Evening star., 1934-01-07
Midwinter Races Begin.

Sportsman pilots from all parts of
the Eastern United States are on the
way to Orlando, Fla, for the start
Wednesday afternoon of the Midwinter
cruising race to Miami as the opening
event of the three-day All-American
Air Races
Organization of groups of sportsman
pilots in various parts Of the country
for participation in the Florida events
has been reported by Clarence NJ.
Young. former Assistant Secretary Of
Commerce for Aeronautics. who now is
serving as Aviation Committee chair
man Of the Florida Year-Round Clubs,
sponsors of the race for the amateurs,
During the three years since the
sportsmen pilot event was inaugurated
as a part of the Florida annual air
meet, the skill Of the country'S anna
teur pilots has been increasing notice
ably and the rules for the race have
become more rigid. This year accuracy
OF timing and navigation will be the
dominating factors and the 220-mile
event will be a cruising and not a speed
contest.
New speed records may be feature
of the Miami meet James R. Wedell.
1888 racing star, is expected to try to
better his world landplane speed rec
VI u VI OUO.OO pei lIOuL, IlduG ldcL
September at Chicago. and Maj. Alex
ander de SeverSky may undertake an
assault on his own world amphiblan
record of more than 160 miles per hour
A pre-race feature will be the first
convention of aviation editors, to be
held at Miami Tuesday.
Model Used for Gunnery.
A model airplane which "flys" on a
wire is used for ground training with
camera guns by the personnel of VP
Squadron 3S at the Navy fleet air base,
Coco Solo. Canal Zone
The model device, developed by the
SQuadron's gunnery department, consists
Of model airplane running on an in
Clined wire from the top of the squad
ron fiagpole. AS the model comes down
the wire it Stimulates an airplane diving
on the gunners.
1t is felt, according to a report to the
Navy Bureau of Aeronautics that the
device will be most beneficial in train
ing and will result in worthwhile econ
omieS, as the gunner can actually see
what is taking place without the eX-
penditure of films. necessary in camera
gun training involving actual flying.
Fast Planes Ordered.
Contract for a feet of Al high-speed
twin-motored transport planes has been
awarded by Transcontinental & West
ern Air to the Douglas Aircraft Co. at
Santa Monica, Calf. The new ships
are to be used on the transcontinental
runs of the line, which is affiliated
with Eastern Air Transport, operating
through Washington.
The planes will cost in excess of So
100000 and it is expected they will be
in service early next Summer. A re-
duction of about one-third in the pres
ent cross-country schedules is antici-
pated. The planes will be equipped
with wing flaps, to serve as air brakes"
for reducing landing speed.
Rickenbacker Tells of Progress.
The three outstanding aviation de-
velopmentS of 1888, in the opinion of
E. " Rickenbacker foremost American
war ace and present air transport Off
cial, are the practical application of
acoustical engineering to air-transport
craft, the beginning of aerial sleeper
service and the perfection of adjustable
pitch propellerS. The three, in his
opinion, have equal rank in impor-
tance.
AcouStical engineering by silencing
the noises formerly found in airplanes,
Rickenbacker pointed out, has in
creased passenger comfort to a degree
never before attained.
"a year ago." he said, "airplanes
which roared at 108 decibels were COM
mon; today the noise levels in planes,
such as the Douglas airliner and the
Curtiss- Wright Condor. used by TWA
and Eastern Air Transport, are from 20
to rs decibels. Silencing the craft was
accompanied by better ventilating and
heating systems"
Night passenger services are entering
their second year and their success has
led to a demand for sleeping accommo-
dations, which now are being provided,
Rickenbacker said.
This" he asserted, marks the be-
ginning of new phase, if not a new
era. in air transportation"
Many transport planes now are
equipped with adjustable pitch propel-
lers, which were brought to a state of
practicable development in 1888, after
years of research and testing.
Nov" he explained, pilots may set