NEARLY 400 MILES AN HOUR

Southland Times, Issue 23741, 13 February 1939, Page 7

NEARLY 400 MILES AN HOUR

American Fighter Tested TWIN-ENGINED TYPE DEVELOPED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 12, 7.30 p.m.) LOS ANGELES, February 11. The United States Army has announced that successful secret tests have been made with a single-seater twin-engined fighter of revolutionary design. Major-General Arnold, chief of the corps, admitted that the aeroplane flew at nearly 400 miles an hour, and commented that it probably exceeded in performance any other military aeroplane in the world. “It opens up new horizons of performance unattainable by nations banking solely on single engines,” said Major-General Arnold. Army engineers are convinced that fighters are reaching the limits of their single engines, xxivd.ti-motorc<l bombers are going on to higher speeds, and they have decided that twinengined fighters are a logical step. , The Lockheed Corporation has been secretly building the aeroplane for 18 months. It is all metal, with streamlined motors mounted on the leading edge of each wing. Featured include a tricycle landing gear, a high-lift device for quick climbing and substratosphere flying equipment. 1 It was revealed later that the aeroplane struck a , tree when attempting to land at the New York army aerodrome after making almost a record flight from California—a distance of 2400 miles in 7hr 45min. The impact ripped off the right wing, crushed the fuselage, bent the propellers and slightly injured the pilot, Lieutenant Ben Kelsey. It is reported that the aircraft cost 80,000 dollars.

BRITISH AND FRENCH PURCHASES MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND OTHER WAR MATERIAL (Received February 12, 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 11. The State Department has revealed that Britain in January obtained export licences for the purchase of 4,000,000 dollars’ worth of military aeroplanes, chiefly training and observation craft. France imported 1,250,000 dollars’ worth of war material in the same month.