Evening star., 1934-04-08

u, q Dulk OF CNe tremendous eX-
combat airplanes has been borne
rers, in the hope that if the air.
periOr to others of the same type,
a sufficient number of the planes
in experimental work.
in speed. Because of greater COM
plexity Of situations the American
pursuiter would have to meet than
in the case of the British interceptor.
good altitude performance had to be
a feature, which called for some sac
rifice in speed. American military
services demand more rugged con-
struction than those of some OF the
foreign nations. American planes, de-
tending great areas, have to be able
to operate far from repair and supply
bases. They must be more self sus-
tanning and more sturdy than those of
compact countries which can confine
operations to the neighborhood of
well equipped bases. Greater strength
means greater weight, which can be
attained only at the cost of perform
ance.
That the pursuit airplanes of the
United States Army, attaining the
diverse characteristics which they
must, should be able to achieve the
high speeds they do is real tribute
to design and engineering in this
country. The new Boeing and Cur
tiss pursuit airplanes, with excellent
performance, ruggedness Of construc-
tion and good range, combine this
performance with speeds reported to
be in excess of 230 miles per hour.
though these figures, obviously, are
not official. Such an airplane is an
excellent airplane in any company.
Interceptor Type Considered.
The United State Army Air Corps
has been considering for some time
the advisability Of going into the
construction of a purely interceptor
type of airplane, but as yet has not
done SO. II it becomes convinced
that the need for such a ship exists
and proof of this need has not vet
been produced-there is no doubt that
American designers have the skill and
inventiveness necessary to produce an
interceptor which need have no fear
Of competing with any in existence
in performance characteristics
1t Is true that this country Is be-
hind in air strength. 1t Is behind
because Congress never has seen fit
to carry out the terms of the FIVE
year building program. which called
for a minimum Of 1900 serviceable
airplaneS. The Army is far short OF
this total. That obviously is not en-
tirely the fault of the Army.
There is no doubt the negotiated
contract has its evils. There is evil
dence from many sources before con-
gressional committees that the Army
could have had sirplanes built at
lower costs under competitive bidding
than under the negotiated contract.
Whether those airplanes would have
been as good, or even approximately
as good as those We have, is doubtful.
The negotiated contract has served
purpose in American military air.
plane history. II Congress decides
to do away with this form of contract
it Is to be hoped that increases will
be made in the appropriations for
research and design. The country
probably will need them.
Weems to Conduct Course.
Comdr. P. v. H. Weems. U. S. N.
retired, one OF the Nations foremost
experts on aerial navigation, who
had as pupils in the art such noted
airmen as Charles A. Lindbergh,
Wiley Post. Harold Gatty and Rich
ard E. Byrd, will conduct a class in
aerial navigation for members of the
Washington Air Derby Association.
He will give series of eight lee
lures over period of eight weeks,
time and place yet to be announced.
The course is to be conducted on
a nCn-profit basis. the association
announced. at a cost Of 81 per lee
ture for each member taking the
course
New Air Sleeper Built.
A greatly improved type Of aerial
sleeper, built for service on routes of
American Always, soon will be ready
for operation. The new airplane, an
improvement Of the high speed
CurtlSS Condor, will have a top speed
Of $50 miles per hour and cruising
speed Of l60 miles per hour with II
passengers, two pilots and a steward,
it IS claimed. The first of the planes
is being test flown and will be deliv-
cred within a few days, it has been
announced, and others will be deliv-
cred at the rate of one a week.
The first Of the new ships will be
used on the Dallas-Fort Worth-Los
Angeles route, which is to be flown on
schedule of approximately 10 hours,
less than one-fourth the average rail
time, it is said.
Longer Berths.
The berths are an inch longer than
those of standard Pullman cars and
are convertible in flight from wide
comfortable lounge seats. Six Sec
tions are provided, each with an
upper and lower berth. These berths
have individual heating and cooling
vents. reading lights at head and
foot, clothes net and hanger and lug
gage rack. They are finished in
leather, fabric and walnut paneling
Two large suction type ventilators
in the cabin ceiling, in addition to
the individual berth ventilators, pro-
vide a complete change of air in the
passenger cabin every three minutes
On the ground at terminals, portable
blowers will force cool or warm air
into the cabins.
The plane has an overall wing span
of 81 feet, is 54 feet long and weighs
1880 pounds fully loaded. Two
Wright Cyclone engines develop a
total of / 1,430 horsepower. 1t is pos
Sible to complete a take-off and to
climb to 5000 feet with one engine,
1t is reported. Maximum ceiling is
$4,000 feet, rate Of climb, loaded, 1000
feet per minute, and cruising range
725 miles.
Change In Concert Date.