Evening Star Newspaper, February 9, 1930, Page 63

AVIA BY JOSEPH N many respects the Navy's twe glat airplane carriers, the . 8. 8. Lexington and U. 8. 8. Saratoga, are unique among the vessels of the world. Within the hulls of each of these sea monsters are generators of electricity sufficient to supply all the electrical needs of a large city. This was demonstrated re- cently when one of the carriers supplied current for one of the largest West Coast cities when the hyguullc supply failed because of dri\; weather. ot only do these carriers carry the electrical powerhouses of a reat city but each of them also a5 a water pumping system aboard capable of supplying the needs of a city of 4,000,000 per- sons. These pumps, handling fresh and salt water for the vari- ous needs of the ship, can deliver 21,363,600 gallons of water an hour! ‘When you picture the entire electrical and pumping systems of reat city as merely parts of a ship capable of sustained speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour, as landsmen estimate speeds, you begin to get some conception of | what these great ships mean to| the marine engineer. Floating Airports. ‘The carriers are floating air- ports, each of them r&;puble of ac- commodating all e airplane traffic of a large metropolitan afrport. They can handle the taking-off or landing of airplanes at a rate of better than one per minute. The two carriers now are carrying'complete squadrons | of bombardment, scout and| fighter planes, totaling 144 planes for the two ships. Each of the ships contains re- | pairs and machine shops, fabric, paint and dope rooms in which all of the steps in the manufacture of airplanes may be duplicated. Any type of overhaul work, in- cluding major repairs, on any of the aircraft carried aboard may be done beneath the great flying deck nearly 900 feet long. The Lexington and Saratoga| probably will stand as the only ships of their class in the Navy. Future airplane carriers are to be smaller, though equally complete. The Lexington and Saratoga were not designed originally to be air- plane carriers but were laid down and partially built as battle cruisers. Ordered scrapped under the terms of the first limitation of armaments treaty, they were converted into carriers. Each of the ships weighs 33,000 tons but despite their enormous weight and size, travel faster than any capital ship ever built. The Lexington, en route from San Pedro, Calif., to Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, established five world records on the single run. On the first day out of S8an Pedro she steamed 700 miles, breaking all previous records for distance steamed in 24 hours. On the sec- ond day she covered 742 nautical miles. The remaining distance to Honolulu, 786 miles, was steamed in 24 hours 34 minutes. Breaks Record Three Times. On three consecutive Hays the Lexington thus broke three times the world record for distance steamed in 24 hours. She sat a new world record for time be- tween the United States and Hawaii of 72 hours 34 minutes for 2,228 nautical miles. The best revious record was that of the ght cruiser, U. 8. S. Omaha, in 1923, of 75 hours and 40 minutes. In order that the flying decl may be kept clear, the ship’s fun- nel, gun turrets, control tower, mast and other superstructure are built on one side. Each shi carries five 5-inch anti-aircraft guns and eight 8-inch guns, the latter in four turrets. The electrical installation is the largest ever made aboard a ship. Each carrier has four 35,000- kilowatt turbine generator sets. Power is delivered to four propel- lers by eight motors of 22500~ horsepower, connected in pairs. This 180,000 horsepower installa- tion is greater than the combined gower of the six electrically driven attleships New Mexico, Cali- fornia, Tennessee, Maryland, Colo- rado and West Virgina. Fresh water is supplied by dis- tillation of sea water, the great plant having a capacity of 104,000 gallons per day. The water pumps, handling in excess of 21,000,000 gallons an hour, handle salf water, fresh water, boller feed, fire main supply, sanitary system supply and a supply for| the hydraulic gasoline storage system. ! To those who have not con- sidered the type of gasoline age equipment required for a rier such as the Lexington a: Saratoga, a description of the sys- tem may come as a surprise. 