The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-01-23
200 Mile SPEED
FOR CRUISING
IS FORECAST.
Forward Look Toward
1885 Aviation Taken
By Press Writer
By SWANEE TAYLOR
United Press Aviation Writer

i
Now that all post-mortems on
dear departed Ammo Domim 1883
have been concluded, its quite IN
order to look into the future ana
see what can be expected during
the coming happier year. No line
of human endeavor lends itSetI
more safely to forecast than av'-
alton. Professional aeronautlca'
men, currently in step with de-
velopments, can always predict
right down to the last mile-per-
hour increase in speed that may
be expected. Likewise, each ana
every Improvement in design is
foreseeable at least one calendar
year in advance.
The public, of course, IS mostly
interested in the increase IN flylng
speeds. Therefore, a glance at the
various models in use today VIII
show what stems in that direction
most likely will be taken during
1884.
OF the three major trans-contl-
mental air lines, two will Stand
with what they now have, al
though American Always, with
new and improved Curtiss Con-
doris, will step up their cruising
speed from 1875 m.p.h to 145 m.p.h
This ten mile per hour increase Is
due to the new Curtiss controll-
able-pitch propeller. United AR
lines will continue trying to I'M
prove their twin-engine Boeings,
but it IS unlikely that the factory
will attempt to go beyond the 16O
m.p.h cruising speed.
On the Observation-Disclosures
ern Air Line the biggest advance
in recent years will be made early
in the spring. when the new twin
engine Douglas airliners will be
put into service. These planes are
capable of leaving the ground,
with full load, with one engine
completely dead and climb over
the Continental Divide. Repeated
tests have been successfully made
under such unfavorable condl-
tions. This increases their safety
factor exactly 100 per cent as far
as engine failure is concerned. AS
for speed, the Douglasses Will
cruise at better than three miles
q minute. with top speed IN eX-
cess of 200 m.p.m.
In the private flying Gloss both
major manufacturers, ST. n
and Waco, promise no great adj
vancement either in speed or
safety. Both types, four-place
cabin planes, have just about
reached the maximum Of speed
and efficiency with their p"asen-
wing-eurves. A lot of engineering
must be gone into before any vast
Improvement comes to light. Both
companies are extremely vague
about future models. which leads
TO the belief tht they feel that it
would be gliding the lilv to try for
further development of these par
ticular types.
Engines give the greatest prom
Use for 1934-motorS and the var
liable pitch propeller. The latest
type of Wright Cyclone, the most
powerful single-row radial engine
in the world today, will rule the
air for most of the coming year.
This beauty develops 715 horse
power. which is ample authority.
However. before the year IS out.
both leading engine builders,
Wright and Pratt & Whitney, will
place on the market double-row
radial engines, of Il cylinders
each, that will step up the power
to TAO. More power, with less
frontal resistance, means that by
late in the year the airplane de-
signers will be ready to try the
new motors on their faster ships.
All of which makes it appear
that whereas 1884 will bring no
startling changes, the year follow
ing with see airplane cruising
speeds well above the 200 m.p.h.
mark.