Evening star., 1945-09-30

1tt under study.
-omcial o. 8. Navy Photograph.
radar equipment duplicating that On
the aircraft under study.
In addition, project engineers In
Electronics Test carry on continuous
bench-testing of radar. This is one Of
the most secret developments at the
test center One Of the rooms IN which
the engineers work is completely irsulat-
ed from outside interference.
Service Test
Mission of Service Test is to discover
and report material defects of airplanes
and their equipment and to furnish vital
maintenance information at the earliest
possible date.
To assemble sufficient data on a par
ticular plane before 1t goes to the Navy
in quantity, Service Test workers con-
duct an accelerated flight program. In
three months. a fighter plane goes
through length Of operation equivalent
to its normal combat life in the Navy
This accelerated flight test uncovers
all major material defects in the plane
and its equipment. Single engine planes
receive $50 hours of flight time and
multi-engine aircraft 1900 hours.
In carrying through such test, every
piece Of equipment on the plane, except
rocket launchers, is placed In normal
service use. s,s+s4s'~s s.
Service Test reports also determine
spare parts requirements for various
planes. Without such data, naval avia.
ton storage facilities formerly over
flowed with unneeded parts while others
could not be supplied In amounts
adequate to meet requirements.
AS result Of this departments
functions, service-tested aircraft 20 to
the Navy as known quantities, even
from maintenance standpoint. Defec.
tive materials and parts, revealed in the
accelerated flight tests, are replaced or
redesigned to meet operational needs.
Aviation supply depots and stockrooms
are equipped in advance with those
parts Service Test projects indicate will
be needed, thus saving space. labor and
time.
Tactical Test
The scientific evaluation of Navy
planes and aeronautical equipment to
determine their most effective combat
uses is the aim of Tactical Test.
Typical projects in this department
include radar testing, rocket firing, radar
directed bombing, use of airborne can
non, dive bombing techniques and fighter
tactics
All types of foreign planes with Navy
test pilots at the controls are evaluated
in actual flight competition with naval
aircraft. Reports on these tests, to-
gether with detailed information on
tactical weaknesses OF individual enemy
planes, go Immediately to the Navy
Many projects deal with notifications
Of equipment on accepted aircraft al
ready in use. Each modification, even
after passing engineering department
checks, is closely examined from the
standpoint of tactical value.
Any modification, it was explained
can result in important changes In the
tactical uses Of particular plane or OF
the installations on it.
Medical Research
Medical officers, also qualified as naval
aviators, are on duty in the physio-
logical section of Tactical Test to con
duct projects in close collaboration with
the Naval Medical Research Institute.
Many special facilities and services
required for the test program are ad-
ministered by the Test Facilities Divi-
sion.
The center has three different types
of catapults to shoot planes into the air
without a long take-off as well as an
elaborate platform on which aircraft
can make arrested landings, just as or
board carriers at sea. In addition, this
division provides aviation photographer
to record test results from the air, dis
tributes aeronautical publications. and
provides a number Of other similar
services.
Veteran Test Pilots
Tests of experimental gear or equip.
ment with known deficiencies have not
been carried through without casualties
Nine pilots and two aircrewmen have
lost their lives while performing hazard
Gus but routine test flights at Patuxent
River.
Test pilots are all veterans. One oi
the recent naval aviators on duty at the
base was 1t. Alex Vraciu, U. s. N. r..
one-time leading ace Of the Navy with Il
Jap planes to his credit. 1t. Vraciu Il
now assigned to the Bureau Of Aero
nautics in Washington.
The original Mars. built by Glenn l.
Martin Aircraft. Is kept here and ID
used to train crews In the operation a
later models Of the huge flying boat.