Evening star., 1934-08-19

this loss was more than made good
in the domestic field, it still Is sub
ject for very serious concern in the
aircraft manufacturing world, which
has been working hard to develop
foreign markets. Some Of the loss is
due to the acquisition In foreign
countries of rights for the construc-
ton of outstanding American planes.
There are now plants in a number
of foreign countries devoted to the
manufacture under patent agreements
of American airplanes, aircraft en-
gines and parts.
A breakdown of the figures cover
ing manufactures of civil aircraft for
domestic use shows healthy increase
in production since the beginning of
the year. During January, "a such
planes were built. February produc-
ton totaled %, March 54, April 66,
May "a and June ll3.
Triumph for Economy.
BY the addition of a simple re-
fector and the substitution of a disk
Of plain glass for a much more costly
prismatic lens, the Air Navigation
Division of the Bureau of Air Com
merce, Department of Commerce, has
tripled the candlepower Of its 24-inch,
50O-watt airways beacons. The changes,
resulting not only in direct savings
but at the same time in increased
efficiency, are hailed as q triumph
for economy and the program Of
efficiency inaugurated by Rex Martin,
assistant director Of commerce in
charge of air navigation.
Until nearly a year ago the 24-1nch
beacons were operated with 1000
watt lamps and the prismatic cover
glasses or lenses. The arrangement
provided 100000 candlepower. Then,
as an economy measure, the lamps
were replaced by 500watt units. The
candlepower was reduced to 100000.
Recently Mr.. Martin had F. Chaplin
Breckenridge of the Bureau of Stand
ards conduct q series of tests, which
revealed that with simple auxiliary
reflector and plain cover glass the
candlepower could be increased to
1000, 900, Is per cent more than the
original 1,000-watt arrangement ana
nearly three times the power OF the
present combination.
The secret lies in the utilization of
what formerly was stray light, en-
tirely wasted in so far as the usefulness
of the beacon was concerned. The
Bureau of Air Commerce now plans
to place the refiectors and plain
cover glasses in all existing 24-inch
beacons and to install new beacons
Of this type on the Northern trans
continental airway now under survey
between Seattle and Minneapolis-St.
Paul.
"An inventory of airways equip
ment. taken several months ago,
preparatory to installing a new sys-
tenn of cost accounting" Mr.. Martin
explained, revealed sufficient beacons
on hand to care for all present needs
SO that there will be little expense at
tached to installing the new COM
bination."
Expressive Signals Used.
Visual signals used in the Navy
tactical squadrons are nothing II not
expressive. It is necessary that the
signals be of the simplest possible
character, especially in the hghter
souadrons, since a pilot has not time
to spare from his flight duties for
complicated signals. At the same
time the signals must be so express
sive as to admit Of no misunderstand-
ing. Ingenuity supplied the answers.
Examples:
The signal for "forced landing"
This signal, meaning that the pilot is
in serious trouble and is about to have
a forced landing, is given by the pilot
laying his head on his arm as though
having a real good cry. 1t Is COM
monty referred to as the weeping
out-loud" signal.
The signal for leaving formation" ."
This also frequently denotes trouble
aboard, though usually not so serious
as the forced landing variety. The
pilot signals he is showing of from
the formation by saying good-by af-
fectionately, setting his fingers to his
lips and waving kiss to the next in
formation.