Evening star., 1935-11-17

"a 900 pounds; two and one-haf tom
airline operation in this coun
ordered by American Airlines and
several Of them probably will be seen
In operation In Washington before the
end Of the Winter.
No airplane produced in the United
States in recent years for domestic air
line operation has created more inter-
est In aviation circles than the new
DIST, or Douglas Sleeper Transport,
as the new airplane Is known. 1t is
to represent the highest peak
yet attained in the development OF
long range overnight transport equip
ment. For performance, there is
nothing in the world Of anywhere near
the size to compare with the DIST.
The first Of the new series Of Douglas
sleepers Is expected 10 be ready for
test flying at Santa Monica, Calf,
within week It will have capacity,
as q day airliner, Of "a passengers,
or as q sleeper. Of 16 passengers
Despite its gross weight Of IL tons, the
ship is expected to have top speed
Of nearly 2l5 miles per hour and q
cruising speed Of 100 miles. according
to American Airlines officials.
The big ship could not get into an
average city residential building lot,
with its span Of s5 feet and length Of
IS feet. It has an overall height of
II feet 9 inches. In exterior appear
ance the ship Is q larger version Of the
present Douglas transport. many Of
which operate daily at the local air
port.
The increased size Of the fuselage
makes possible more luxurious pas
senger quarters than have been seen
In domestic airliners. There are eight
roomy sections, four on each side Of
a broad aisle. Each seat Is 35 inches
wide and the backs and bases Of the
seats fold together TO form a thick,
soft foundation for the mattress for
the lower berth. The upper berth
comes down from the ceiling. Each
berth has q length Of six feet five
inches-several inches longer than the
standard railroad berth. Lower berths
are IS inches wide, uppers, 20 inches.
There are windows for both upper
and lower berths, which are provided
with reading lights, clothes nets, elec-
tric call buttons and baggage racks.
Separate dressing rooms are provided
in the rear of the cabin for men and
women passengers and are provided
with running hot and cold water, mir
rors and linens.
The most complete commissary yet
designed for an airline plane is located
in front Of the cabin. provisions being
made for keeping hot and cold foods
and for the serving Of more elaborate
meals than now can be handled.
Every known aid to navigation is
provided in the pilots cockpit, includ-
Ing automatic pilot and radio-naviga-
tor. Two engines. each having q rated
$50 horsepower. give speed range
from IS to ais miles per hour and fuel
Is carried for q range Of l,l00 miles
with a. passengers or / 400 miles with
Is passengers. There is suficient
power margin to permit take-od II one
engine should cut out at the moment
Of take-od or uninterrupted flight with
full load on one engine. Automatic
constant-pitch propellers are used,
acting as an automatic gear shift,
with automatic adjustment of pitch
to maintain maximum efficiency
under varying conditions.
The first ship is to be flown around
the country for exhibition purposes
until enough Of the planes have been
delivered for the Inauguration of regu-
lar service. It probably will visit
Washington early In its tour.
The greatest peacetime concentra-
ton Of airplanes in the history of
aviation is expected at the
eighth annual Miami All-American
Air Maneuvers, December 1914, ac-
cording to an announcement by the
Aviation Department Of the City Of
Miami.
Many Washington aviation leaders
and sportsmen pilots are planning to
attend the meet as spectators, race
ofdcials and contestants. and at least
one local sirplane is being groomed
for world record attempts there.
The Miami meet has promised to
grow this year to such proportions
that the Miami Municipal Aviation
overburdened, has draft
ed experienced aviation personnel
from other Florida municipalities 10
assist In arranging and handling the
affair.
Eight hundred airplanes, military
and civilian, including more than 400
combat airplanes of the General
Headquarters Air Force Of the Army,
are expected to participate in the
three-day flying program, the city
govern m ent announced. Approx
mately rs National Guard airplanes
are expected from IS States and the
Navy and Marine Corps aviation serv.
ices also are to be strongly repre-
sented. Sportsmen and racing pilots
from nearly every State in the Nation
have registered with the contest COM
mittee and aircraft manufacturers
have notified the Miami authorities
they will have their latest models of
commercial and sports flying planes at
the meet.
The General Headquarters Air
Force is expected to hold large-scale
in Florida next month,
with at least one massing of the whole
force at Miami during the meet It
is expected that 500 men of the Air
Force will be encamped at Miami
Municipal Airport during the period
Of the maneuvers and that others will
be quartered at Chapman Field, Mi
ami, and at Vero Beach and Fort
Pierce.
In recognition Of the greatly in
creased speed Of modern air trans
port planes, the Bureau Of Air Com
merce. Department of Commerce,
has Just issued the first two of q
series Of new aeronautical charts de-
signed especially for the airman who
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