Evening star., 1934-04-22

means OF cOnCrlDuClng 10 derOn
in the National Capital.
This is to be a purely civic
giving the sportsman and the il
aircraft" it was explained by CT
the air derby group and moving
Some progress has been made in
the development of aviation in this
field, but not nearly enough. The
cruises Of the Amateur Air Pilots As
sociation have been a splendid indi-
cation of what can and should be
done. Special amateur meets such as
will be held at College Park, May 6,
are additional straws in the wind.
Added Activity Proposed. .,
"To make private ownership seem
worth while to really large numbers Of
sportsmen, however, there must be
10 times as much activity as has
been attempted up to the present time
Recognizing the significance and value
of sporting competition to aeronautic
development and progress within any
given community or city, the Wash
ington Air Derby Association, there
fore, has taken the leadership in spon-
events at College Park in observance
OF Langley day"
Scheduled events for Langley day
are:
Event A.-Sportsman pilot race over
a course of 25 miles open to all NC
or Group II open or closed airplanes
having a top speed Of 100 miles per
hour or under,
Event B-Sportsman pilot race Of
25 miles; open to all NC or Group II
open or closed airplanes. having top
speed not exceeding 125 miles per
hour.
Event C.-Sportsman pilot race of
25 miles: open to all NC or Group II
open or closed airplanes having top
speed not exceeding lao miles per
hour.
For Men and Women.
Event D.-Sportsman pilot race OF
25 miles; free for all NC or Group II
open or closed ships, man and woman
pilots, on handicap basis.
Event E.-Acrobatic contest, open to
any type NC or Group II ship.
Event F.-Slow race Of 10 miles to
Group II ship of IS miles per hour
speed or less. The winner will be
determined by maximum elapsed
time.
Event G.-OX-5 race of 25 miles;
open to any NC or Group II ship
powered with the Wartime OX-5
engine.
Event H.-Precision landing contest:
open to any NC or Group II type of
airplane.
Event K.-"Bomb and Go Back"
race.
Event L.-Women'S race over Is
mile course: woman pilots only, flying
any NC or Group II type Of airplane,
handicaps being assigned.
Event M-Bomb dropping contest;
open to any NC or Group II type of
airplane, from a minimum altitude of
400 feet.
Event N-Relay race.
The Board of Judges for the meet
includes Maj. Gen. James E. Fechet,
Engene L. Vidal, director of aeronau-
tics, Department of Commerce; G. O..
Vass, ]. Carroll Cone, assistant direc-
tor of aeronautics, Department Of
Commerce: Maj. Roy S. Geiger. COM
lrlandant OF Marine Corps aviation;
A. C. Case and Comdr. P. v. H.
Weems, United States Navy, retired,
former Navy aerial navigation expert.
New Beacon Set Appears.
Development of new type of visual
radio range beacon device, with which
pilots also may make blind" landings
on airports equipped with the present
experimental radio system, has been
announced by the Department Of
Commerce.
The chief advantage of the device,
however, is that it may be used with
only minor modification of the present
aural radio range beacon broadcasting
stations. Other types of aural range
receivers which have been tested
woul have required very expensive
modification of the broadcasting units
Development of the device is credit
ed by Rex Martin. assistant director
of aeronauticS in charge of air naviga-
ton, to w. E. Jackson and L. NJ
Harding. radio engineers of the aero
nautics branch.
Aside from the instrument dial,
mounted on the airplane instrument
panel. and its actuating mechanism,
the device consists only of small
converting set attached to the air.
crafts regular radio receiver. The set
fits into small box by by 7 inches
in size. No changes are necessary in
the regular receiving set.
May Use Both.
The pilot may use aural or visual
equipment separately or together,
which is regarded as a great advan-
tage Continuous receiving of aural
radio range signals for any great
length of time is found to be wearing
on pilots nerves. On the other
hand. visual equipment alone is not
entirely satisfactory, since there are
times when pilot needs his eyes for
other purposes but still cannot afford
to lose the advantages of the range
broadcast.
The problem of making radio range
signals available to airmen in a visual
form, Mr.. Martin pointed out, has
been before the Department of Com
merce for several years. The earlier
solutions, however, would have cost as
much as $500,000 for the whole air.
ways system. The new device can be
made available throughout the country
for total cost Of less than $500.
The new equipment has undergone
extensive flight tests satisfactorily, Mr.
Martin explained. 1t will be given
further practical service tests by
scheduled air transport pilots before
being put into regular service.
Wheelless Landings Safe.
The question frequently is asked,