Evening star., 1934-12-30


TRANSPORTATION to a degree unequaled
in a single year. Better knowledge Of
aviation weather forecasting, the fruit
of high altitude air mass analysis, i'm
proved radio aids to air navigation
and better airplane instruments have
contributed greatly to the regularity
and safety of flying.
Many Records Set.
The wear has been one of many ma
ior records in world aviation, with the
speed mark boosted to little better
than 440 miles per hour, or more tnan
seven miles per minute. Altltuoe
fights. especially by balloon, have
reached the point where the stunt
value has been subordianted almost
wholly TO scientific achievement and
a new region has been opened to lab
oratory methods Of study.
The long-range capabilities OF air
planes formerly built solely for dis
tance and endurance records have
been transferred to standard transport
types. The result is that transport
planes formerly limited to 200-mile
hops. with serious loss of time, now
are crossing the United States with
only three stops, permitting high-alti-
tude operations, with attendant ad-
| vantages.
A single American airplane, the first
of the three Sikorsky SAP clipper
ships built for American Airways
ocean service. captured 10 world rec
ords, eight of them in a single flight
The second of these great ships, on
demonstration to the Navy in Wash
ington during the past week, has been
equipped for long-range operations
and is expected soon TO capture addi-
tional records.
Strides in Military Flying.
Military flying has made great
strides. New airplanes of great speed
and fexibility have revolutionized
combat tactics in the air. Bombaro-
ment airplanes have taken the place
of pursuiters as the backbone OF the
air force. Massed flights from the
United States to Hawaii, setting a
world seaplane distance record; and
from the United States to Alaska, have
added to the prestige and greatly aug
mented the experience Of Army ana
Navy aviation.
Following the tremendous upheaval
in the Nations airmail set-up last
Spring. commercial aviation has set
out under new laws, the full poten-
tialities of which have not yet been
! plumbed. Establishment of new AVA
ton policies for the Nation are IN
prospect as a result of the airnail Sit
uation. Already Army combat AVA
ton has been divorced from the ONCE
of the chief of the Air Corps and
brought under direct control Of the
general staff Airmal rate-maklng
powers have been vested in the Inter-
state Commerce Commission.
The Bureau of Air Commerce, re-
suit of a thorough-going reorganiza-
ton of the Aeronautics Branch Of the
Department of Commerce, has inau-
gurated an astonishing series Of prof.
ects which are expected to have con-
siderable effect on ultimate air prog
ress. competition for designs for a
new type of small, economical, safe
type of airplane suitable for family
use; construction Of many hundreds
of Public Works Administration air
ports. stricter safety requirements for
air transport and commercial flying,
and improved air navigation facilities
form parts of its program.
In all, year of unusual progress
and achievement, one of which Amer
lean aviation in all its branches can
be proud and one which points to yet
more worthy while progress in the year
to come.
Air Force Significant.
Creation Of the new General Head
quarters Air Force, now actually in
progress following the appointment
Thursday of Lieut.. Col. Frank M.
Andrews as it's commander. is ex-
pected to have results which will pro-
foundly affect not only military avia-
ton but other branches Of the Army
as well.
The new air force plan is intended
primarily to make possible the crea-
ton of concentrated. highly mobile
aerial striking unit, which may be
welded with powerful effect by the
commander in chief of the armies.
Opportunity has not yet been given
the other arms to modernize to the
extent considered necessary for the
Air Corps. the War Department ex-
planned in announcing operation Of
the air force program. When such
opportunity is accorded. whether in
peace or in war, it was stated, 1t
will be necessary to provide for the
full mobility and power of all arms
necessary in a future war of major
extent.
The present set-up of the G. H. @.
Air Force is regarded as experimental
and, at the end of a year. revision
of the plan Is anticipated on basis
of actual experience. The job as
signed to Col Andrews as chief of the
new force is regarded by general
staff officers as the toughest in the
Army" He not only is fighting for the
creation of an ideal Air Corps COM
bat organization but, to some extent,
for the greater efficiency of the whole
Army.
Andrews Due for Promotion.
The War Department passed over
IL colonies and lieutenant colonies of
the Air Corps, 5 of whom are serving
or have served as generals, to select
Col. Andrews for his difficult and
vitality important assignment. His
commission as brigadier general is
expected at once.
The G. H @. Air Force plan has
been a long time in preparation. 1t
goes back to the inception of the
present four-army plan of national
defense and was developed by the
general staff and approved by the
Baker Board. created to study the
Army Air Corps, before being put
into effect during the past week by
order Of the Secretary of War.
The immediate task confronting
Col. Andrews, after the appointment
of his staff officers and commanders
of the three wings. which will COM
pose the new force, will be the
welding of the now decentralized Air
Corps elements into a closely knit
unit. This means not only the build
ing up of q new chain Of command
reaching into every unit Of the Air
Corps tactical organizations, but also
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