mot-
ored reconnaissance planes, being Of the
twin-motored fiying-wing type. They
are to be fast, capable of striking hard,
unexpected blows at enemy strong
their way back to safety. They will
carry heavy armament and will be
able to put up stiff fight even against
hostile pursuit planes.
The second largest order. awarded to
the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Co.,
Hartford, Conn, Is for 100 engines,
at a cost of $612,854.
Thirteen attack planes will be pro-
vided by the Curtiss Aeroplane & Motor
Co. Inc, Of Garden City, N. Y, for
$427,615. This order marks the first
ting power of the attack squadrons.
whose function is the destruction OF
ground troops, gun batteries, trains and
field strong points.
Machine Guns on Wheels.
Drawing upon the experience of Capt.
Frank M. Hawks, Col. Charles A. Lind
bergh and others with fast low-wing
the Army has obtained in
the A-8 an entirely new type Of fighting
plane; a low-wing type Of terrific speed
and capable of frightful offensive
power. 1t is the first attack plane to
be built with an inclosed bomb bay,
the bombs being carried within the
instead Of under the wings as
In present types. The bombs, for the
first time, are carried nose down in
racks Of special type to prevent the
bombs striking on their sides when re-
tudes at which attack planes must
fly. The landing wheels are inclosed
IN streamlined housings, which also
contain two machine guns, aimed by
pointing the plane. These planes will
carry two men and are expected to be
the most deadly fighters for their size
ever built. They will be powered with
Ilulo-coOleQ motors OF an improved
type. delivering $50 horsepower.
Another important departure Is found
in a contract awarded to the Detroit
Aircraft Corporation for five two-seater
pursuit planes, at cost of $172,609.
These planes will go out into the
squadrons on a service test basis and
have been designated as the "YP-24"
type. They mark the first military
venture Of the Detroit corporation,
which has become famous for fast all |
metal transport planes having speed |
ranges above the neutrality-suspicious. |
class.
Up to this year there never has been
a two-seater pursuit plane, aircraft of |
this type having been uniformly single |
seaters since the World War. The |
Detroit order is the second within |
few months for two-seaters, the |
Berliner-Joyce Co., Baltimore, now be- |
H., ~