Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-21
AVIATION STRIDES
CITED AT SESSION
improvements Expected to
Keep Nation Ahead in Race,
N. A. c. A. Told.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.


LANGLEY FIELD, Va, May Ill
Aeronautical advancement which Is
expected to keep the United States
ahead of Europe in the new interna-
tional race for aerial supremacy and
to result, in the near future, in new
types of aircraft of greater speeds
end improved performance, was fore
seen today as the Nations aviation
leaders started home from the
Eleventh Annual Engineering Con-
ference of the National Advisory Com
mittee for Aeronautics.
For the first time in its history the
N. A. c. A, created by Congress dur
ing the World War, kept secret a
number of research activities to pre-
vent the Nations new developments
from getting into the hands of for
eign governments, which have, in eff
feet, declared research warfare on
this country.
Leaving behind them request for a
research program which should have
far-reaching effect on aircraft and
engine. design and performance, the
Nations outstanding air leaders, after
leaving Langley Field last evening by
steamboat, arrived in Washington
this morning and now are on the way
home by air and rail.
Second Party Assemblies.
At the same time a second party
Is assembling here to leave Washing
ton by boat at $50 pm. today for
1,QnDlPU uh yacto
gram will be repeated tomorrow. This
party will include 10 Navy aviation
officers. 80 Army Air Corps pilots and
nearly $50 members of college and
university aeronautical research de-
partmentS and representatives of
national engineering societies.
Division OF the conference into
two sections became necessary this
year for the first time because of the
aviation world that it must rely on
increased research activity if it is to
maintain its leadership over Europe.
Delegates and representatives of
the press were asked to safeguard the
details of research developments, the
most important of which are con-
cerned with increased airplane speeds.
1t Is no secret that the NJ A. c. A.
today is working on problems of flight
at speeds far in excess of 500 miles
per hour and approaching the We
locity of sound.
DirigibIe Research.
The laboratories also are deep in
dirigible airship research problems,
following recommendation of the Du-
rand Commission that this country
return to the airship field in compe-
tition with Germany. New principles
of airship design, with particular ref
erence to the shape of the fins, fall
iure of which resulted in loss of the
Macon, are being evolved. The N. A.
G. A. also has found a solution for
problems of ground handling of great
airships which represent a marked
advance in technique.
The NJ A. c. A. also is hard at work
on the development of the small types
of stable, easily handled planes suit
liable for use by average citizens. Meth
DDS of overcoming the deadly spin,
which in the past has been fatal to
many pilots. of preventing nosing
over and ground-looping in landing
under unfavorable conditions have
been worked out.
The annual conference, which will
reach formal close tomorrow night,
IS regarded as heralding a new period
of aviation advancement, which may
affect profoundly the future of flying |