CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 14 February 1927, Page 5

CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

PARACHUTE CARRIES AIRPLANE TO EARTH. NEW YORK, Jan. 2. The first landing of a plane supported by a parachute ever made in lhe United States was reported recently. The pilot, R. Carl Oelze, of the San Diego naval air station, shut off his motor at 2500 feet altitude, but, it is said, made no attempt at gliding. The plane landed in one minute and six seconds after falling at an average speed of 38 feet per «=•?•. ond. The descent appeared rapid' at »irst, but was checked as the parachute opened. The plane then swung from side to side, but as it approached the earth its descent became steadier. The plane and parachute settled to earth in a slight hollow, sntfering some damage to the landing gear. The final speed at which the plane landed was estimated to be considerably less Uian the average speed. The application of the parachute to the support of the entire plane is the joint invention of Harry B. Doucett, chief aviation machinist’s mate at the San Diego naval air station, and of H. R. Russell, maker of the so-u ioed Russell parachute. Lieutenant P. D. Donnelly, also of the San Diego ,r.r station, predicted that the tests would lead to the design of aircraft in which the passenger compartment would be detachable, so that in the event of serious accident in the air the pilot would be able to deliver the whole compartment safely to earth.

In the experiment described plane, pilot and equipment weighed about 1800 lb. The parachute weighed about 60 lb, and was 54 feet in diameter. The plane used in the test was specially rebuilt to strengthen the midship section of the fuselage, which would receive the great est strain as the parachute opened. The

parachute was installed in such a manner in the fuselage that it could readily l.v disengaged by the pilot. It was designed to be carried back by the wind, then opened and swung upward by the air pressure. A special cradle of steel and aluminium was built into heavy centre wing struts. The size of the p irachutc I was detemiined from previous experience | to give a landing speed of not. more than 20 feet per second. As an extia pre'an ticn the landin I gear was strengthened to withstand ar unexpectedly severe 1 tncl ing shock. The experiment is undoubtedly interesting, but it cann. t l e said tube conclusive. In the most dangerot s aerial difficulties, such as when the plrne stalls a short distance from the ground and goes into, a fpin, there would be no time to use the parachute. At greatci altitudes it is much simpler for the pilot and crew to jump in individual para I chutes. But for commercial emit canyI ing several passengers unversed in paraI chute jumping the development is net • without interest