GEST CIRCULATION OF ANY fiVtKΤΪΟΝ MAGAZÍN

COMPLETE DEATH RIDES THE SKY by George L. Eaton « , ν ν APRIL ^ A IR NOVEL • W e l l , your boss thinks of you in terms of so much a week! You are worth this or that to him. How much you are worth depends upon —YO U 1. You

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M S k Volume Vlil April No. 1 1937

M S I EReg. U. S. Pat. E Ofl. f L A STREET & SMITH PUBLICATION

— CONTENTS------3 Stories: * 8 Features: BILL BARNES AIR NOVEL: This Winged World .... 4 DEATH RIDES THE SKY 8 The best news photos of the air. Men halted and fell beneath the diving planes Air Progress ...... 7 —though no bombs uere dropped. It What's happening in aviation. teas uncanny, devilish—and Bill Barnes faced the most baffling Seaplane Development . . . .15 mystery alone. A page of pictorial instruction. by George L. Eaton The Flier’s Dictionary by C. B. Colby 23 The nineteenth lesson in the technical The Flaming Finish by A. R. Elrod 20 terminology of the air. It was nip and tuck with the fire god—but he rounded the pylon before his Pictorial History of Man in the Air . 27 motor conked----- More items for your aeronautical scrapbook. “Dear Harry------” by George Swift 28 Split-second Action . . . .29 Letters of an air student to his friend. Aerial adventures that come once in a lifetime. 13 Model Building Items: Cross W inds ...... 39 The Model Workshop The Air Trails Crossword Puzzle page. Conducted by Gordon S. Light 41 Air Trails Gallery ...... 40 Pictures of modern airplanes for the collector. The Contest Calendar . . . .41 ------^ A schedule of competitive events. • The Mulvihill Winner 5 Articles: by Bruce Luckett and Gordon S. Light 42 Getting into Aviation A championship stick model for the contest by Clyde Pangborn builder. and Lt. W. M. Wood 16 Model Matters . . . . .46 The second article-in a series which answers Contests, club notes, model activities. This is all your questions about opportunities in your page. Use it. the air. The Fokker G-l by Alan D. Booton 48 Take It Around . by Frank Kurtz 24 A double-ftgelage flying scale model of The story of a boy who wanted to fix—and unusual interest—the plane on the cover. did! The ? M a r k ...... 53 The Reaper . by Frank Tinsley 30 Answers to your questions; information for Mars gets a new sword—the plane on the all. cover. Double-surfaced Indoor Tractor. Modern Motors by Lawrence N. Smithline 54 by Arch Whitehouse An experimental model. and A. N. Troshkin 32 The Discussion Corner . . . .56 The third article in a valuable series—the This month readers discuss color visibility. radial engine. Builder’s Guide by William Winter 57 Tragic Memorial Enlargement of drawings—the fourth in. the by Lt. Com. George O. Noville 38 construction series. The story of an airplane cemetery. Miles Mohawk by William Winter 58 Solid scale model of Colonel Lindbergh's new / hybrid. 2 Departments: Designing for the 1937 Wakefield Rules What’s Your Question? by Gordon S. Light 60 Conducted by Clyde Pangborn 35 The Seversky P-35 by Paul Plecan 6' A page of expert information for Air Trails A solid scale of the newest army fighter. readers. Export F ighter ...... L- i Air Adventurers Club Another tempting solid scale model for the Conducted by Albert J. Carlson 36 builders. ip More news of our new, cxpantling activities. Single Copy, 15 Cents Yearly Subscription, $1.50 The entire content* of this magazine arc protected by copyright, and must not bo reprinted without the publishers’ permission. Monthly publication issued by Street & Smith Publication». Inc.. 79-89 Seventh Avenue. Neyr York. X. Y. George C. Smith. Jr.. President; Ormond V. Gould. Vice President and Treasure!; Arlemas Holmes. Vice President and Secretary; Clarence \ omam, Λ Ice President. Copyright. 193«. by Street Λ: Smith Publica­ tions. Inc.. New York, Copyright, 1937. by Street Λ Smith Publication*. Inc.. Great Itrltaln. Entered as Sceond-ela** Matter. January 11. 1937. at the Post Office at New York. N. Y., under Act of Congress of March 3, 1871». Subscriptions to Cuba. Dorn. Republic. H aiti. Spain. Central and South American Countries except The Gulanas and ltrltlsh Honduras. $1.75 per year. To all other Foreign Countries. Including The Gulanas and Ilrltlsh Honduras, $2.23 per year. We do not accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts. To facilitate handling, the author should Inclose a self-addressed envelope with tho requisite postage attached. STREET & SMITH PUBLICATIONS, INC. 79 7fh AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. 3 Prepare Quickly at Home in Spare Time

