Evening star., 1941-04-15
American Bombers
Approach Ideals
OF Gen. Arnold
U. S. Is Making Planes
OF Greater Speed and
Range Than Other Nations
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

BY JOSEPH y. EDCLhlO
Striving for development of the
giant. long-range bombardment
airplane which Maj. Gen. Henry H.
Arnold, chief of the Army Air Corps,
says may conquer or save the
world" the American aviation in
dustry during the three years since
the beginning of the present world
emergency has made remarkable
progress in bomber performance.
Technical studies just completed
by the Aeronautical Chamber of
Commerce show the following ad-
vances in American-built bombers
since 1888:
Speed: An average increase of 10
miles per hour for the heavy,
medium and attack bomber types.
Weight: An average increase of
100 per cent.
Range: An average extension of
300 miles.
Ceiling An average increase Of
5000 feet,
Thus" it was reported. Amer
lea is building bombers of higher
speed, greater weight and bomb
carrying capacity and longer range
than those of any other nation"
Playing Vital Role.
Long-range bombers. pioneered in
this country because of the unique
requirements Of American hemi-
sphere defense, have gained new
Importance in the long-distance air
attack phase of the present war, it
was pointed out, and the increasing
deliveries Of American aircraft of
this type in England is playing IAN
increasingly vital role in the Euro
pean conflict"
In 1888 the average top speed Of
built bombers was 224
miles per hour, the average gross
weight $4,000 pounds. the average
maximum range 2.375 miles, the
average service ceiling 25,700 feet.
Service ceiling is the altitude at
which the airplanes maximum rate
of climb drops below 100 feet per
minute.
Today. American bombers of the
heavy, medium and attack types
have an average top speed of 295
miles per hour, an average gross
weight of 1883 pounds, an average
maximum range of 3.255 miles and
an average service ceiling of 29,070
feet, according to results of the
survey made public today.
Auto Producers Instructed.
Restrictions on military informa-
ton prevent announcement of ex-
act performance characteristics of
any individual model, but the aver
ages given are accurate for all
bomber types These range, how
ever, from lotion attack bomber
types to the giant 8O-ton Douglas
B-19 long-range bomber.
The aircraft industry now Is in
structing automobile manufacturers
In the construction of bomber sub
assemblies, which will be assembled
by the aircraft industry in four new
MidWestern plants now under con-
struction.
Principal bombers now in produc-
ton in the United States include:
Heavy-The four-engined Boeing
BIZ flying fortress and the Con-
eolidated B-24, both with top speeds
above 800 miles per hour.
Medium and attack-The Martin
Bps, North American BIS, Doug
las BIB and APO and Lockheed
Hudson, nearly all of which have
top speeds exceeding 300 miles per
hour and all of which are highly
maneuverable airplanes.
Patrol bombers - Consolidated
ply and PB-2-Y and Martin PBM-
Navy aircraft with ranges OF
5000 to 5000 miles.
Authoritative British sources list
the Blenheim w, at 295 miles per
hour, as the fastest British bomber
and the Nazi Junkers JU-88 at
317 miles per hour, as the fastest
German.