“SELF-FLYING” PLANE.

Western Star, 29 November 1935, Page 3

“SELF-FLYING” PLANE.

PILOT JUST A- LUXURY, Flying in the newest of the Bureau, of Air Commerce “flivver” planes is like riding a bicycle, says an American, writer. A World War pilot once said that he could take anyone with sufficient sense of balance to dance well and make a pilot of him. That statement came home forcibly when 1,500 feet in the air in the new bat-like “arrow plane,” Lynn Puleson, veteran ah* lines and bureau pilot, released the controls and said calmly “take her over.” Conscious of very few hours in the air, always as a passenger, the writer pulled and pushed on the stick, timidly trying the feel of the ship. It- answered readily and smoothly. Slight pressure on the foot pedals turned her,, the banking being automatic. In either-wide turns or cramped short reversals with the plane standing almost on the wing tip, she moved steadily and unwaveringly.

The feeling of .superiority generated as the plane cruised along at 90 liles ail hour over Washington was shortlived, however, “Take your hand off the stick,” Mi j Juleson said. The steady, even progress continued 1 without a waver of the altimeter needle. “Now take your feet off the rudder,” he ordered. Still the ship flew on as smoothly as before. Apparently it would hav e gone on until the gas gave out and then landed itself, A little later, evidently to prove flirt the ship would not spin, Mr JMe >".n put it over tbe Capitol and pointed <it wing tip exactly over the tip of the bronze statue of Freedom on the ilong-. Around and around like a top he went, with that point the centre of the i r h.. Another ship would probably • d ve nosed downward in a spill, _ ! ut the “flivver” kept its altitude without n falter. That featir.e alone i s a strong recommendation of the plane tor (I .' layman pilot. Within a few days bureau engin mw are going to work to change .'na-.i, features of this ship, principa ly to lighten it by about 900 pounds. At present it requires too long a take-ofi and landing distance. Elimination ot almost half the weight will correct these faults, they believe Shock absprbers will be installed to smooth out rougli fields and a pilot wheel will replace the control .tick. Other corrections will make it possible in taking olf to open the throttle, pull tho wheel back to your stomach, rrd wait for the plane to pull itself off the ground Bureau officials will not go so far os

to predict that the “nnowpbine,” desi 'iied and built by Walter Waterman, of Lo s Angeles, is flip answer to their prayer for a moderate-priced. safe plane. Tt goes a long wav, however, toward meeting the specifications lain down, aml intercut in Washington is high.