NEW COMBAT PLANE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 2 March 1939, Page 8

NEW COMBAT PLANE

UNITED STATES ARMY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC LANDINGS SECRET EVIDENCE OF AIR CHIEF RELEASED fO.P.A.—By Electric Telegraph—Ccovriehtl (Received 2nd March. 12.55 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Ist March. The testimony of Major-General Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Corps, given to secret hearings of the House War Department Appropriations sub-com-mittee a month ago, was published today. Major-General Arnold declared that the army has a new combat plane believed capable of giving battle to the world’s best on equal terms, and outfly them. He added that one of the most important recent contributions to aeronautical research is a device for completely automatic landings. “More than fifty landings were made without the pilot’s hands or feet touching the controls, and without manually operated ground radio aids. It can bring a ship to a safe landing with zero visibility just as easily as on a clear day.” Major-General Arnold said a production of 2500 planes would be reached next year. Without any trouble industry was capable of a maximum production exceeding 12.000 a year. He testified that the total cost of operating, maintaining and replacing the planes was under 5,500 dollars. The plane programme recently authorised by the House would be 230.000,000 dollars yearly after 5500 planes were obtained. It was also estimated that the Air Corps could muster 1428 planes now in commission exclusive of the National Guard. Major-General Arnold recommended j that the army dispense with h/mgars and let planes stand in the open the I same as present day automobiles, beI cruse all-weather planes were being manufactured, and savings of over 11,000.000 dollars would result.