Evening star., 1932-01-10


the Federation Aeronautique Interna-
tionale.
Prospects for American speed develop
ment seem brighter with the opening Of
1882 than at any time since the Army
and Navy retired from Schneider COM
petition, with two legs on the trophy,
in 1926. Announcement that the An
cient Arabic Order, Mobiles Of the Mystic
Shrine, have decided to establish Sl6,-
0o0, 900 fund for the promotion Of speed
flying has come as powerful stimulus.
The decision Of the National Aeronautic
Association to put up the Curtiss as q
racing trophy, with large cash prizes as
further incentive, also is expected to re-
suit in immediate speed research and
development. The Thompson already
has borne fruit and holds promise Of
real speed progress. The United States
Navy also is back in the speed field, by
order of Congress. though 1t has not
yet received the necessary funds to OBJ
tain any real results. Navy speed de-
velopment, under the terms Of $780,
000 preliminary appropriation, has been
restricted to engine design.
AS a result of Thompson Trophy
competition last year. Lowell Bayles on
December l captured new American
,
the world landplane speed record. He
was killed on December 5, when he
flew into the ground, while attempting
to make a new official landplane record
Breaks American Record.
Flying the new Count de Ia Vaulx
speed course at the Wayne County
Airport, near Detroit, on December l.,
Bayles averaged 2s1 miles per hour, to
break by IA miles per hour the mark
set by Lieut.. Afford j. Williams, former
Navy speed champion, In Curtis racer
in 1928
Bayles died in an assault on the land
plane speed record Of 278.48 miles per
hour established by Warrant Officer
Bonnet of France. In 1924. Though he
exceeded this record F. A I. regulations
requiring that the new record exceed
the old by 496 miles per hour, robbed
him Of the official recognition.
One benefit to be derived from Bayles'
death may be amendment of interna
tional regulations limiting maximum
altitude of planes engaged in official
speed runs. Present rules hold planes
down to an altitude Of not more than
so meters, 1874 feet, this maximum alti-
tude not to be exceeded on the course
or for 500 meters before entering and
after leaving the course. The Contest
Committee Of the National Aeronautic
Association, on recommendation of Ray
Cooper, who served as directing oficial
at the trials in which Bayles was killed,
voted to request the F. A. I. confer
ence to altar speed trial rules so that
pilots may fly as high as rs meters,
246 feet, on the speed course.
Problems Of control at speeds attain
ed by modern racing planes are ter
rife. The slightest deviation, caused by
bumpy air or slip at the controls, may
throw fast plane many feet out of
its course and, with a maximum alti-
tue of only 164 feet allowed, it is only
too likely that pilot may fly into the
ground, as did Bayles.
Fastest Tri-Motor Built.
What Is said to be the worlds fastest
tri-notored transport airplane has been
developed in the closest secrecy at Wayne,
Mich. The new plane, it Is said, owes
its speed to improved streamlining. 1t
carries 10 passengers, mail and express
at a speed said to compare favorably
with that of the fast single -motored