Evening star., 1935-07-28

AirlineS for use on the coastal system
through Washington is expected to
take place about the end of August.
The new ships, despite their high
speed and excellent performance.
carry less power than any Of the twin
engined ships now being used by the
local airline. They are powered with
Whirlwind engines.
One of the Lockheeds of the type
to go into service here was demon
strated at Washington Airport a few
days ago by Northwest Airlines, which
now is operating 13 ships Of this type
on its section of the Northern trans
continental route.
Hydraulic propeller brakes developed
by Raymond B. Quick, engineering
inspector for the Bureau of Air Com
merce, have been installed for service
testing on the giant new four-engined
Sikorsky SAP, in use in trans
Pacific trials.
Contrary to practice in automo-
biles, the brakes are not used for
stopping the airplane, but frequently
are used for exactly the opposite
purpoSe-for improving its speed and
maneuverability.
1t has been found by actual tests
that upon making a normal landing
when the pilot closes the throttle, the
propellers continue to revolve, causinp
air turbulence over that portion c;
the wing behind the propeller, thus
spelling lift at that point. If the
propeller is braked and stopped the
flow of air over that section of the
wing smooths out, resulting in higher
lift.
1t also has been shown BY test
that by stopping an cupboard enginc
and braking the propeller to a deac
stop it is possible to correct for loss
of power by use of the rudder alone
instead of by use of both rudder an
ailerons. This is due to the elm.
ination of turbulence over the vino
and consequent loss Of lift on that
side. Disagreeable vibrations set U
by the windmilling propeller of
dead engine also may be eliminate:
py use OF the brake.
In case of engine failure caused b.
a broken part, the propeller L ay b
stopped at once, preventing c.mplet
destruction of the engine or furthc
breakage of expensive parts, it We
pointed out.
, Future progress in international al
transportation Is dependent upon de
velopment of aircraft engines C.
greater horsepower, which will max
possible great flying packets" in th,
opinion of John Lord, noted Britisi
flying boat designer and builder.
Lord. who is managing director OF
one Of the principal firms engageo
in construction of flying boats for
the British air ministry, suggested
during recent trip to Miami that
the United States Government might
materially assist the progress of avia-
ton and obtain world leadership in
transoceanic air transportation by
allotting Sl,000000 of Works Progress
Administration funds for use in de-
/ veloping a 2,000-horsepower aircraft
/ engine.
Airplane construction and design
| Lord holds, have so far outpaced en-
/ gine development that progress in
the immediate future depends upon
the building of more powerful en-.
gines. Great flying boats, of leo
tons, or even larger, which will be
so sturdy the elements will not en-
danger their operation, are required
for transoceanic operation, the British
designer believes.
Il realize" he said. that It might
take the best engineering talent aqc il
able several years to bring out such
an engine and require the expendi-
ture of sum far beyond the available
experimental funds of civil concerns,
but ultimate success would well re-
ward the Nation. 1t would aSsuredly
mark the greatest forward step toward
the goal of international air trans
portation to date and be an invalua-
Bile contribution toward better under
standing between the nations of the
world. Every advance in transporta-
ton has marked a new era in civiiiza-
tion."