Evening star., 1936-06-09
FLYING At HIGHER
LEVELS PREDICTED
Value of Racing in Develop
ing Better Planes Cited
at Meeting.

Air transport planes may some day
be flying in regular service at alti-
tudes of $4,000 feet, above storms
and clouds, at speeds now unknown,
members of the Washington Air
Derby Association were told at the
June meeting of the organization last
night in the Racquet Club. An
nouncement also was made Of plans
for a $500,000 race around the world,
as a phase of international develop
ment Of more efficient airplanes. ..
The value of airplane racing in de-
feloping faster transport, military and
private airplanes was outlined by
William R. Enyart. secretary to the
i Contest Board of the National Aero
nautic Association, who predicted
that from the proving grounds of the
national air races will come safer,
more eficient and more economical
a1rplanes.
Regular air transport operations at
$4,000 feet, with passengers riding In
supercharged cabins in comfort now
unknown was forecast by James c.
Edgerton, research specialist in sub
stratosphere flying for the Bureau OF
Air Commerce. He held out opera
tions at 10000 feet in transconti-
mental and transoceanic travel as a
possibility within five years
Low Displacement Types Due.
The national air races, to be held
in Los Angeles in September, Enyart
said. will witness greater StreSSlng
of the low displacement types Of air
planes now used in private flying.
Such development is necessary to meet
foreign competition resulting from
such racing events as the French de
la Muerthe Cup race, which has led
to an increase in small plane speeds
from less than 200 miles per hour in
1888 to the present landplane speed
record of 3l4 miles per hour.
I'VE are getting real results from
racing" Enyart said. THE troubles
that our racing plane builders and
pilots are having with engines and
superchargers are being corrected, to
the benefit of every person who flies"
He predicted that racing rules may
be modified from time to time in the
future to develop types of airplanes
and engines to meet particular needs
of the industry and the public as we'll
as to provide mere performance rec
Ords. These rules may demand def
mite Improvement of the range be-
tween landing speeds and maximum
speeds. making for greater safety and
limita ton of fuel consumption, max
ing for greater economy, he said.
Enyart said that France now is con-
eidering a round-the world race for
S5o0,000 in prizes, similar in scope
to, but on a vastly greater scale than
the London Australia MacRobertson
race, which demonstrated to the world
the superiority OF American transport
airplanes.
Higher Level Benefits Cited.
Flight at 5000 feet, definitely pos
sible for air transport operations within
q year. will put operations above 90 per
cent of all storms, icing conditions
and other handicaps to flight at the
lower levels and will give the ad-
vantage OF favorable winds ranging
from 80 to 90 miles per hour or
greater, Edgerton told the associa-
ton.
For operations at this level super
charging of passenger and pilot COM
partmentS will be necessary. This
can be done with airplanes of present
type through the Use of exhaust
driven superchargers, which may weigh
as little as 20 pounds, he said. It
probably will be possible to approx
mate full-engine performance at u.s.
900 feet. through use of engine super
chargers and adjustable pitch pro-
pellers, which would result in an in
crease of nearly 80 per cent in speed,
apart from the added increases due to
favorable winds.
"On flights of 700 to 800 miles, he
said, I'VE find economic justification
today for flights at $4,000 feet. The
air transportation of the more distant
future probably will be at levels up
to 10000 feet on the longer runs"
The Derby Association Is planning
an airplane hare and hounds" COM
petition as its June flying event, to
be held at College Park Airport, Col
lege Park, Nd, June 81. There will
be a golf driving contest as the
ground event, with luncheon at the
club house. Chester H. Harrington,
first vice president of the association,
recently reelected TO succeed Harrison
"Buddy" Somerville, presided.