Evening star., 1937-05-19
CATAPU[T HELD
A|RP0RTS NEED
Method May Be Adopted for
Use With Giant New
Planes,
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Aviation Editor OF The Star.

LANGLEY FIELD, Va, May TO-
Aviation leaders are considering the
catapulting Of the giant new airliners
of the immediate future as the only
alternative to tremendously costly
enlargement OF airports along the
main arlines.
Problems of shooting into the air
huge airplanes OF up to $4,000 pounds
in weight-three times the size OF the
largest landplanes now in operation
are being worked out under the leader
ship of Federal scientists Of the Ma
tional Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics at its Langley Field
laboratories.
This was one of scores of outstand-
ing research developments being out
lined here before the Nations air
leaders, summoned to confer with the
N. A. C. A. on research work now in
progress and needed in the coming
months. The first of two parties of
aviation leaders visited Langley Field
yesterday and second group will
visit here tomorrow, most of them
leaving Washington by steamboat this
evening. A majority of yesterdays
visitors returned to Washington today.
Catapulting is believed the only So
luton to problems resulting from in
creasing size and wing loading of
transport planes. which demand larger
and larger airports. Many CONNER
cial airports already are taxed to the
limit by the take-of distance required
for present airliners. Washington
Airport, the National Capitals only
air terminal, is regarded as an out
standing example Of an important air
port at which the limit in airplane size
has been reached
With definite trends toward larger
air transports, with higher wing load
ings, and corresponding increase in
take-off distance, the problem has
reached critical stage" it was ex.
planned by DR.. George w. Lewis, re-
search director for the N A. c. A.
Through the use of 4 type of cata.
putt now being considered by the N
A. C.. A., the take-of Of the largest
transports now in immediate prospect
would be held within 1,150 feet with
out danger or discomfort to passengers
it WAS said. For a 60,000-pound air
plane Of type now actually under
construction on the West Coast th(
catapult must provide q thrust O
$4,000 pounds. It Is believed this car
be obtained through use Of a catapul
powered by a giant motor-driven fly.
wheel buried in a pit below the sur.
face OF the airport and free to tur1
into the wind.
The layman who asks the pilot of {
giant flying boat in the near futur.
just how he manages to get the grea1
ship of the water or land it may
receive the reply: "1t's done by mir
rors." That won't be spoohng. Th<
N. A. c. A. has developed an indicate,
composed of mirrors which reflect the
horizon on glass graduated in de.
grees. The device prevents the DANCE,
Of nosing over or bouncing Is a result
Of improper landing angles and per.
mits great improvement of take-of
technique.
Another Of the important research
projects Is intended to increase the
efficiency of airplane propellers. II
was pointed out that an increase Of
only per cent in propeller efficiency
would result in added pay load and
decreased fuel consumption sufncient
to pay of the cost OF IN airplane
within its lifetime.