Evening star., 1932-10-23

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The Westfalen will cruise about mid
way between the Canary Islands and
Fernando Noronha and will guide the
airplanes to her by means of a radio
range beacon, it is reported. The
route to be followed will call for de-
parture from Europe at Seville. touch
ing The African coast and refueling at
the Canary Islands. After contracting
the Westfalen and the island base, the
planes are expected to reach the South
American coast at Pernambuco.
Germany is making determined
efforts to pioneer the ocean air lanes.
The Graf Zeppelin since last Spring
has made 10 successful round trips be-
tween Friedrichshafen and Pernambuco,
carrying mail. passengers ana express.
The great German Lufthansa system,
which will foster next months eventful
effort, was the power behind Capt.
Wolfgang Won Gronau in his three air
plane crossings of the North Atlantic
and in his round-the- world fight
which now finds him down with bad
motor in the Orient after circling a
major portion Of the earth.
High Altitude SOundings Made.
A remarkable series of high altitude
soundings by means of meteorological
balloons at sea has been recorded by
the U. S. S. Patoka, Navy airplane and
airship tender. according to the
monthly report for August received at
the Navy Department.
At sea the average of unobStructed
soundings were 3,190 meters or 10,466
feet and in port 6.400 meters or 20,997
feet The highest sounding during the
month from the Patoka was $3.50
meters. or 81, l,594 feet. These soundings
are regarded as unusual for ship sta
ton, though land station observations
of the little balloons, used for measur-
ing upper air winds. average from
$4,000 to 10000 feet. according to the
balloon section of the Weather Bureau.
According to naval records the high
est altitude ever observed in balloon
sounding from ship at sea was 1890
board the U. S. S. Saratoga on October
%, 1881, by N. D. Carrow. aerologist
attached to the Navy theological sec
ton aboard the big carrier.
The record for Navy shore stations
is 23,670 meters, or 1883 feet. This
mighty sounding, to an altitude OF
more than 80 miles above the surface
of the earth, was made by Sergt. c. c.
Campbell, U. S. M. c., at Managua
Nicaragua, in 1928 The balloon drifted
with the northeast trade winds up to
is, 900 feet and then got into the anti
trades and was blown back toward the
station.
Weather Bureau officials believe that
the Marine Corps 1928 sounding consti-
tutes a record, the maximum sounding
recalled in their own experience being
to 81 kilometers. or about $4,000 feet.
Balloon soundings are made by re-
leasing a meteorological balloon OF
standard weight, inflated to give pre-
cisely measured lift. Such a balloon
will rise at a uniform, known rate OF
speed and it's travel may be followed
by theodolite, giving an accurate pat
tern of wind velocities at various al
titudes. 1t. was soundings Of this char
acter to which the Navy reports refer
The Weather Bureau also makes
soundings with larger balloons which
carry recording instruments These bal
looms float until gas leakage brings them
to earth. Rewards are offered to those
who find the balloons and turn over
the instruments to weather stations.
Theodolite balloon soundings are
made regularly, often twice daily, al
many weather stations ashore ano
afloat. The information so collected Is
of great value not only to aviators
but in making up regular weather fore
casts.
Giant Engine Described.
The first published details OF the giant
Fiat A. S. 6 racing engine developed py
the Italian government for alrplane
racing purposes are contained IN the
latest issue of The Aeroplane, British
aviation publication. The secrets o! the
great 1900 horsepower motor have been
safeguarded up to this time by the Ital-
ian air ministry.
The motor is of especial interest to
the American aviation industry IN view
of the revival of speed competition IN
this country during the past three years
and because of the efforts OF the United
States Navy to develop an airplane pow
er plant of speed championship CAMPER
The huge Fiat-huge in point OF
power developed, because the weight per
horsepower Is phenomenally. loW-was IN
stalled in the Macchi monoplanes Whlcn
were designed for Schneider competltlon,
but which could not be made ready pc
fore the British retired the trophy WITH
out competition. Since then the sea-
planes have been in the hands OF the
special italian high-speed flight at
Desenzarlo, where one member OF
the flight, Lieut.. Neri, was report
ed unofdcially to have made a
speed of 422 miles per hour. He
was killed several weeks later. The n.y.
ing of the Italian racers Is delicate
and hazardous business, the landing
speed being reported as in the neigh
borhood of 124 miles per hour.
The arrangement Of the A. S. is
most unconventional. It really is COM
posed of two 12-cylinder w" engines
mounted end to end on a single alumni
mum crankcase. There Is q central gear
box between the two engines and by
In opposite directions through drive