14 Storage Tanks. The fueling system for the air- TION $ EDGERTON. form a fireproof blanket between the gasoline tanks and the inner 8. |part of the ship. There is a complicated system of piping and regulatory equip- ment. Water overflows are pro- vided at three levels to balance asoline of varying specific grav- ty. There also are gasoline and water expansion tanks and gaso- line and water reservoir ta: to assist in ualizing the two liquids throughout the system. - How Gas Is Handled. Gasoline normally is taken aboard through six-inch pipes in the sides of the hull, but may also be taken in drums and poured into the storage tanks through asoline overbalances the water n the system, forcing a corre- sponding amount of water out of tg: storage tanks into the reser- voir tank, from which the sur- plus is pumped overboard. Delivery of gasoline to the fly- ing deck is made through 21%- inch riser Ilpel. For fuelin! of planes and small boats afloat alongside the carrier there are six permanent booms, each carry- g a fueling line. Since the passage of gasoline through a hose or pipe generates to discharge as a spark between the nozzle of the hose and the receiving tank or funnel, perma- nent grounding wires are provid- ed at all fueling points. The telephone system aboard the carriers is unusually com- plete, 52 miles of wiring being re- quired for this purpose aboard each ship. There are 325 tele- Phonea and in addition a general oud speaker system comprising 236 speakers. There also is a call bell system which includes 500 annunciator drops, 710 push but- tons and 248 bells. There are 230 fire alarm stations and a general fire alarm warning system com- prising 218 gongs and howlers. Old-fashioned sailors who had to P"l “spuds” with growls and dull knives admire e galley equipment of the carriers. Elec- trical labor-saving machinery redominates. There are elec- rical meat grinders, potato par- ers, bread mixers and dish wash- ers. electric ranges and in seven elec- tric ovens. No Funds Provided. While a new carrier, of much smaller size than the Lexington and Saratoga, has been author- ized by Congress, no direct appro- zrlluon for its construction has een made. Funds were provided | to prepare for the construction of | the carrier and cruisers which were authorized under the cruiser program adopted by the last Congress, Appropriations for con- struction are expected to be made by the current Congress. The new earrier is expected to displace less than 14,000 tons, as lgllmt the 33,000 tons apiece for the big carriers. This is to permit the construetion of several car- riers rather than one or two large ones, the Washington naval treaty ratio permitting the United States to have 135000 tons in sirplane carriers, 66,000 already having been taken %the Lexing- ton and Saratoga. e remaining 69,000 tons authorized may be divided into four or five smaller carriers, 13,800 tons having been set tentatively as the approxi- mate tonnage of each ship. The Lexington end Saratoga now are at 8an Pedro, Calif. They are due in Atlantic waters this Spring. On March 10 they are to engage in tactical maneuvers with the combined fleets in the Caribbean Bea. Then they will 0 with the fleets to Guantanamo or further tactical exercises. Both carriers sre to visit New York for about 10 days in May and then go to Hampton Roads before returning to their home stations on the Pacific Coast in the latter part of May. The carriers are to bring 144 airplanes maneuvers. Airplanes from the battleships and cruisers of the fleets will bring the total number of alrcraft in operation to ap- proximately 200, representing all es in the naval service from the fast little fighters up to the funnels on the flying deck. The |whi static electricity, which is liable | eord: The cooking is done on 15| his into action in the| gag, THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FEBRUARY 9, 1930—PART FOUR. ALTITUDE FLYER 1AL DISCUSSES HELMET vty e Seaplane Record Holder Be- lieves Record Depends on Headgear Now. Puture high altitude flights may be made by pilots who will wear on their heads a helmet something like that used by the deep-sea diver, in the