Evening star., 1939-08-06

velopment in this country. This
little machine would take off and
land on a field no larger than
tennis court. BY its very nature, 1t
can not stall or spin, and there was
also included an arrangement by
which the motor could be geared
to the tail wheel so that the ma
chince, with rotor blades folded, could
be driven along the road to and
from the landing field.
1t had all the qualities, in fact,
that Mr.. Geisse was looking for in
regard to flying behavior, except
for the unfortunate fact that it was
very hard to fly. 1t was safe-no-
body questioned that-but it re-
quired great nicely of judgment to
handle it, and that is something
that many people are short on.
The other approach made by the
bureau resulted in the develop
ment of the Stearman- Hammond
plane. This ship came nearer than
any other to fulfilling the original
objectives.
1t was a most unconventional
looking ship. Its engine was behind
the cabin, with a pusher propeller.
Stranger still, it had tricycle. land
ing gear, one wheel in front and
two further back, instead of the
usual two-forward arrangement that
had become almost as standard as
four wheels for an automobile. But
1t wouldn't stall or spin. And it
was as easy as pie to fly. 1t ham
died entirely from steering wheel
like control, and did not have the
ordinary foot pedals for the rud-
der.
Dispenses With Rudder.
The rudder had been dispensed
with completely, thus doing away
with the necessity of synchronizing
hands and feet, which is the hardest
thing for beginner to learn. The
plane landed at about 40 miles an
hour, which might still seem pref
ty fast to new flyer, but stalls
and spins were the most dangerous
thing, and they were whipped.
Stearman Hammond had the
product all right. but they had
trouble in organizing production to
turn the planes out fast enough
and at a low enough price.
Shortly before this, too, there
had been a shakeup in the Air
Commerce Department, and the
policy of development which had
resulted in the Stearman- Hammond
had been dropped. When the new
Civil Aeronautics Authority absorbed
the bureau, one top official declared
that no more "cockeyed planes"
would be bought. The criticism of
the old guard in the industry had
finally gone home.
Recent evolution of plane design,
however, would seem to show that
much of the development work of
the old bureau was anything but
cockeyed. The new, four-engine
giant, the Douglas DC-4, has incor-
porated the tricycle. landing gear,
pioneered on the Stearman-H Ham
mond, and the indication is that
the feature will become general.
Moreover, some manufacturers are
now working on safer planes, which
are to be aimed at the formerly
ignored, though huge, market-the
non-fyers.
Right outside Washington at
Riverdale, Md, perhaps the most
advanced of these developments is
taking shape in the modern plant
of the Engineering and Research
Corp, headed by Henry B. Berliner.
Has Tricycle. Gear.
This plane, called the ERGO, is
designed by Fred E. Weick, chief
engineer of the company. 1t has
the tricycle. landing gear, and is
to be convertible for use either with
or without rudder-co pedals.
When adjusted for flying without
the rudder pedals, the rudder will
be used, being synchronized in
limited way with the aileron control.
The plane looks, however, much
more like the conventional airplane
than previous safety attempt. The
engine Is in front instead of behind,
though good forward vision is main
tanned by using an inverted, in line,
motor. 1t is a low-wing monoplane
with all-metal fuselage and twin
rudders. The company believes that
this more usual looking ship will be
easier to sell than, for instance, the
Stearman-Hammond, which looked
funny to most people.
Mr.. Weick has been working on
airplane safety probably as long as
any one in the industry. Eight
years ago he built an experimental
model in his garage that embodied
many of the revolutionary features,
such as the tricycle. gear and pusher
engine arrangement, that suggested
to the air commerce men their sub
sequent line OF development.
Thus it is possible that the first
easy-to-fly plane to hit the mark in
sales as well as performance will be
manufactured right here In the
Washington area.