Evening star., 1937-03-18

less as my single Wasp motor had
proven.
However, did not know where TO
find the tree on which multi motored
airplanes grew. Such trees are very
rare indeed, and the fruit thereof
far beyond the average pilots
pocketbook
I thought of hundred things I
could do with a new plane. I was 30
full of ideas that they spilled over and
Mr.. Putnam had to listen TO my bur-
bling by the hour. Not only did I
want TO make longer flight than any
I had attempted before. but 1 wanted
to test some human reactions to flying
Very little Is known about this i'm
portant subject.
Studies Personnel Problems.
The industry has been so busy on
| mechanical problems that the effects
on personnel have perforce been
! neglected. I am interested in finding
| out whether one kind of food is better
than another during short flights; i. e.,
Also should like to know the rate at
which fatigue is induced by the myriad
| instruments modern pilot must use
What will stratosphere flying do to
creatures accustomed to the dense air
OF lower altitures2 Are men and
women different in their reactions to
air travel? II so, how7 And 50 on,
and so on, and so on.
For more than year I have been
pleasantly associated with Purdue Uni
Versity as periodic faculty member.
Purdue is forward looking institution,
building an important aviation depart
ment. 1t is one of the few universities
in the world with its own landing field
One day last Summer President Ed
ward c. Elliott asked my husband what
most Interested me beyond immediate
academic matters. Mr.. Putnam
pracuclng believer in wives doing
what they do best, is an approving
and helpful partner in all my projects
So he divulged my suppressed pilots
yearning for bigger and better air.
plane. Not only to 60 to far places
further and faster and more safely
but essentially for pioneering In avia-
tlon, education and technical expert
mentation.
so, In due time, I came into DOS
session of my flying laboratory" Its
purchase was made possible chiefly
through the Purdue Research Founda-
ton aided by such friends as ]. K
Lilly, Vincent Bendix and others.
mostly within the aviation industry
Balance to Go for Research.
II happily after the flight a bal
ance remains from the initial gifts. or
others to come, it will 20 to a per-
manent fund for aeronautical research
at Purdue, which has been set I'D in
my name.
L had intended to undertake
years research with my plane first
| and thereafter plan some interesting
flight. But circumstances make it
appear wiser to postpone the research
and attempt the flight now
The laboratory" is equipped with
all that is modern in instruments.
There is a Sperry Gyro-Pilot, an
automatic device which actually flies
the ship unaided
There is Bendix radio directional
| Under which gives the direction to
any selected broadcasting station
within It's range. There is the finest
two-way voice and code Western
Electric communication equipment in
whose installation the Bell Labora
tories, under the aegis of DR.. Frank
B. Jewett, have co-operated. Listen
ers in may be interested In knowing
| the frequencies available, which are
| 500, 3,l05 and 62l0 kilocycles
| My mouth-fllling call letters are
KHAQQ.
The plane itself Ii = tvo-motor, all
metal nonoplane. With rs<ractatis