Uptn‘&on of Lieut. oy Apollo Soucek, U. 8. N., holder of the world altitude rec- ord for seaplanes and former . holder of the world altitude records for planes of all types. ‘The development of such a helmet, ch will keep the pilet's head in at- mosphere like that at sea level and so prevent loss of fac- ulties due to cold and lack of oxy- m may permit e 04 R pient, Someek. in the present world record of 42,123 feet, now held bsowmi Neunhofen of Germany, Lieut. Soucek believes. Will Make New Attempt. Lieut. Soucek referred to the need for such & helmet in describing the preparations he is making for another attempt to break the world record. ac- ing to officials of Pratt & Whit- ney Co., builders of the motor which powers Soucek’s little N-va Apache bplane used for the alttiude flights. One cannot inhale enough air at 25,000 feet—about 4.7 miles—above the earth to keep alive,” Lieut. Soucek said. “I felt drowsy and tired for lack of oxygen on my last flight, even though T had pure gas flowing into my mouth, w‘}aue my nose and ears were plug- ged up. “We have been studying this situa- tion with a view to developing some devices, such as a deep-sea diver's hel- met, to allow the head the pilot to remain in atmosphere similar at sea level. To date nothin tory has been worked out. The diffi- culty is that the exhaust valves at- tached to such a helmet will freeze either epen or shut under low tem- peratures.” 84 Miles High Now Limit. Lieut. Soucek does not believe that man can higher than 8!% miles with the present type of oxygen equipment. “Our clothing,” he said, “is much better suited for the purpose intended than our breathing devices. It is be- lieved that man can go to unlimited altitudes without freezing any part of body er even suffering much dis- comfort, ‘The apparel worn on my flights weighs less than 10 pounds, and no necessity for more clothes was felt in even the coldest zone reached, which was about 76 degrees below zero.” TACTICAL AIR CORPS WORK TO BE EXPANDED 10 Arms Officers of Other Units to Be Detailed as Students of School for 1830-1931. ‘The work of the Air Corps Tactical School at Langley Field, Hampton, Va., has been ordered expanded by the de- tailing of 10 officers of arms other than the Air Corps as students for the 1930-31 school year beginning next Summer, the War Department has an« nounced. The alletments to the different arms of the service will be: Two ? each of the Infantry, Field Artillery, Cavalry and Coast Artillery, and one officer each of the Corps of Engineers and the S Corps. Coast_Ar- tillery, Signal and Engineer Corps have neyer been represented at the school. Officers to be detailed must be of the ates of the advance courses in their re- spective service schools or the command the General Staff School and must be in good physical condition, as they will be required to go on flying status, as observers, CENTURY SP‘EEDS M_AILS.' One century of transportation ress has increased the speed of th United States mails from 90 miles a day to 110 miles per hour. The fastest serve ice in existence 100 years ago was the New York-Philadelphia post, the dis- tance being covered in 24 hours, George Washington in his corre- spondence often mentioned the fact letters were a month en route between Philadelphia and Mount Vernon, a dis- tance which now is covered in 1 hour and 20 minutes by mail planes on the u-ra Transport contract mafl Toute. L S Bransom Gets Appointment, Appointment of George W. “Pete” Bransom, former chief pilot of the Washington-New York Alr Line and ex-Marine Corps flyer, as pilot-salesman big, powerful long-range patrol planes. planes and ship’s boats is an amazing piece of modern engi-| neering. There are 14 storage tanks, each having a capacity of | from 15,000 to 30,000 gallons, built as an integral part of the ship's skin. In addition to these tanks, | which age used for gasoline stor- | age, there are tanks for the fuel | oil and for other liquid storage, | occupying in all approximately two thirds of the length of the ship on both sides, chiefly below | the water line. The gasoline system represents nearly eight years of pioneering development, and is built so that any one of the 14 tanks or any group may be cut out of the system and isolated in case