MESCALERO RANCH

POST OFFICE BOX 978
ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO

August 29, 1937

Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh
Long Barn Weald
Sevenoaks England

Dear Colonel Lindbergh:

You may be interested in what has been done
during the past summer in the rocket development.

On July 28th we had a flight in which the directing vanes
were reduced to a minimum. This is desirable, as I have already
explained, not only because of reduced resistance due to better
streamlining, but also for the reason that vanes of considerable
size make steering practically impossible at very high rocket speeds.
Correction was closer to the vertical than we have had before, and
both the parachutes operated satisfactorily.

Another flight was made August 26th, with the same rocket,
using a mechanically operated catapult to move the rocket rapidly
out of the tower. This would be desirable with heavily loaded
rockets, and also would make launching possible in all but very
strong winds. The catapult operated and increased the initial
speed, but will require modification to be completely satisfactory.
I think it best, however, to postpone this work until the very light
rockets, with a maximum charge, have been made. Both parachutes
again operated, in this test.

The next flight will be with a 50 per cent increase in
fuel load, and the replacing of the gas pressure tank by a small
liquid nitrogen tank, with a consequent reduction in weight. I
am writing to Mr. Guggenheim, and am hoping he will be able to come
to see the test.

I hope you received my letter of June 21st, in which I
wrote about my trip east, and of the Clark commencement, when your
very effective statement on rocket research was read by President
Atwood. I enclosed an enlargement of a photograph of the flight
of May 19th. Please let me know if you did not receive it, and
I will send you another.

With kindest personal regards,