Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-23

,een undergoing intensive training
small to escape attention or to be
. plans.
mt to take into consideration the
1ich the "a planes were to be tied
as was done, each buoy having
an example of the sort of
ght one of the most startling of
Balbo himself Is q general at the age Of
81 and Pellegrini q brigadier general at
As years Of age. OF the lieutenant
colonies, Longo is 80 years old and Gag
ma only 80. The captains are under IS
years Of age.
Disparity In Ranks Shown.
In the United States Army Air Corps
there are many first lieutenants Of
! World War service between the ages Of
IS and 40 who, because Of the unsatis-
factory promotion system, are unable to
progress in rank, but who are assuming
the full responsibility of captains and
majors. Where the Balbo flight is led
by two generals and includes many
lieutenant colonies and majors, ma
jority Of captains and only q relatively
few Junior officers. many Of the most
| important American Army flights have
been made with a captain or even
| lieutenant in command, and when
| saptain Is In command he usually Is the
only officer of that rank in the group.
Many Squadrons In our Army are In
command of Heutenants and 1t would be
hard to gather in one place as many
aviation officers Of high rank as there
are In Balbo's expedition.
This situation is no reflection on rela-
| tive efficiency or anything Of the sort,
| hut tc y,,orolv fllucfrufive NJ the diner.
! ence in promotion systems, the Italians
seeking by the incentive Of promotion
| to build I'D morale and efficiency.
whereas in the United States Army Air
Corps an officer, though he may gain
world fame, as some of them have done.
is lucky to gain one promotion IN ~
years. Some able and efficient frst
lieutenants In our Air Corps have held
that rank for IL and Is years awaiting
for a vacancy above.
In all its aspects the Balbo flight has
been q magnificent achievement ana
one from which intelligent Americans
should reap many pregnant lessons IN
the primary requirements OF national
defense.
New Cleveland Trip Added.
Air transport service between the
National Capital and the West has been
speeded I'D and increased by purchase
Of three tri-motored Ford transports
by Pennsylvania Airlines. Service has
been increased from four to i've round
trips day and travel time between
Washington and Chicago reduced by
The new schedule, bound gives
exceptionally fast service between
Washington and the Pacific Coast.
Leaving Washington at 800 pm, pas
sengers now arrive in Cleveland at
GAS pm, and there connect with
United Air Lines, which puts them in
California before noon the next day.
Under the new schedule passenger
planes, also carrying mail and express,
leave Washington-Hoover Airport for
Pittsburgh, Akron and Cleveland at
am, IL noon, 800 pm. and Sis pm,
A night airman plane leaves at $50
pm.
Beriiner-Joyce Absorbed.
The BIZ Aircraft Corporation, one O.
the founders Of which was Henry Ber-
liner Of Washington, and which first
was located at Alexandra, Va, IS to be
absorbed by General Aviation Manufac-
turing Corporation as the first step
toward consolidation of the various
newly acquired activities Of the sub
General Aviation, which will take
over the Berliner-Joyce plant. is the
successor company Of the old Fokker
Aircraft Corporation builder Of many
famous airplanes. Since it succeeded
the Fokker group General Aviation has
produced the twin-engined Army YO-27
reconnaissance plane. the large Coast
Guard flying boats which have figured
in several striking rescue and patrol
expeditions at sea on the Atlantic
Coast and now Is engaged in produce
ton Of two high-speed au-metal trans
port types.
One of the new planes, q 10-passen-
ger single-engined monoplanes, is re-
puted to have a speed Of more than 200
miles per hour. Planes of this type are
under construction on order from
Japan, from Swissair Transport Co. for
use IN Switzerland and from Pam
American Always for use on its sys-
tenn. The other new plane Is q To-
passenger low-wing tri-motor.
B-J has concentrated on military
planes and produced the first two
scatter pursuit plane. the Pic, to be
used in regular service by. the Army
Air Corps. It now is developing two
scatter fighter for the Navy and another
single-seater fighter. 1t is completing
a series Of two-seater observation
planes for the Navy.
Temple N. Joyce, Berliner's partner,
who took over his interests in the plant
several years ago, will become executive
vice president and general manager Of
General Aviation, j. M. Schoonmaker,