Evening star., 1935-02-03

{ of the message of transmittal
, Federal Aviation Commission,
consolidated agency Is created, q
cree Commission be empowered
transportation.
House message, which approved
the aviation commission report,
is expected the main legislative
not covered by the report.
One by one the Bureau Of Air Com
merce is seeking to whip the causes
of interruptions to scheduled air
transport flying. As a result Of the
thorough analysis made by the bureau
of causes Of accidents and forced
landings it has become possible to
concentrate on the more common
causes Of trouble in turn and either
to eliminate them outright or greatly
reduce their frequency.
Latest Of the problems to be tackled
Is the formation Of ice In carburetor
air intakes, which has been a source
of trouble since the beginning OF
flight. The bureaus accident analysis
shows that during 1884 passenger air
planes were forced down in 26 cases
by formation Of carburetor ice which
choked the engine.
air line operators to attack this prob
lem, and, If they cannot find means
of overcoming the troublesome ice
formation by heating or other means
the Federal agency proposes to re-
strict flying when conditions become
favorable to the formation Of car
buretor ice.
The conditions which result in ice
formation in the carburetor intake are
similar to those which cause wing
icing-the presence in the air Of un-
frozen moisture. accompanied by air
temperatures of freezing or slightly
below.
Ice formation in the carburetor,
however, Is favored by the fact that
evaporation Of gasoline and rarefac-
ton of the air taken In combine to
decrease the temperature Of the in
take by as much as 20 degrees cent?
grade at the ventura opening.
Although many airline operators
have frowned on the practice Of back
firing engines to blow ice out Of the
carburetor intake, the bureau an
nounced that it believes that until
better heating systems are provided
this means should be used"
TaiIless Plane Ordered.
Construction of tailless airplane
for flight testing and experimental
work has been ordered by the Bureau
of Air Commerce, Commerce Depart
ment, as a part Of its campaign for
a new type of airplane Of exceptional
safety and ease Of control suitable
for use by the amateur flyer.
The airplane is to be constructed by
Waldo D. Waterman Of Los Angeles In
accordance with plans submitted by
him in the bureaus competition OF
last year. Waterman is best known
among laymen for the landing
monoplane in which he captured
prizes at the national air races few
years ago and which underwent tests
at the Langley Field laboratories OF
the National Advisory Committee for
was landing In 150-foot circle sur
rounded by marker flags and at the
time he out-performed autogyros.
The tailless airplane is new in the
United States, although it has been
tested with some success abroad. A
Focke-Wulfe tailless type has been
flown in Germany and British
'pterodactyl' has been q feature Of air
shows for several years.
There Is not SUFFICIENT knowledge
about the performance of this type of
airplane for us to make any con-
lectures as to what the Waterman
craft will be able to do and what
specific tasks 1t will be best fitted
to carry out" it was explained by John
H. Geisse, chief Of the development
section Of the bureau.
However, 1t does start with one
advantage, and that is simplicity of
construction which would make it
more readily adaptable to quantity
production than some other types. II
1t proves to be equal In efficiency to
other airplanes that we test, this
adaptability to volume production
methods will be an important factor
in its favor"
Is Planes Ordered.
As q result Of last years competi-
ton, the bureau has on order Is
airplanes Of a more conventional type
than the Waterman craft. These air
planes, which 1t Is anticipated will
have safety factors not found in any
airplane Of today. are to be delivered
next Spring, the first Of them In May.
They are being built by the Hammond
Aircraft Corp. Of Ypsilanti, Mich, to
specifications calling for features Of
safety, ease of operation and main
tenance and simplicity Of construction
that the bureau seeks In an airplane
for private owners.
The bureau also has under con-
sideration several airplane engine
projects which are said to show
promise for private operation. These
projects, GeisSe reported, indicate
that 1t may be entirely possible to
produce the small private aircraft en-
gines weighing not more than two
pounds per horsepower at q cost Of not
more than IS per horsepower, in con,
trast with present prices Of approx
mately $40 per horsepower"
The bureau also is watching de-
velopments in the design Of the wing
less autogyro which, 1t Is said, make
1t a promising vehicle for the private
flyer. It Is probable that an order will
be placed for one or more Of these
ships for testing.
Negotiations also are in progress for
procurement Of an airplane with new
types of ailerons and slots. It Is in
tended to send this ship to Langley
Field for N. A. G. A. tests Of the possi-
bility Of eliminating rudder control
and simplifying control Of gliding and
climbing angles.
Eugene L. Vidal, director Of air
commerce, declared that the program
Of his bureau In seeking o safer, more
easily operated and less expensive air.
plane for private owners represents the
first effort by the Federal Government
In the field Of developing aircraft Of
types other than those for military
purposes"