Evening star., 1931-12-20
800 MILES AN HOUR
IN AIR HELD NEAR
Realization in Few Months
Seen in European DeveI-
opments.

Greater speeds than man ever has
travelled ranging from 500 to 1000
miles per hour, are expected to be real
lied within the next few months as a
result of competitive developments in
Germany, France and England of planes
designed to travel in the strathosphere
more THAI 10 miles above the earth's
surface
According to reports received by the
Commerce Department, two of these
superplanes are German, one OF which
already has been completed and par
TALLY tested, while one is being built in
England and one in France.
If they fulfill expectations, travel
time between the Capital and Paris
would be reduced to about eight hours,
and traveller leaving Washington after
breakfast could be in San Francisco Tor
luncheon.
The only problems which have had to
be overcome in designing planes for
flight in the strathosphere are those OF
COMPRISING the thin air sufficiently to
provide oxygen at operating preSsures
for the engine and providing sufhclent
warmed air at proper pressure for the
crew and passengers.
Approached Region.
The strathosphere. the raritied region
of intense cold existing above $4,000
feet altitude already has been pene-
tratcd by balloon. In setting the worlds
airplane altitude record here, Lieut..
Apollo Soucek, U. S. N, was several
times close to the area.
The research engineers who are In
charge of the new developments are
convinced that if they can maintain
full engine power by adequate super
charging in the rare, cold air OF upper
space that the reduced air friction Will
make possible speeds more than double
those obtained in the thick air OF the
lower levels,
Their tests have demonstrated, ac-
cording to word received here, that
even the present transport planes used
In this country, which have a maxi
mum speed of 156 miles per hour at
sea level. could be stepped up to 294
miles per hour at an altitude OF o0,ooo
feet if the power maximum OF the en-
gines is kept constant. With more effl-
cient single-motored planes even better
results could be obtained
European engineers have been work
ing for several years on the develop
ment of the stratosphere planes and,
according to word received here, now
have them SO near the point of perfec-
ton that startling results are antlcl-
pated during the coming year.
Prof. Alexander Klemin of the Gug-
eenheim School of AeronauticS, New
York University, in discussing the de-
velopment of these planes, said speeds
three and four times the present maxi
mum of 4088 miles per hour could be
expected and that speeds Of 1000 miles
an hour would become common at the
high levels.
Built by Junkers.
Details of the German stratosphere
plane, which has been completed, have
been revealed to American aviation
officials by C. S. Won Heydekampf re-
search engineer. The plane was built
by Dr. Hugo JunkerS, designer and
builder of the many famous Junkers
planes, including the worlds largest
1andplane.
This plane, according to Won Heyde-
kampf, has undergone preliminary tests
which indicate maximum efficiency will
be obtained at an altitude OF $4,000
meters or about 10 miles. Two passen-
gers will be carried in an air-tight
cabin, insulated against the cold and
designed to resist internal pressure
Oxygen will be provided by compressors
and a device has been incorporated for
removing the carbon dioxide exhaled
by the occupants.
The wings, in proportion to the loads
to be carried. are abnormally large.
While they will be inefficient at the
lower attitudes they will be exceedingly
efficient in the thin upper air.
Though the United States Army and
Navy air services have been constantly
seeking planes capable of operating at
extreme attitudes, little has been done
in this country toward conquering the
stratosphere Army pursuit squadrons
now are operating in formation at alti-
tudes up to 80, 600 feet.