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Canadian Air Force With Course * N a m e ...... (Print clearly) "1 sent your letter with an application " I am perfectly »atisfled that the re­ for enlistment in the Royal Canadian Air sults obtained to date from your Course I A d d rt ...... A g e ...... Force ami I received a letter stating have made its cost Insignificant. Rest as­ that my application is accepted and I sured that you have a life-long booster can enlist as toon as there is a vacancy.” for Aviation Institute training." L. W. C ity ...... S t a t e ...... JOSEPH J BEIS1G. Melville. Sask . ARCHER. P. O. Box 5S. Curacao. Canada. D. W. I. 4

Whirling blades oř the constant speed propeller viewed from a cabin window of the China Clip­ per during a trans-Pacific flight. This type propeller automatically selects the blade pitch best suited for efficient operation at a constant engine speed.

Above— New English ground trainer fitted with conven­ tional wings, permitting the student to fly at a restricted height once he has grasped the essentials, reduces the cost of flight training. Left— In flight the trainer affords the student actual operating experiences.

A b o v e — Nonchalant is Harold Parkhurst, daredevil parachute Radio direction finder newly de­ jumper, as he lights veloped, pointed to by hand in cigarette while falling picture, enables pilots to quickly from 5,000 feet. determine position by obtaining bearings on two radio stations. 5

Inferior of one of the new extra­ fare, luxury airliners recently placed in service by United Air­ lines on their New York to Chicago run. By seating 14 passengers instead of the usual 21, it was possible to utilize deeply upholstered, club-car-type swivel chairs.

Hull of the 18-ton British fly­ ing boat "Cavalier," being drawn up on the beach at Bermuda preparatory to as­ sembly. The "Cavalier" is one of a number of flying boats intended for trans- Atlantic service in the spring.

Gwyne John, English parachute jumper, shown after practice jump, intends falling 18,000 feet before pulling the rip cord. Section of new German Zeppelin now under con­ struction, being moved into position by workmen, indicates the hugeness of its complex framework. 6

The "Winged Bullet," Howard Hughes' famous racer, at Newark after its trans-continental record dash of less than eight hours.

Below— Reforestry plane is one of several former mail planes now used by the government to scatter seeds upon burned-over forest land.

/ Above— Safety device which, when * attached to the inlet and outlet of a tank, reduces the danger of gasoline explosion to a minimum. (Inset) Left— Closeup of the funnel-shaped inlet that contains the fire-prevention screen.

Right— This primary glider, in flight on a mid-winter day in England, exemplifies the popularity of the sport in that country.

Closeup of the Boeing bomber illustrates the revolving turret in the nose, the great en­ gine nacelles, and the method of retracting the landing gear which has wheels almost as high as a man is tall. 7 Progress A Summary of AVIATION NEWS

