Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

facilities between the airport and the
city.
Greater Speed Needed.
The transport plane must be speeded
up, 200 miles an hour being the mlnl-
fIll operation. Within five years, Rick
enbacker said, there must be 15-nour
service for mail, express and passen-
gers between the Atlantic and PACING
Coasts. As q means toward this emu
there mu-t be larger and more pow
erful motors, he said, running mo
multiple cylinder types. ranging up 70
az cylinders. This will permit reduc-
ton of individual cylinder sizes, re-
duction of valve sizes and greater pow
or and efficiency. He predicted tnaC
fo,lr-cycle engines will be developed:
FACTORS of safety will be even furtner
increased not only by improvement OF
planes, but by Improvement OF alrpoTtS
and airway equipment. More ana peICeL
lights will be required for night nyHs
and to penetrate at least portion OF
fog blankets which may De encouil-
tered. -.
The Department of Commerce Aero
nautics Branch, in charge OF a1rWays
development, Rickenbacker said, is en-
titled to more of the public's money
because the work 1t is doing Is OF the
greatest public benefit" The branch,
he said, is one of the most emclsnt
governmental agencies OF winch the
United States can boast.
There Should be a fully equipped
weather station at least every 100 miles
along the main airways, with raolo
eouipment to convey word OF local
| weather changes to pilots In night.
such q. system, he said, would have pre-
| vented the crash In which knute
Rockne was killed, since the weather at
both ends of the run was good, but the
n1ene nassed Through a band of ice
forming fog which could have been de-
tected in time to turn the plane back
had there been an intermediate weather
station equipped with radio.
Directional radio beacon service
should be further extended and two
way vocal radio equipment developed, In
the opinion of Rickenbacker. He also
pointed out the need for contour
altimeter" to record the exact altitude
of the plane above the ground surface.
Very substantial progress has been
made toward development OF such an
altimeter, he said.
Another requirement for transport
operation is an automatic pilot" which
can be used to relieve the pilot Of the
physical and much Of the mental strain
Of flying in thick weather. Men can
go insane watching instruments, he
said, due to the combination of mental
and physical strain. Much Of this strain
can be relieved by dependable auto
matte pilot Of type which already has
been developed and used successfully
Local Airport Listed.
The Department Of Commerce Aero
| nauticS Branch has sent out to airportS
and aeronautical organizations all over
the country q description Of the factli-
| ties available to aerial visitors to the
| Capital at Washington Hoover Airport.
The field is described as being the
Virginia end Of the Highway Bridge,
across the Potomac from the Washing
| ton Monument, with landing area OF
| 1O8 acres, of irregular shape, the three
maximum directions being 1900 feet,
800 feet and 1,400 feet. The surface
g., Is sod, gradient level, drainage natural.
| the department. announced, and there
are no landing strips or runways. the
entire field being available within the
limits of the boundary lights.
The distractions are high-tenslon
| line on the south and east, hangers
and buildings on the southeast corner,
| water tower and stacks 70 the west and
| a marsh fill to the southwest. Yellow
| flags mark the edge of the fill by day
| and there are red obstruction lights at
danger points for night operations, the
report shows A standard 50-foot white
| circle marks the center OF the f1eld and