The Washington times., 1938-06-24

TeaCne0 q new peak OF 4z,1VV,AOU,
highest Of any single month here.
tofore. This was q 10 per cent in.
Ecrease over last April. Passage Of
the new aviation legislation In
Congress, exceptionally early fair
weather in certain sections Of the
country and an increased "yen"
on the part Of the travelling pub
lie for air travel were contributory
factors.
STYLE CHANGED
But close on the heels Of the an
nouncement Of increased revenue
for the airlines (boy, how they
need itD-came word from the
Seattle factory where Pan-Ameri-
cas- half-dozen Atlantic type"
clippers are abuilding that all
models will have twin tail rudderS
instead Of the single fin built into
the first ship completed.
i It was found, the factory an
nounced, that in surface tests
ttaxiing over Puget Sound the
big ship responded beautifully to
motor and rudder power, but that
quicker turning would result If.
instead Of the one fin placed atop
the center of the tail section on
the huge 72-passenger hun, the
ship had twin rudderS mounted
out along the tail wing so as to
catch the full effect Of the pro
peller slip stream.
Consequently, the first model is
now being altered and the con-
struction blue-prints for the other
five are being changed for twin
tails.
SINGLE FIN OUT
The day of the large airliner
with a single tail fin is over. The
present Douglas DC-3 models now
flying the airways are probably
the last commercial liners Of any
size to have q single rudder and
the Army's new Boeing X-15 fly
ing fortress, largest ever built, is
probably the last military plane
Of this type.
Douglas, in building their a..
passenger, four -engined landplane
giant, decided on triple tails be-
cause one single fin would be 50
huge that hangaring the plane
would be difficult. Also. quicker
rudder action is afforded by rud-
ders placed directly in the slip
streams of the propellers, an aero
dynamic fact that Lockhee d
proved several years ago with the
first of its highly successful Lock
heed 10 transports and with subse-
quent models.
WILL REDESIGN
Boeing is now building q 33-
passenger landplane transport,
modelled after the flying fortress,
for Pan.American and TWA
which has only a single tail fin
in its design. However, on the
basis Of its tests with the new 40.
ton flying boat, you can bet an
old boot they'll redesign the tail
surfaces of the landplane, too.
Incidentally, that new flying
boat will soon start 10 days of test
flying before it is sent to New
York for Atlantic flight. Pan
American will open transatlantic
service late this year, according
to all reports, between London
and New York.
The Douglas DC-4, after the
factory is through with it, will 20
to United for serious testing and
then to the other lines which con-
tiibuted to its cost: American,
Pan-American, TWA, and Eastern.
You won't see that baby in air.
line operations for q number Of
months yet.
PLENTY PRACTICE
Last week, Pan Am completed
its 101st transatlantic crossing
between Bermuda and New York
or Baltimore-which constitutes
plenty of practice for the longer
jump to London. This week COM
ing, a lucky passenger will step
aboard a Pan Am transport some
where in its vast worldwide net.
work and step right into plenty Of
ceremony as its millionth pas.
senger. Maybe you don't think
that's q record. And the lines
just opened q fifth north to south
American route.
This country need never fear
foreign airline competition as long
as Pan Am Is permitted. and
aided, in its expansion. However,
its mail subsidy on some routes
is nothing to squeal about. It re-
Gently was given q three.months
payments for hauling the mail
over one route of-5 cents.