Evening star., 1937-03-14

80 minutes, it is his privilege to make
run for the point Of start and, upon
landing, to tag the contest official.
II he can do so without being tagged
by hunter, he will be adjudged the
winner. No hunter, however, will be
permitted to tag the weasel on the
way from the airplane to the contest
ofi1cial, unless the hunter has been in
the hunt for at least SIS minutes and
has landed at one airport in pur-
suance Of his search.
All competing hunters will be started
OIL in order Of the estimated speeds
OF their airplanes and will be timed
at takeof1. Student pilots may par
tlcipate, provided they are accom-
panied by qualified pilot. All con-
testing alrplanes must carry at least
tWo-thirds of their rated passenger
loads.
The March non-f1ying meeting of
the association will be held at pm.
Friday in the third-hoor dining room
OF Sidney's Cafe, formerly Sholps,
1913 G street. There will be q moving
picture on the history of aviation.
,ARRY1NG = total Of 1929 paid
passengers. among them its mil
llonth passenger, American Airlines
during February established . new
all-t!me record for the month. The
passenger total was 8l4 per cent better
than for February of last year and 23.3
per cent greater than the January fip-
ure. This despite the fact the month
was a day shorter than the previous
February and three days shorter than
January.
Despite the fact that American
broke all previous records by carry
ing 255,324 passengers during 1886, the
first two months of this year already
are more than SIS per cent ahead OF
the same two months last year.
Although the increase was spread
over the whole system, on the southern
transcontinental route through Wash.
lngton, where air sleeper service was in
operation, gain of 1877 per cent was
reported.
In addition to a feet Of 20 flag
SHIPS delivered to the company last
year, new 2l-passenger airliners
nave been placed in service during the
past few days and another 5 will be
delivered soon, bringing the total feet
OF Douglas transports to IS, repre-
senting an investment OF more than
$4,000, 00o
EASTERN AIR LINES also claims a
new February passenger record
exceeding It's total for February of
last year by about 81 per cent. The
increased use of DC-3 21-passenger
transports between New York and
Miami was responsible in part for the
gain. according to Edward v. Rick
enbacker. general manager.
Traffic between New York. New Or
leans and Houston, over the newly
opened Wedell-Williams division of the
line, also contributed to the gains,
February also brought increases OF
~ per cent in revenue miles flown
| and Al per cent in mail poundaRe. it
was announced
Win many weekend planes already
sold out between Southern vacation
centers and Northern points, extra
sections are in prospect for the whole
month Of March, Rickenbacker said
EQUIPPED with four different types
OF antl-snoW static antennae and
several special radio receivers de-
signed to increase the range and clar-
lty OF aircraft radio reception, a iving
laboratory will be sent out this week
by the United Air Lines to undertake
long program of experimental flights.
In addition to test pilots, the plane
Will carry eight engineers and SCI
entlsts who will direct experimental
work In an effort to overcome the
serious handicap Of snow and rain
static. The airplane has been eouipped
with instruments for recording hu-
mldlty temperature and barometric
pressure so that weather conditions
may De checked in relation to radio
reception.
Ihe flying laboratory also is
equipped with special Instruments IN
record electrical charges of clouds
through which it will fly during the
tests A new type Of de-icing equip
ment has been installed 1t is planned
70 operate the plane in all types of
weather to provide complete check
OF the new devices.
II. M. Hucke, communications en-
glneer OF the airline, Is in charge of
the test program.