U.S. and Centenary Race

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 189, 9 May 1934, Page 11

U.S. and Centenary Race

Sir, —There seems to be a considerable amount of mystery, to the general public, concerning the best national type of plane on the market suitable for the Centenary Air Race. A careful study of different national products leads one to a certain definite conclusion. The plane which has the best chance of winning will be one which has been produced, tested under all the conditions likely to be met with in the race, and proved to be reliable and fast. . Such a plane will be produced by the country which has all these climatic and territorial conditions at home, provided it has kept in the forefront in aviation matters. The nation which fulfills all these conditions is the U.S.A. The first flight by the Wright brothers was staged there. At the present time the U.S.A, is recognised as the foremost flying nation in the world. The country includes a fair approximation to nil the worst climatic conditions in the world. It has the world’s fastest land planes, e.g., the Wedell-Williams Wasp powered monoplane, which did 304.98 m.p.h. and ■was later flown by Roscoe Turner from Los Angeles to New York at an average speed of 275 m.p.h. with a maximum of 315 m.p.h. One of the large air liners, the Douglas D.C.I, a fourteen-passenger plane, recently averaged 211 m.p.h. on a trans-Continental hop to Newark Airport, a distance of 2609 miles, and there are many other makes in these and other classes of aircraft which are likely to attract the attention of competitors in the race. The planes are, contrary to general belief, built to as high a standard of efficiency and safety as any equivalent outside type of plane—and sometimes higher. As witness to the fact, an editorial in the official organ of the Royal Aero Club some time ago mentioned that the British plane could not compete in the Canadian market because the American manufacturer built his planes to a safety figure of 10 to 12, while his British contemporary made his product between 6 and 8. It must be borne in mind that the U.S.A, is a very large and wealthy nation, and apparently has many advantages to assist it in attaining these successes, but according to the old saying “that the sun never sets on the British flag.” the British have an even larger territory with a wider range of climatic conditions than any other nation, which they should turn to tho same advantages as the Americans.—l am. etc..' INTERESTED. May