Evening star., 1935-06-09

Pacific Coast at am next day. Two
other coast -to-coast schedules now
are operated, one providing departure
from Washington at $50 am. with
arrival in California at midnight the
same day. The other leaves Wash
ington at 10 pm. and arrives on the
West Coast in midafternoon after A
scenic daylight flight across the West
ern mountain country.
Central Airlines, which was created
last year to bid on new airmail con-
tracts, is about TO receive its first
modern aircraft equipment. The new
tri-motored Stinsons which are on
order contain several features of spe-
cial design intended to fit them for
s-mountsin operation. Deliveries
are to begin about June Is.
1t Is the consensus among flying
people that unless Godfrey Cabot of
Boston considerably modif1es the rules
governing the awarding Of his $4,000
cash prize for developing a means OF
landing an airplane through 100 feet
of fog independent of any ground aid.
his money will remain safely in the
bank for many years to come.
Mr.. Cabot, vice president OF the
Federation Aeronautique Internation-
ale, it is believed generally in the IN
dustry. has imposed conditions which
apparently cannot be attained with
present means and knowledge.
Regulations for the competition. ac-
cording to the National Aeronautic
Association, named to supervise the
contest, specify that the solution must
be one which will enable an airplane
pilot, independent of any radio station
on the ground and independent of
any assistance from ground person.
mel or equipment, to land his plane
safely through 100 feet of fog in any
part of the world, where in the absence
of fog it could ordinarily be landed
with safety"
1T is not required" It was ex-
planned. that human vision be en-
abled TO penetrate through 100 feet
of fog, but only that a device be
created whereby an impression Of the
earth may be conveyed to the pilots
senses BY some apparatus contained
within the airplane."
Lack Of equipment Is the most seri-
Gus deficiency confronting the Army
Air Corps and the new General Head.
quarters Air Force, in the opinion of
Maj. Gen. George S. Simonds, newly
appointed deputy chief of staff, who
has recently completed a thorough
going survey of the Army's military
air set-up.
In summary Of his findings writ
ten for the Air Corps News Letter,
Gen. Simonds praised the methods
adopted by Brig. Gen. Frank NJ. An
drews, commanding general of the
G. H. @. Air Force, and his officers
in attacking the multitude of prob
lens created in organizing the new
air force.
1T appeared to me-" Gen. simonds
said Of the air force commander.
that his grasp Of the fundamentals
of the problem was eminently sound"
After his visit to the air force head
quarters at Langley Field, Gen.
Slmonds made an aerial tour of in
Spection of the chief Air Corps and
air force headquarters and tactical
fields.
TO any one who stops to think"
he said, the development of tactics
with the machines and weapons which
have been progressing and changing
so rapidly since the war, as have those
pertaining to the Air Corps. must
present difficult and even a battling
problem"
He pointed out that because Of the
many new problems facing it, the
G. H. @. Air Force has entered into
what frankly must be recognized as
an experimental period"
"The problems" he said, "are many.
new and complex. I am convinced
that Gen. Andrews and his staff are
going about this by common sense
methods. They are taking up first
the things that ought to come first.
I know that they are putting out
with the very best that is in them
to make our air force an effective
fighting unit
Gen. Simonds declared that Il is
the firm conviction Of those in high
in the Army that what
ever may be the future developments
in machines, weapons, organization
and tactics" the creation of the
G. H. @. air force lis bound To be
in the right direction"
Army orders affecting the status
Of Army Air Corps personnel in Wash
lngton have been issued. Command
Of both of the new tactical squadrons
at Boiling Field is affected.
Maj. Donald B. Phillips, command
ing the new 14th Bombardment
Squadron. Boiling Field, has been or
iered to Maxwell Field, Montgomery,
Ala. for training in the Air Corps
Tactical School. He will revert to his
permanent rank as first lieutenant
August %.
First Lieut.. Arthur L. Bump. r.,
has been assigned to command a
flight of the 2lst Observation SQUAD
ron. Boiling Field Maj William v.
commander of the squadron,
mas been sent to Miami, Fla, as
commander of the Air Corps Winter
field there. Lieut.. Bump
vas promoted to temporary cap
,aincy effective as of May l8.
Capt. Stewart w. Towle, jr., intel
igence and operations officer of the
list Observation Squadron at Boiling
Field, has been ordered detached
rom that post and assigned to duty
n the Office of the chief of the Air