Evening star., 1946-12-18
Afomic-Power Planes
Possible in 10 Years,
Dr.. Alvarez Declares

Possibilities OF using atomic power
In future airplanes, space ships or
rockets was discussed before the
Washington Aeoo Club last night by
DR.. Louis w. Alvarez, winner of
this years Robert J. Collier award
for distinguished service to aviation.
y The 35-year-old University of
California physics professor, who
was assigned to development work
on the atomic bomb after helping
perfect a radar air navigational aid
which won him the Collier Trophy,
predicted it might be possible within
10 years to propel airplaneS with
atomic energy.
:, In the light of present knowledge,
however, this would be possible only
If planes are developed of at least
three times the weight of the worlds
biggest bomber, DR.. Alvarez said.
Present limiting factors include the
weight of metal shields against
dangerous radiation and the diff
Guilty of servicing q power plant
which must bel decorftaminated be-
fore it can be approached with
safety.
600 Attend Dinner.
To power a rocket with atomic
energy, DR.. Alvarez declared, would
be undertaking an easy task the
hard way" because of the weight of
metal necessary to control the power
and the probability that a lighter
shell would be vaporized by the in
tense heat. The speaker admitted,
however, that development in the
next 80 years may make him sorry
he predicted such definite limits in
this field of research.
Some 800 members and guests OF
the Aero Club attended the annual
dinner in the Hotel Statler, COM
memorating the 43d anniversary
of mans first flight by the Wright
brothers at Kittyhawk, N. c.
DR.. Alvarez was presented with
the Collier Trophy by President Tru-
man at the White House yesterday
for his contribution to a radar sys-
tenn enabling ground crews at busy
airports to talk down" airplanes
on an exact approach path to the
runway under. conditions Of zero
visibility. ~
Systems for ground controlled ap-
proach along lines pioneered by DR..
Alvarez in the early days of the
war are to have their first CONNER
cfal service tests next month at
National Airport here and at La
Guardia Field in New York and the
Chicago Municipal Airport.
Brewer Trophy Presented.
Presiding at the dinner was w. L.
Jack Nelson, president of the Aero
Club. The toastmaster was L.
Welch Pogue, president of the Ma
tional Aeronautic Association.
Another high light of the banquet
was presentation of the Frank G.
Brewer trophy for outstanding serv-
ice in the advancement of aviation
education to Dr. Frank E. Sorenson
of the University of Nebraska.
Earlier in the day, DR.. Theodore
Won Karman, delivering the 10th
annual lecture commemorating the
Kittyhawk fight, discussed avia-
supersonic speeds. 4
A world authority on the subject |
DR.. Won Karman enlarged on what
is known of the behavior of guided
missiles and piloted aircraft when
travelling beyond the speed of sound.
He addressed an audience of near
ly 1000 scientists, engineers and
aviation technicians in the United
States Chamber of Commerce Build
ing.
Discusses New Designs.
Although basic aerodynamic laws
are entirely changed once the speed
of sound has been reached, DR.. Won
Karman declared the sonic speed
limit no longer can be regarded as
a "stone wall, impossible to pene-
trate" with winged aircraft. He dis
cussed new designs for thin swept
back or triangular wings to reduce
drag and overcome mysterious shock
waves which beset conventional air.
craft approaching sonic speeds,
The lecture, presentation of
the Institute of Aeronautical Scien-
ces, is endowed by the Vernon Lynch
Fund. The chairman yesterday was
DR.. Hugh L. Dryden, associated
director of the Bureau of Standards
DR.. Won Karman, who since 1880
has been professor Of aeronautics
and director of the Gugenheim Aero
nautics Labratory at the California
Institute OF Technology. headed a
scientific group sent sto Germany
in the closing months of the war in
Europe to study Nazi research in
szaiecilae