Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-04-14
NGTIME AND THE MOTORIST AVIATION NEWS

field beacon-light tower by day and
pairs of flashing red lights will be dis
played from opposite corners Of the
tower by night.
Should minor portion Of the field
be safe for use, the flags and flashing
lights will be displayed on the tower,
the safe area will be outlined with red
flags and lights and the unsafe por-
ton of the field will be dotted at ram
dom with red lanterns and flags.
White flags and lanterns will mark
the ends Of the runway which arr
craft are to use.
II only small portions Of the field
are dangerous, they will be outlined
with red flags and lanterns, with ad-
ditional flags and lanterns at random
within the unsafe area.
Standardization of these markings
is expected to contribute to flying
safety. especially In the case Of timer
ant pilots who do not have the oppor-
tunity afforded scheduled airline per-
sonnet Of becoming acquainted with
the individual methods formerly in
operation.
Pursuit Tactics Change.
Development of the new high-speed
bombardment airplane has relegated
the pursuit airplane, for two decades
the king of the skies, to a position Of
secondary importance in all air forces,
and is forcing the most vital changes
in the tactics of aerial warfare.
Air defense today is built around the
bombardment airplane, which, with
its great speed and heavy armament,
! Is regarded as a match for the mod
ern purSuiter. The single-seater pur-
suit airplane must depend for Often
sive action on fixed machine guns
which are synchronized to fire through
| the propeller and which are aimed by
aiming the whole airplane.
A pursuit pilot cannot fly his air
plane and at the same time operate
flexible machine gun. In order that
he may maintain an effective fire from
his fixed forward guns, he must have
an airplane with a large margin of
| superiority in speed and maneuver-
| oCiAAty OfC1 tllC Id1 SCL II ID W dILdCk.
During the World War and until
the recent development of the new
high-speed bombardment airplane,
pursuiters have generally had a mar
| gin of so per cent superiority in speed
over bombardment airplanes. This
gave them the necessary superiority
to prevent the development of the
bomber, naturally the most powerful
! aerial offensive weapon, into the posi-
ton of dominance which was its
/ right.
During the last year, however,
multi-engined heavy bombardment
airplanes, such as the Martin, have
overhauled the pursuit plane in
speed. In order to regain the neces-
sary advantage of so per cent superior
ity in speed, pursuit airplanes would
have to operate at speeds of about
300 miles per hour. At such speeds
| there Is serious doubt that pilots could
| stand the physical strain of the
maneuverS necessary to the present.
known forms Of aerial combat. Sharp
/ turns at speeds of much more than
| 200 miles per hour are sufficient TO
/ cause "blacking out" The centrifugal
/ forces drive the blood from the brain.
and the pilot momentarily loses con-
| seriousness.
There is belief in some quarters
that the pursuit airplane may be re-
placed by plane somewhat similar
to the bomber. which would depend
for its effectiveness not so much upon
speed as upon very heavy fire power.
1t would have to be somewhat superior
in speed to the bombers against which
it would operate. but not having to
carry the heavy bomb load or fuel for
the same long ranges, could carry
more and heavier guns, engaging in
direct contest of fire power.