Evening star., 1935-01-13

.dI IcTS OF UIle 1eIleIdl 11cduQUdI-
it begins functioning in all de-
} Langley Field, Hampton, Va,
le field headquarters for the air
become a brigadier general.
about rs pounds. on the big Boeings,
with their 75-foot wing span.
Rubberized "shoeS" on the leading
edges of the wing and tail surfaces
are alternately inflated and Debated.
cracking any ice that is formed and
permitting the air flow to carry it
away. The air-pumping apparatus is
driven by one of the engines.
The thrust side of the propeller
blades is covered with oiled rubber,
which, with the aid of the centrifugal
force and air flow, keeps the blades
clear.
Better Record Seen.
officials of the line declare that the
use of these devices mot only con-
Stitutes the adoption of another i'm
portant safety measure, but will per-
nit the airline to maintain a higher
record of performance during Winter
operations"
Formation of ice on the leading
edge of wings, tail surfaces and pro-
pellers alters the shapes of those
surfaces and lowers their aerodynamic
efficiency. The loss of lift of the
wings and tail and the loss of pro-
peller efficiency, all due to the change
of shape, coupled with the increasing
weight of the ice eventually force the
airplane down.
1t is said that the recent crash of
an airliner in the AdirondackS, which
'marooned" passenger and three
members of the airplane crew in the
frozen wilderness for two days, was
due to the formation of ice during
storm at night.
It is pointed out that ice forms
on the wings of an airplane only un-
der definite set of conditions in
which unfrozen, visible moisture is
present in the air while the wing
surfaces have temperature of 80
degrees Fahrenheit or less. Sleet or
snow will not adhere to the wings
under ordinary conditions.
Training Program Arranged.
VN-6R, local Naval Aviation Re-
serve unit based at the Anacostia
Naval Air Station, has completed a
reorganization of its various sections
and departments, to be in effect for
the annual active duty training period
at Cape May, N. j., next July to 10.
On the basis of the new organi-
1ofino c1hnn1 tho
next six months has been planned
with a view to providing maximum
training for personnel in the various
departments in preparation for the
training cruise. 1t is anticipated that
the July cruise will be the most eff
GENTLY organized and conducted in
the history of the unit.
The following departments have been
organized: Operations, engineering,
ordnance, first lieutenant, supply,
headquarters, aerology and commune
cations and medical. Detailed regu-
lations covering the duties and re-
sponsibiities of each department are
to be promulgated soon.
The unit has announced the trans
fer of LieutS. R. C. Young and W. E.
Coney, both Reserve officers of VN-6R,
to the Jurisdiction of the commandant
of the Sd Naval District, due to Lieut..
Young's business transfer and to Lieut..
Coney's having obtained a position
with Eastern Air Lines.
A new flying routine for transport
pilots which is intended to enable the
poilot to decide one hour in advance
of his scheduled departure the exact
course he will fly, the most favorable
altitude at which to fly and the per-
centage of horsepower to be used in
maintaining his schedule has been
worked out by officials of Transconti-
mental & Western Air for use on their
trancontinental route.
Under the new procedure, an hour
before the scheduled departure of
one of the company'S airliners, there
is compulsory meeting of the pilot,
the dispatcher and the meteorologist
at the point of departure. The three
men study in detail the weather maps
for the preceding IL hours and, with
the aid of the meteorologist, deter
mine with the greatest possible ac-
curacy the weather conditions under
which the flight probably will be
made. These conditions include CELL
ing along the whole route, altitude
of the cloud tops, extent of cloud
layer areas, wind directions for each
1000 feet up to 10000 feet, tempera-
lures and precipitation.
Based upon a study Of all these
factors, the pilot plans his flight in
detail, including course corrections
to be made for winds, the most favor
able altitude at which to fly, and
the required engine throttle settings
to complete the flight on schedule.
Gets Weather Reports.
Fifteen minutes before he takes of
the pilot receives a written report of
the weather conditions every SO miles
along the airWay. He then accepts
his plane from the chief mechanic.
who has made a complete inspection
of the ship, tested the engines, radio
and flight instruments.
When the plane is loaded and has
taken of, the pilot sets it on the
course, with corrections and altitude
as determined at the conference, and
turns on the automatic pilot to hold
the ship on the plotted course. He
then assumes the role of navigator
until the plane is ready to land at
the next scheduled stop, when he
switches off the automatic pilot and
takes over the controls.
The new routine, combined with
improved weather information made
possible through high altitude weather
observations and development of the
polar front" theory of weather fore
casting, it is claimed, is resulting in
most encouraging increase in regu-