Evening star., 1936-09-26

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however. The whole question of the
legal status of such . vehicle on the
roads-whether 1t Is an automobile
and subject to licensing. motor vehicle
taxes and gasoline taxes-still Il
under consideration. The matter Of
automobile equipment also had to be
considered.
Fully as interesting as the readable
autogiro are some Of the other new
airplanes developed for the Bureau
of Air Commerce in its efforts to
improve the private owner type Of
aircraft. Five of these new-type air
planes have been delivered to the
Commerce Department and several are
under test in Washington.
First of the projects to be under
taken, the Hammond model Y air.
plane. was delivered to the Bureau Of
Air Commerce last Spring from
Ypsilanti, Mich. The Hammond was
the successful entry under an invi-
tation for bids issued by the bureau
in May, 1884. These bids, which took
the aviation world by the ears, 50
to speak, resulted in the furore over
the "s700 airplane" which soon spread
even to Europe.
A ETHOUGH the Hammond now Is
completing its service test status,
the builders already are at work on
number of these airplanes. which
will be delivered to the Bureau of
Air Commerce for the use of airline
and aeronautical inspectors.
The Hammond created something Of
sensation when it was brought to
Washington. 1t was flown by aviators
and by laymen, young and old. Ten
year-old Eugene L. Vidal, jr. son Of
the director of air commerce, was
one of those who new the Hammond.
He is believed to be the youngest
person ever to land an airpiane un-
assisted. The child flew the ship over
Washington for . half hour and
finally. with no more help tnan a
suggestion from John H. Gelsse, cnier
of the development section OF the
Bureau of Air Commerce, VINO accom-
panied him, as to best line OF ap-
proach to the airport, young Gene,
propped up on cushions, so ne could
see out the windows, came in for .
landing. The boy was too snort to
reach the rudder bar. but this was no
drawback in the Hammond, rs 1t MES
perfectly well with the stick alone
Perfect turns may be made by merely
pulling the stick to one side or the
other.
The Hammond was designed to
meet bureau specifications, featuring
simplicity and safety of operation as
well as low maintenance and operating
costs. Greater visibility than Is COM
monty available in present-day air.
planes, ability to operate IN ana out
Of small areas and ruggedness Of con-
struction were demanded and the de-
mands have been met to . surprising
extent.
The Hammond is low-wing pusner
monoplane with three-wheeleo UNDER
carriage. The third wheel Is not .
tail wheel, as is ordinarily the case,
but is q caster wheel under the nose
of the egg-shaped cabin. Visibility
from the pilots sea is superior to
that from the drivers seat OF an auto
mobile, since there Is not even the
hood forward to interfere with vision
to the front, sides or downward.
Engine and propeller, Of course. are
behind the pilot.
Visibility for taxying also is far
above normal, mot only because Of
the factors already explained. but also
because the air plane is In . level
attitude when on the ground, instead
Of being nose high and tail down, like
the ordinary airplane. Steering on
the ground is through the nose wheel.
The chief advantage Of the nose
wheel type Of landing gear. however.
Is the virtual elimination Of any
tendency for the airplane to nose over.
Large shock absorbers make 1t pos.
sible for the Hammond to land In
practically any Gttitude-nose high.
nose low, or out Of balance laterally-
and at practically any speed within
its range.
Under some conditions the airplane
can be made to take OF simply BY
opening the throttle. No other con.
troll need be touched. Landings are
not much more dinhcult. II Is neces.
sary only to head the airpiane INTO
the wind toward the runway ana ease
back on the stick-or It may be down
straight into the landing area.
In the air. the Hammond win not
fall into spin. An experienced pilot
can force 1t into spin but the
moment he releases the controls Il
rights itself automatically. II u con.
trolled entirely with throttle, elevator
and silerons.