Evening star., 1932-10-30

amount of work has been compile
The major item of the construction
program is the new barracks and ad-
ministration building, which contains
modern, comfortable quarters for tht
stations entire crew, including not only
living quarters and mess halls and gal
leyS, but also recreational facilities
ships service facilities and majority
of the stations administration offices
The building replaces a large number
Of wartime wooden Shacks, totally un-
fit for permanent occupation.
Second in Importance has been the
installation Of a central heating plant
which now provides heat for about 6C
per cent of the station, and which
eventually will serve the entire group
Of structures.
In cooperation with the Army Ali
Corps, the larger part of the flying
field, consisting of about 100 acres, has
been regarded completely. The improved
section of the field has been seeded. but
will not be used until next Spring, tc
give the turf chance to establish it
self thoroughly before being subjected
to traffic.
Erection of the barracks and admin
istration building and the heating plant
by contract. There have been, m addi-
ton, a considerable number Of I'M
provements made by station personnel
including lighting and equipment of the
main building. steam connections
throughout the station, construction OF
a modern boat shed. laying of about o.
600 feet of roadway and walks. modern
ization of the garage, remOdellng OF the
test stand. extension of the radio labo-
ratory and provision Of reserve training
quarters.
Test Facilities Improved.
The motor test stand building has
been improved by the construction OF
stacks which serve to muffle the noise
Of motors under test. The radio labo-
ratory work was necessary for the prop
er continuation of the important test
and development work on aircraft
radio equipment. One Of the old tenn
porary barracks buildings has been re-
modelled to provide a drill hall, head
quarters, study rooms, locker rooms
showers and motion picture auditori-
UNI for reserve training purposes.
The practice of performing all pos
sible work by station personnel was
instituted not only as an economy
measure, but SO that the work coulo
be distributed evenly throughout the
year, obviating the necessity OF laying
off and taking on men.
The Navy Bureau of AeronauticS has
provided additional funds to be used
in smoothing the rough portion of the
field which must be used until next
Spring The result of all the labor
which has been expended on the station
and field is a modernized, slightly ano
efficient plant.
With the creation Of the new Marine
Corps Reserve Squadron. the Nationa
Capital now has three Reserve squad
rons, one each for the Army. Navy anc
Marine Corps. The squadrons are com.
manded by Maj. Bennett A. Molter
Army; Lieut. Comdr. Edward A. Rounds
Navy, and Capt. Gilbert G.. Budwig
Marines. All three are undertaking
training programs to the full limits
made possible by Congress and assure
the National Capital Of representation
in all phases of the aerial defenses.-
Try Them Yourself.
Are you able to step from the flool
to chair and back down five times II
Is seconds without nOtlceably increasing
your pulse or respiration rates? II you
cannot, you are not eligible to fly q
transport plane in schedule service. Thi:
is but one of eight simple tests given
regularly to air transport pilots ano
they must score 100 per cent on each
point.
Among the tests to determine speedily
various phases OF the pilots mental ane
physical qualifications are the following
which you may find OF interest as
gauge Of your own condition:
Can you stand on one foot, raise tn
other behind YOU until the lower LEG
is at right angles to the thigh ano
stand in this position for Is seconds
with your eyes closed?
Can you extend both hands, palms
down, close your eyes and keep youl
hands steady with little or no trem'
bling?
Can you tell at glance II you have
ample space to park your car?
Is your snap judgment OF the speeo
Of an approaching automobile correct!
Can you close one eye and see dis
tinctly with the other?
Can you identify separate colors II
delicately tinted picture?
Can you read the flashing code sigma
of an airway beacon at glance?
Blind, or Instrument Flying?"
Sharp distinction between blind
flying and instrument" flying is drawr
by Howard c. Stark, instrument flying
instructor for Eastern Air Transport IL
e. 3C-page manual on the subject hi
has prepared for the guidance Of pilot!
seeking the new Department of Com.
merce mandatory instrument flying
rating.
Blind flying" Stark says, 'is dont
by a pilot who can't use his nstru'
ments; instrument flying Is done by
man who knows exactly what he u do
ing and does it with confidence ane
eafetY.n