of leakage or damage from shellfire or any other cause. ‘The system is arranged so that there may be no explosive vapor at any time in any portion of the tankage or piping. This means that the entire system must at all times be completely full of liguid. This is accomplished by pumping sea water into the storage tanks as the gasoline is withdrawn, the asoline, being lighter, floating on p of the water without any danger of mixing of the fluids. ‘The gasoline tanks themselves are very tall and thin, formed to the side of the ship and of double thickness. Between the two thicknesses of tanks and the in- These FAB1 Boeing Wasp-powered terior of the hull there is a third tank, kept emgtq); which may be filled with car dioxide gas to alrplanes, com| mext month. There L% for the Detroit Aircraft Corporation was announced here this week. fighters are seen in line formation after e e O o I M I, a J er . 8. 8. Saratoga, wit! eir complement 1o take part Tn combined fieet: saansuvers In the Caribbesn Sea maneu be more in action at that time, than 200 naval airplanes ot 3 grade of senior captain or above, gradu~ | ITUDE LAURELS ARE WON BY PILOTS OF 95th SQUADRON sults in Four Record Flights for Service Planes Since Program Started Last Fall. e 1 D. C. AIR LEGION PLANS ENLARGEMENT Flyer Sees Objects 175 Miles Away at 11,500-Foot Height BALTIMORE PRAISED AS FLYING CENTER New Plane Is Bought—TYo Get Two t fiying is ,?.."’gnom Tew crystal clear Parachutes and Construetion mflmmma'srn direc- of Club House. Former Air Counsel for China| | twn. e Amvme-otunb.c.munrvlu ?wu l'x?n:’uym me“dénllu fi 1 Int ) lva Sole, president of the ciub, h’lhans his Notes Great Strides Made in Maryland City. Reserve ks lots of the 95th that the pressure actually was drop- . . Mich., one such day | |Feturn from s trip to New “ork, where mmm A;‘nf Air e0. | ping. and consequently 1 made no st~ Tecently Tared Lieut. E. A. wens, he arranged for the purchase of 8 new gaged in experimental high sltitude | lempt to go higher. Navy Reserves, to an altitude of ining plane for the Legion, attended -\ I Rockwell Field, San experienced no diMeulty in elimb- | Special Dispatch to The Star. Y :xo Teet in an N2C-1 Navy | |Several conferences on the club method Dmbat fing ot Tesulted in pushing (ing to the altitude I reached, but &| BALTIMORE, February 8.—This city training plane. From this altitude | |Of training pilots and on plans for a P he ajtitide record for serviee DS | 300 0k A% the gauge caysed me to | rapidiy is beeominy the most important| | e was able to distinguish farly | |Ponal svistion elub T e es since: no 3 after tern seal rd, ac- milltary alrplane Lo e tast Fall. . | reaching 31700 ‘was hav- | cording to Carl H. Dolan, former avi-| | Disinly prominent landmarks 175 | |yegion is to acquire at least fwo para- The first altitude achievement ing mo_diffieulty in elimbing ation eounsel for the Chinese govern- . chutes to be used in student fon. the adron was a formation flight at | belleve I could have e higher.” ment and now assistant mai r of the The new plane is to be pl at the u,oo'o'“ feet, led by Capt. H. M. Elmen- experiences of Lieuts. Bundy and | Eastern Air Transport, Inc., who visited nw«u.l{ and I have not had the time members of the Legion who dorf, commanding officer of the squad- ‘were similar, d | Logan Field this week, & inspect the other airpost projects.” have soloed, now 24 in number, so that m,'mnlu tests of new types of oxygen that he elimbed 30,000 feet in 45| Mr. Dolan arrived at the field, flzl‘:s Dolan said he was making & in- |they may build up fi; time. A apparatus itney with full service “belly” ‘Then Lieut. I. by Lieut. . George E. tions officer for Rockwell Fleld. Opens Throttle and Climbs. mna umr*um of his flight to Pratt | toward & Whitney of took off and climbed to 25,000 feet in 30 minutes. Then I opeped the throttle and climbed te a maximum altitude of 31,700 feet. “At that altitude I found that either the oil pressure gauge had frozen or The Roadster:: The Phaeton The Sport Roadster. s555 The Sedan.:: $ The Sedan Delivery... Light Delive: (fluu..: i 134 Ton Chassis obtained by the War Depart- ment. These planes were of the loeln(t P12 runult type, powered with ml‘ & Whi Wasp engines of the radial