The Washington times., 1938-05-26

The startling revelation by
William A. Patterson, president of
the line, revealing the probable
cause of the crash turned Ques-
TONERS on a new angle.
What caused the motors to cut
out simultaneously?
Here the experts were Stumped.
No weather conditions anywhere
near the icing stage predominated
over the Clevela n d-New York
course the night Of the crash and
therefore no ice could have formed
in the carburators. United'S main
tenance record bellies any posi-
bility of Shortcircuited ignition.
Water in the gasoline would have
caused trouble, much sooner.
Meanwhile, the Governments
bureau Of air commerce board has
taken over investigating the cause.
It is up to the board now to find
the answer, satisfy the public that
such q crash can never happen
again and the future Of air trans
portation will have weathered an
other blow.
Perhaps in the irony Of fate.
United has issued q statement just
. week before the crash showing
1t had operated its fleet Of 49,
planes q total Of S,414,968 revenue
passenger miles. Exclusive OF
miles flown only with mail or
non.revenue passengers. This
figure represented an increase OF
A per cent over the previous
April.
TO a $665, 900 loss for the first
quarter Of this year. the line
must now add 81 900, ,000-the ap-
proximate cost Of every a1rllner
crash in the United States. This
cost Is derived at from loss OF
plane, personnel and damage
suits.
United, however, is the coun-
try's wealthiest airline, having be-
hind it almost $5,000,00O cash In
Chicago banks. -,
With all the hue and cry about
Washington's airport, Slip Stream
last week made a comparison BE-
tween WaShington-H Hoover and st.
Louis and Kansas City airportS.
st. Louis, like Washington, Is al
fected by quick dropping ceilings
caused by river fog. Kansas City,
like Washington, has o field COM
pletely surrounded by Instructions.
So, WaShingtonianS, your field.
which shares the honor Of one OF
the country's worst, is probably
one point up in that it has less
area than the other two. Con-
RreSs, however, Is busy working on
O new airport site for the District.
WRITER HONORED
Several Congressman proposed
Merrill Mueller, International
News Service aviation writer as q
candidate for the investigating
board sent to Cleveland to check
United's disaster. Although Muel-
ler's name was considered along
with . number Of other candi-
dates, Secretary Roper advised
Representative Borden Oo OF
Oklahoma, that he deemed it
advisable to follow the depart
ment's policy Of keeping the board
within the Bureau Of Air Com
merce. Mueller Scooped the crash
cause Of United's last disaster.
"TLYING HOTEL" READY
Early next week, aviation's
greatest dream-the four.motored
Douglas flying hotel" developed
in cooperation with United, Amer
ican, TWA, Pan-American and
Eastern Airlines, will stretch its
wings over the factory ut Santa
Monica, Cal.
Costing more than $1,000, 900 to
build, this new liner carries q
persons by day (S2 ct night as a
sleeper) in its luxurious cabin
resting on the 138-foot wing in
which there are set four 1,400-
horsepower Pratt and Whitney en-
gineS
There's no doubt in aviation
circles the ship will fly. What is
being awaited eagerly is whether
she will live up to contract clas-
Sifications. The factory personnel
believes the ship will SurpaSS the
clasSifications, designers too are
optimistic, but the test-pilotS
merely state, "Wait'll we get her
in the air and then weTl See."
OFFERS REVENUE HOPE
Built to do 80 miles per hour
at top speed, cruise around 200
and having q tricycle. landing gear
so the ship is in flying position
when resting on the ground, the
airltner represents the safes: thing
in the airwayS.
But, more than that, it repre-
Sents the black ink for the air
lines, which for years and year:
have been operating in the red be
cause Of expensive operations
eoStS-rotten air mail rates II
most caSes-with smaller ships.
II the new ship successfully
passes ali tests, and can be pro
dIlced fast enough for the airlines
at $447, 900 each, next year will
mark commercial aViation'S big
gest year. Airline rates will come
down as these giants 60 into serv
ice and as the commission, set ur
under he McCarran and Lea bills
eorrects unjust mail rates.