Evening star., 1933-03-26

Buffalo two new versions of the O-40-
the Yl0-40A, a sesQuiplane. and the
Y1O-4OB. a monoplane. All three of
these new ships are reported to be
capable Of speeds above 200 miles per
hour. The new Douglas is built around
a Prestone cooled Conqueror and the
two Curtisses around the 700-horse-
power Cyclone, air-cooled and super
charged.
Types Are Improved.
The O-43, which now is undergoing
its flight tests at Wright Field, is
high-wing monoplane with a metal
monocoque fuselage and embodies a
wing" design of the O-31
OF the new Curtisses, the "a" is a
SeSquiplane, with a very short lower
wing. and the "B" is a monoplane of
similar design, except for the omission
OF the lower wing. Contrary to usual
practice in observation planes Of this
type. the motors have been super
charged
OF great importance has been the
division of Army observation planes
into the corps observation and Army
observation types. designed. equipped
and used for entirely distinct purposes.
All of the planes Just discussed have
been of the corps type. Corps obser-
vation types are those used for battle
front observation and are the eyes of
the combat troops. The Army obser-
vatlon types are used for long-range
work far behind the battle lines.
The corps types, under the new
Army requirements, not only must have
high flying speeds. but must also have
nry q cSr
for them to work from temporary ad-
vanced airdromes with the troops.
Such advanced airdromes very often
are small dangerous places for an
alrplane with high landing speed.
Two Army" Types Used.
At present all corps type observation
planes are single-engined airplanes of
both biplane and monoplane types
There are at present but two types Of
Army observation planes, the O-35
Douglas and the OPT General Aviation
Corporation. formerly the Fokker. Both
are twin-engined monoplanes of strik-
ing appearance and good performance
The OPT was famous as the Army's
original flying wing" The OBS is a
gull wing" type Both have retract-
able landing gear.
OF corps types the Army has a wide
variety, more than dozen being in
common use. Important among them,
aside from the new and experimental
types, are the Douglas O-38, with radial
air-cooled engine; the Douglas O-25,
similar type but with Prestone cooled
Conqueror engine; the Thomas-Morse
O-19E, and the Curtiss O-39, which has
a rated speed of 173 miles per hour.
With directive requirements for obser-
vation planes becoming ever more rigid,
however, the number of types is dwin-
ding, and it is anticipated within a
year or two that the Armys corps OBJ
servation types will be more nearly
standardized than at any time in the
past.
In setting up its directives for various
types OF airplanes, the Air Corps,
through special boards, establishes min
imum requirements as to speed, range
and other performance characteristics
for the planes it desires. In observa-
ton the Army has been fortunate
enough to obtain planes exceeding the
requirements Of the directives.
New Types Are Fast.
The result is that the slow. numbering
observation planes of a few years ago
have given way to trim. sleek planes
which are capable of almost pursuit.
plane speeds, and which, in fact, can
outfly the pursuit planes Of only two
or three years ago. They can accom-
plish their scouting missions in about
half the time required few years ago,
and can run or fight in fast company.
With the fast new corps type battle
field observation planes and the strik-
ingly modern rear-area Army types, the
Army Air Corps now is engaged In the
highly important business Of introduc-
ing racing plane tactics into the hazard
GUS duty of obtaining battle and con-
centration information.
Though the Army relies almost ex-
clusively upon airplanes for observa-
tion purposes, it is not neglecting the
possibility of the airship for this pur-
pose and is doing what it can in this
respect with exceedingly limited funds
provided for lighter-than-a work.
The Army Air Corps today has only
one operating airship, the TC-71, which
visited the National Capital on in
auguration day, but there is under con-
struction a $50, -cubic-foot ship
which will be the worlds largest non
rigid. This newcomer, the TC-13, Is
nearing completion at Akron, Ohio, and