alr-cooled type. The flights were made e T !A‘ Woodring, one of Rnaing it fom i i rem e extra tan b flew 't:‘n‘n lmtudeh of n,‘n(?:v :uz. 8 rec- service planes. broken by ueut.’N. H. Ives, who climbed to 30,000 feet. Ives, in turn, lost his the. laurels to Lieut. J. H. Bundy, who ex-| o ceeded his secord by 200 feet. The pres- ent record of 31700 feet then was set feet he erul o] ised uipment, including a fuel. Lieut. Bundy said. “Here, satisfactorily, except the gale. reported, was in a turn. With a said, the P-12 woul maximum of 30,200 feet. At 30,000 around for 20 minutes found the ship fairly maneuverable. Price Encountered Gale. “The altitude adjustment was ex- tremely sensitive at this elevation,” also, the BRI f it o Whest o sr 8] 5 ur. 5 peed 0 miles an tachometer | term went out at 27,000. At those altitudes temperature was 10 degrees below Price encountered a 60-mile One of the chief difficulties encoun- tered at extreme altitudes, Lieut. Price matter of climbing roper mixture, continue to elimb a supermailwing plane, the t: on the llmau route of the u{?e‘m Air Transport Co., through Baltimore. “I have traveled by air throughout the United States since returning to America from China in 1923, and ne- where have I found greater strides being made in aviation than I have in _Baltimore,” he said. “One thing I have found in my travel is that the air lines of the country are far g:mndvnnce of the airports and “I mean by this that the are not as accessible as they -m for the convenience of those wishing to travel by air. parachute is to be provi for Legion En;':on on their initial eross-country ghts. Construction of a club house for the Legion at its Hybla Valley, Va., flyin; fleld is to begin in the !rlll and th building will be ready for oeccupancy next Summer, Mr. Sole said. It is planned to eonstruet a swimming pool and at least two tennis courts adjacent to the club house. mm u‘::ewlz Wll-nh I‘:d ‘gudu “#MM e lon planning er activity at the Virginia nfl‘"m the Spring with a primary glider in which members and junior members may get their first taste of flyin, spection of a few divisions of the line in which minor changes were being made or contemplated. “We are planning many things for the betterment of airmail service on the line, which, we hope, will increase the airmail poundage of cities on the line,” he said. AIRSHIP TO VISIT CUBA. ' ‘The Navy dirigible Los Angeles is to visit Hl:nm gx‘bfi, February 15, in observance of the anniversary gale sinking of the battleship Maine, if c Price, communica- | DIowing _southeast frem the Pacifi “I find no exception in Baltimore, | weather conditions are favorable, the| The limited commercial nd A 3 Ocean at 31,000 f In order to give | although I can see great possibilities of | Navy Department has announced. The |school course is to be increased by the the o n regu a thorough test | improvement by means of the new mu- | big p i8 to make a non-stop |addition of courses in practical weldin; he flew 20 minul 31,000 feet. For'| nicipal airport, which will afford quick | flight from her home station, at Lake- (and allied subjects. These classes Wi five minutes he flew at tremendoy llfeed tnmmuuon to the heart of the city. | hurst, N. J., to Havana, circle the Cu- | be held both in the Leglon headq: 3 the Mexican border ai hen [ “I have been in Baltimore only once |ban capital and return home without | 1319 F street, and in the worl at cials, Lieut. Price said: "I | for 15 minutes flew directly into the sto) Hybla Valley. The, Navy has made it an annual when flown on a straight course, but|custom to send service ships to Ha- i on turns would lm!llmudc. He | vana Harbor h&n anniversaries of | LONDON (#).—A mmwwm climbed in linmelmlm up to 20,000 feet, | the Maine si . The Los Angeles | connecting London with South he | but from there up to the top of his|probably will be only réepresentative |is to be t by the of the elimb he made only a single turn, of the Navy ordered there this year. year. Tri-mof biplanes be used. Jor Economical Transportation. | added improvements-yet the price has been greatly reduced! The new Chevrolet Six is enjoying the greatest public reception ever given a Chevrolet car. 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