Evening star., 1941-03-07
Smaller and Faster
Pursuit Planes Are
Aim Of u. 5. Army
Gen. Arnold in Book
Describes Progress
In Engine Design
Bv JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

By JOSEPH ,. EDGEhION.
In a world of air powers which
have been working steadily for some
years toward larger and faster pur-
suit airplaneS, with bigger engines
and heavier construction to carry
increased fire-power and protection,
the United States Army is working
today toward smaller pursuit air
planes, relying upon maximum etfl-
cheney rather than size for speed and
combat effectiveness.
This surprising trend, forecaStlng
distinctive American war develop
ment which may have far-reaching
effects, has been disclosed by Maj.
Gen. Henry H. Arnold, former chief
of the Army Air Corps and now
deputy chief of staff for air.
The development of smaller, faster
pursuit aircraft is made possible
by gains in aircraft engine efficiency,
particularly of the new liquid-cooled
engines upon which the United
States now is concentrating after
many years of neglecting this type.
American air-cooled engines are re-
garded as by far the best in the
world today, not only from the
standpoint of operating efficiency,
but from that of durability. Amer
lean engines can be operated far
longer between overhaulS than any
others in the world today-as much
as 10 times longer than some of the
engines which are poWering German
and British airplaneS now in action
In Europe.
Rapid Progress In Design.
Although the liquid-cooled air.
craft engine in the sizes required
today is a new development in
America, very rapid progress in de-
sign has been made during the past
two years and it seems clear from
Gen. Arnold's prediction that even
greater efficiency is anticipated in
the near future.
In new book, Winged War
fare" of which Gen. Arnold and Col.
Ira C. Eaker, Air Corps, are CO.
authors there is to be found this
significant passage:
"TomorrowS airplane is on the
drawing board and in the labora-
tories today. The military leaders,
the aircraft designers and officials
of leading aircraft manufacturing
establishments know all about it.
They know the engines it will have,
the prCpellerS which will pull 1t
through the air, what it will weigh,
what its wing spread will be, the
guns and bombs it will carry
everything down to the last detail.
But a year hence, or even five years
from now, when it first takes the
air, it will be a startling new crea-
ton to the rest of mankind The
public will call it tomorroW'S air
plane.
Smaller and Faster.
I'VE could describe in rather
minute detail the Army Air Corps
plane of every type which. one, two
or three years hence. will replace
those which are now believed to be
modern fighting planes, and which
are in the hands of our tactical
units. That must for the moment
remain a secret. Our guessing would
be too close to actuality. 1t would
not be disclosing too much of a
military secret to say, however, that
our fighters will be smaller and
faster. They will in the course of
routine operations approach. or pos
sibly exceed, the present world speed
record-400. 450 miles per hour, and,
yes. even more"
Elsewhere, Gen. Arnold says that
the battle of Britain has revealed
that the only reliable antidote to
the enemy bomber is the fighter" -"
There is a general feeling, he says,
that so to so per cent of the we'll
balanced air force will consist of
the fighter type.
For the United States. this is one
Of the cleareSt statements of policy
regarding the future development of
our air power yet to come from a
ranking air official.
Concentrate on Liquid Cooling.
Questioned about this forecast.
Gen. Arnold said that the prediction
of smaller and faster pursuit planes
was not intended to indicate thai
developments will be confined 10
any one type of engine, but that
designers we're working with ANY
and all types" which promise to give
the desired results.
The ARMY Air Corps. however.