Evening star., 1933-04-23

| tour Of duty with naval aviation ex-
pedition to Alaska, to which he is ex-
pected to return.
The third son, Charles F. Moffett, is
expected to enter the Naval Academy at
Annapolis soon and to apply upon
graduation for aviation training at
Pensacola, Fla. as a step toward OBJ
tanning his wings.
Only q few DAYS before his death
Admiral Moffett expressed his hopes
for his sons to a close friend Of many
years standing Afford J. Williams, jr.,
former Navy flying star, who was close
| ly associated with his chief in the de-
velopment of the Navy speed program
for number Of years
Commenting on the approaching re-
tirement Of Admiral Moffett from the
| Navy because Of age, Williams observed
that 1t must be comfort to him to
know that all of his ambitions for the
naval flying service appeared to have
been realized.
MY ambition will not be fully real
ized," the admiral replied, until see
my three sons IN naval uniform and
wearing the wings"
King Appointment Lauded.
In the appointment of Capt. Ernest
J. King IS successor to Admiral Moffett,
President Roosevelt has taken the pre-
caution of selecting for the important
post of leader Of the Navy air forces a
man who has had q large amount Of
actual flying experience.
Capt. King is q naval aviation pilot
and. though he has had but 400 hours
Of flying time as pilot, he has had
900 hours in the air all told and has
been so closely identified with aviation
for a number Of years as to be thorough
ly acceptable, on this count. to ma
jority Of the Nays flying personnel.
Capt King has served as commander
of the Aircraft Squadrons, Scouting
Fleet, the aircraft carrier Lexington,
the aircraft tender Wright and the
Naval Air Station at Hampton Roads
Va, in addition to distinguished service
In non flying naval capacities. He ID
senior captain in the Navy, wearing the
full wings, though three captains ahead
of him on the list are rated as aerial
observers.
The new naval aviation leader is tax
ing over his duties at q difncult time
His night will not be, as was Moffett's,
to prevent its dismemberment at the
hands of wielders Of the economy Ak
Where Moffett struggled with eminent
success to build up the Naval Air Serv-
ice to q level of undisputed world lead
ership, King Is faced with the more
melancholy downhill fight in q time OF
curtailment Of every branch Of Gov
ernnent.
That Capt King will wage q valiant
and good hight in the interests Of the
infant branch of the naval service, how.
ever, no one questions who is familiar
with his record Of distinguished, ef-
fective and devoted service to the
country.
Speed Problems Studied.
Aviation's outstanding engineering
problems today are the result Of the
vast increases in speed Of transport
planes, especially Of the multi -motored
types, 1t was made clear At the semi
annual meeting of the National Advis-
ory Committee for Aeronautics here q
day or two ago.
With the advent Of more powerful
and efdcient engines, speeds have hoen
increased beyond the point Of aerody-
manic efaciency Of the airplanes. ~
cruising speeds have mounted to the
larger multi-engined transport planes
The problem now facing the aviation
world is to increase the aerodynamic
efficiency and performance of the new
airplaneS of high cruising speeds tc
keep pace with the increase Of power
available.
The committee discussed four differ.
ent devices to decrease airplane land
ing speeds and to improve take-on
characteristics. The actual progress
made In the study Of these devices viii
be demonstrated to representatives d
the aviation industry at the commit
tees research laboratories ct Langley
Field. Hampton, Va, on May (.
The most dificult problem to solve
in connection with the development o.
wing slots and flaps Of the types nov
being produced for the improvement o1
airplane performance is that of provid.
ing lateral control. Ailerons, conven.
tionally placed on the trailing edge Of
the wing, must be displaced to make
room for flaps or other devices fol
changing the wing Gambler and studie,
now are being pressed to determine the
best substitute for obtaining lateral
control. The committees engineers are
investigating various types Of sileroni
placed at various points with relation
| fn <t,> VxivHn