Evening star., 1933-11-26

routes.
Engineering research work on the
plans for the S-42, as the plane will
be known, has been in progress for 18
months. For its trials, the SAP is to
be put into service on the transcarib-
bean runs of Pan-American Airways.
These service trials will include tests
Of speed at various attitudes, fuel con-
sumption, load and other factors under
the widely varying conditions of trans
port service.
For its service run, the SAP will
have, in addition to the regular crew
Of five, capacity for 80 passengers. 1000
pounds of airmail and express and fuel
for range of 200 miles.
The Glenn L. Martin Co.. at Balti-
more also is at work constructing a
giant flying boat to the specifications
laid down by Pan-American. This ship
is not expected to be ready for test
flying before next Summer. The diff
ference in time of completion is due
to the fact that Sikorsky started
engineering work on q big plane Of the
ocean type in advance of the COM
pletion of the Pan-American speci-
TlCaTl0nS,
The oan-American planes are being
out intermediate stops other than those
muda and the Azores. This fact is
regarded as of interest in view of the
transatlantic seadrome proposals pend
ing before the Public Works Admin
istration. Such system OF seadrCmes,
providing fueling bases at 500-mile in
tervals. would greatly increase the pay
load capacity of the planes.
poSf RahuiIdipo Diana
Reconstruction of the old, reliable
Winnie Mae, veteran of two record
flights around the world is proceeding
at Tulsa. Okla, and Wiley Pest is re-
ported to be planning another spectacle
lar flight, at high altitude, for the
famous airplane.
Rather than collect the insurance
and buy a new airplane. after his re-
cent accident, in which the Winnie
Mae was badly damaged and he re-
celved serious head injuries, Post de-
cided to rebuild the plane. For this
purpose a new wing and a section Of
fuSelage were shipped from the Winnie
Macs birthplace. the Lockheed factory
at Burbank, Calf, to the Braniff shops
at Tulsa, where the work is being done
on the plane.
Not satisfied with his two round-the-
world speed records, one with Harold
Gatty as navigator and the second time
alone, Post is said to be considering a
third attempt. in which he will attempt
to take advantage Of the prevailing
westerly winds at very high attitudes.
Flying Club Chain Urged.
Creation of a Nationwide chain of
private flying clubs similar to the unique
and surprisingly successful D. C. Air
Legion, winner of two awards as the
countryS foremost oraniZation of the
kind, has been urged upon the Depart
ment OF Commerce AeronauticS Branch
1t is the belief of John Arthur Shaw,
former general manager and organizer
OF the D. c. Legion and past president
OF the American Federation of Govern
ment Employees. that such a chain not
only would absorb the entire output of
l0,O00 $500 planes for which a market
now Is being sought by the Department
OF Commerce, but would provide a mar
ket within year or SO for more than
oouDle tnat number OF alrplaneS.
Shaw advocates the setting I'D by the
department Of Commerce of regulations
governing the organization of the ma
tlonal club group and of the individual
clubs. The purchasing Of airplanes
would be through the national body
ana each OF the clubs would be self
supporting, with sharing of the costs
by the membership.
There Is no reason, Shaw sees. why
the system cannot be conducted as sue
ceSsfully as the local Legion, which was
organized by group of local people,
many of them ow-saiaried Government
employees, who could not afford the
rates Of commercial flying schools.
Pooling all costs, they purchased their
own airplanes and hired their own in
StructorS. Within three years los mem
bers of the Legion were soloed without
single serious accident.