Evening star., 1935-07-28

except CIlaL OI maximum speed, ALL
cations were regarded by many air
BILE of attainment in the present sta
The Hammond, during demonstra-
ton flights at Detroit during the past
few days, put up an astonishing pei
formance, according to local observers
who witnessed the tests. They re-
ported that it made practically fool
proof" landings and that the rankest
tyro should be able to land it safely
unless he flew into the side of a
house.
The Waterman tailless model also
is expected to have most unusual
performance characteristics. in the
light of the performance of conven-
tional airplanes. 1t is to be flown
across the Nation to Washington by a
Bureau of Air Commerce official who
holds only private pilots license and
who makes no pretension of being
what is popularity known as "a hot
pilot" He says if he can fly the plane
across the country safely the average
citizen should be able to do so.
The bureaus private airplane pro-
gram, which has resulted in the Ham,
mond, the Waterman and half score
other unconventional and highly in
teresting airplanes, is regarded as the
most important aeronautical promo
tionaT activity any national gov
ernment has undertaken. The re-
suits of the coming tests are expected
to be of international significance.
Plans for a second annual glider
meet in the Big Meadows section of
Shenandoah National Park are being
considered by glider enthusiasts who,
because of persistent bad weather,
were denied chances at record flying
during the sixth annual national soar
ing contest held this month at Elmira,
N. Y.
Splendid flights were made by sew
eral of the country's foremost soaring
experts during the informal meet held
at Big Meadows last September, al
though at that time. too, weather
proved most unfavorable. The Big
Meadows site. in some respects. is re-
garded as better suited to certain types
of record flying than the multiple
sites at Elmira.
During the Elmira meet only 8 of
the 16 days were suitable for soaring
flight, despite which the meet was one
of the most successful and certainly
was by far the largest in American
gliding history Ninety-six pilots paid
entry fees and, of 40 gliders entered
officially, 81 actually were flown.
There we're a total of 185 soaring
fights made during the meet, new
record for American contests. Twenty
nine pilots earned their &C" soaring
certificates and 10 earned their B
certificates. Sixty-five pilots applied
for annual sporting licenses issued by
the National Aeronautical Association.
At one time on Hill No. l at Elmira
20 gliders were in the air at once,
exceeding by four the number Of such
aircraft aloft at one time over any
contest site Glider pilots during the
contest rolled up a total of l60 hours
of soaring time, qualified distance
flights of $50 miles being flown. This
was hailed as a happy augury for
future meets in which pilots will de-
liberately leave the launching ridges
to seek out distance records. Richard
C. du Pont, who made four cross
country flights, turned in the record
distance of the meet-120.2 miles.
More altitude flights were made
than during any previous contest, II
pilots making 81 flights to attitudes OF
more than 1000 feet. OF this number,
10 flights were above 1000 feet,
over 5000 feet, and over 1000
feet. Two of the highest flights were
made by Dick du Pont, to attitudes
of 4.98O and 4,531 feet. and one by
j. K. O'Meara, who climed to 4,92S
feet.
Dick du Pont again was awarded
the Evans Trophy, symbolical OF
Americas soaring champion. as re-
suit of his eight points in the major
events.
A new contest record for woman
glider pilots was established when
Mrs. Allaire du Pont scared for S
hours and 81 minutes, during which
she climbed to an altitude of $3.50
feet. Mrs. Dorothy Holderman scared
for hours and minutes, reaching
an altitude of 1924 feet.