Evening star., 1933-11-12

DIOSpSCblft CuSJOlIlcIS LIiclc dIC 1Ol dAl
airplane of this general type.
Eugene L. Vidal, director of aero
nautics, author of the plan, hopes there
will be sufficient response to his pro-
posal to justify airplane manufacturers
going into quantity production, with
a minimum OF 10000 small airplanes by
next Spring as their goal.
The type Of airplane suggested by
Vidal as the standard to be attained
has aroused considerable favorable
comment in the few days which have
elapsed since the plan was broached.
It would be a small, low-wing mono
plane with open cockpits for pilot and
one passenger, constructed of a new
steel alloy and powered with an eight
cylinder, small bore, high-compreSSion
engine turning up about 1000 revolu-
tions per minute and driving a COM
paratively slow-speed propeller through
reduction gears.
Landing Speed Low.
The landing speed would be kept at
or below rs miles per hour through
use Of wing flaps, as q safety measure.
To attain this low landing speed 1t
would be necessary to keep the top
speed in the vicinity of 100 miles per
hour.
Rugged and durable construction
will be the goal SO that the plane
may be flown for the full span of its
life without major overhauls. Low
original cost would be made possible
by quantity production and the use Of
stamped parts, bolted or spot welded
together. The engine would be as
greatly simplified as possible and
standardized.
Low gasoline and oil consumption
and low prices for requirements would
cut operating costs to very low figure
and other difficulties connected with
maintenance would be reduced by the
simplicity of the craft and the avail
ability Of replacement parts produced
in quantity by the factories and kept
in stock by repair stations at airports.
The belief of the aeronautics branch
in the existence of a market for a good
airplane of low initial cost is strength
ened by the fact that there are $4,000
licensed pilots and 1000 student
pilots maintaining their active status
in this country, although there are but
1000 licensed aircraft, 600 of which
are identified with scheduled air lines.
Market Is Available.
A large proportion Of the active pilots
are expected to prove immediate Gus
toners II satisfactory airplane Is pro-
vided at low cost, with the student
pilots forming a second group of pros
pective purchasers within a short
period. Thousands Of persons who have
not yet enrolled for training probably
would do so If a cheap. safe airplane
which could be maintained easily were
available, it is believed.
In explaining his plan, Mr. Vidal
caiHs HAl1 fhnf fS raa1lxy y1aadad ie ro,,.o
step which will bring the producer and
consumer together, with definite as
Surarce to the industry that the mar
ket actually exists. We are now taking
this STEP"
Volume production Of small airplanes
not only would give decided impetus
to employment in factories, but would
be healthy and natural stimulant to
the further development Of airports and
landing fields, flying schools, flying
clubs, airplane service stations and
repair bases and other related activities,
it was pointed out.
Leading aeronautical engineers have
given assurances that such a craft can
be constructed at the price mentioned
duced, if the pilots in the United
States are interested, and we are now
furnishing them with means for max
ing their interest matter of record
II favorable response does not follow,
We will at least learn what is retarding
the development of private flying"
Ranger Gets props"
An important stage in the growth of
q. S. S. Ranger. the Navy's first air
craft carrier designed for that purpose
from the keel up, was reached a few
Ia xryI1a 1I,a
for installation of her propelIers
This, perhaps more than her launch
ing last February and certainly more
than her recent acquisition of anchors
and chain. stirs the imagination of
Ranger prospective officers who are
assembling at Newport News" was the
comment Of a correspondent to the
Navy Bureau of Aeronautics. 1.-The time
when she actually win turn her pro-
pellers and go somewhere is not far
distant"
Actual construction work is expected
to be completed early next Spring, after
which builders trials and fitting out
are to be accomplished before the
Ranger is ready to take aboard her
brood of war-birds and join the feet.
AS progress of work has made it
possible to visualize more clearly the
details of the finished ship" the
Navy reported, "the interest and en-
thusiasm of her personnel nucleus has
steadily increased. All hands are con-
Wnced that they are to be privileged
to serve on a really fine ship, and 1t
seems fitting, even though her actual
take-of Is still some months in the
future, to remind the service that a
grand ship is nearly ready to take her
place in the fleet"
Application has been made to the
Public Works Administration for funds
with which to procure airplanes for the
Ranger. Though not nearly as large as
the U. S. S. Lexington and U. S. S.
Saratoga, which were designed and
partially constructed as battle cruisers
and then converted into carriers. the
Ranger, due to the fact she has been
designed in all details as carrier, is
expected to be a more efficient ship
than either of her giant sisters and will
carry nearly as many planes as either
of them. The third of the present car
HerS, the U. S. S. Langley, originally
was collier.
Competition is keen among the
the privilege of putting their ships
aboard the Ranger. Four new fighters
and two bon1berS now are going through
their PAGES at the AnacoStia Naval Air
Station, with the possibility in view that
the winners may find places in the
equipment of the Nays newest fighting
ship.
Lakehurst Is Reduced.
Since the departure of the U. S. S.
Macon for her permanent station at
Sunnyvale, Calf, the famous Lake.
hurst Naval Air Station, for years the
Navy'S only great airship base, has be-
self. Although, by order of October IL,
the station is to be continued, 1t Is
being placed on greatly reduced
status.
The non-rigid XII and the metal |
clad ZMC-2, the "tin bubble" are be-
49,, ,,eoa oo,ky.,ro A. |