miles and carried 14.540 passengers. T.ord Bea- verbrook, noted British ncwspajjer publisher, has ordered a new American Lockheed which has a top speed of 230 m.p.h. The first trans-Canada air service is scheduled to start on July 1st. Tlic new British Armstrong-Whitworth airliners, l>eing built for Imperial Airways, will I k * known as Ensign ships. The Brussels First International Aircraft Exhibition is set for May 26th to June 6th, and it is understood that many American mod­ els will l>e on view. An interesting item brought out during the in­ vestigations of air crashes in the West recently disclosed that vast deposits of radio-active ore on the air-line route over Ncwhall Pass may have been responsible for two plane crashes in that area. Radio-beam communication aboard both doomed liners was possibly affected by millions of tons of uranium, a radium-filled mineral lying just below the surface of the Newhall hills, explained Charles Slattery, a veteran engineer. Sikorsky S-42-A Clipper super-imposed over a Pan-American Airways has l>ccn notified by the Pratt & Whitney engine and clouds. Brazilian government that after 1938 planes flying over Brazil on commercial routes must be piloted by TRANSPORT naturalized citizens or native Brazilians. Mexico passed OR A PREM IUM of $2.00 one may now fly be­ a similar ruling last year. tween Chicago and New York via United Air Lines F Skyloungc Douglas transports. Passengers using AIR FORCES this de luxe service get overstaffed swivel chairs and Japan recently drafted a new armament program Pullnian-car luxury. which included $21,074,863 for strengthening the naval Pan-American Airways recently disclosed that they air service. $7.525,483 will be spent during 1937 and had signed a mail contract with the British Colonial an additional $2,697,537 for the increase in the cost of Government at Hong Kong for the shipment of trans­ aircraft maintenance. pacific mails. The arrangement was completed when It has been reported that the U. S. army air service it was disclosed that Pan-American had established a will carry out a mass trans-Atlantic flight to London, Manila-Hong Kong leg of the United States to China in connection with the coronation ceremonies of King air line. George VI. •Senator Hattie W. Caraway of Arkansas recently The Canadian Car and Foundry Co. has obtained proposed that commercial air lines he required to pro­ manufacturing license rights to the Grumman FEE two- vide a parachute for each passenger. Representative seater fighter, in Canada. Howard F. Klein recently D. Lane Powers of New Jersey introduced a similar broke Frank Hawks’ old mark between Roosevelt Field measure in the House. and Montreal in one of these ships, covering the dis­ Dr. John B. Crane, of Harvard University, is not tance in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Hawks’ old mark was certain that the Wright Brothers were America’s first 1 hour 57 minutes. hcavicr-than-air pilots. He has seen reliable evidence It has been stated that the German air service lx>asts that Gustave Whitehead, a former Bridgeport night of 7,000 machines-of various tyjx\s and her aircraft watchman, actually attained mechanical flight along the production plans call for at least 10,000 planes a year. streets of Bridgeport as early as 1900. One witness At the Junkers plant in Dessau more than 25.000 work­ swears that Whitehead flew one and one half miles on ers are employed. August 14, 1901, or more than two years before the The new North American 0-47 observation monoplane Wrights made their first flight. Whitehead died in has transparent panels in the fuselage belly for the ob­ obscurity in 1927. server. During 1935 Canadian Airways, Ltd., flew 674.018 New Zealand readers will be glad (Turn to Page 95) 8 DEATH RIDES the

VERYW HERE MEN were in action: engine me­ Mechanics hurried carefully through their last-minute chanics, machinists, field-traffic men, dispatchers, tests: porters stowed baggage away in the side of the E radio inspectors, porters, and passengers. A voice plane. Back in the terminal building inspectors worked blared eerily through the loud-speakers. on weight charts, to make sure the combined load of “Plane leaving in five minutes for Elko, Reno. Sacra­ passengers, baggage, mail, and express did not exceed mento, San Francisco, and Oakland. Please give your the maximum weight allowed by the department of com­ baggage to a porter to be weighed and put aboard.” merce. Teletype machines rattled away, notifying every Passengers filed through the waiting room to have station ahead that Flight No. 7 was alwmt to take off, their tickets registered and stood waiting inside the gates warning them to stand by and report as the big ship ready to go aboard the big. twin-motored transport plane passed overhead. that stood at the end of the gaylv colored canopy. A bride of four weeks kissed her husband good-by: There was intense excitement in the air. It crept a mother kissed her only daughter good-by: a grand­ under people’s skins and brought a flush to their cheeks mother was giving instructions to a porter about and sometimes a ripple of aimless, senseless laughter to the two twelve-year-old children who were going their lips. Passengers and their friends and families home alone. stood gazing through the gates at the enormous monster Young Jimmie Murphy, the co-pilot of the pulsating on the concrete runway. Tears and laughter big ship, had already warmed up the two intermingled as the sun plunged into its lied behind the geared, supercharged Falcon engines. mountains to the west.

The plane crashed, went to pieces— and it hadn't even struck!

A Bill Barnes A ir N o v e l by GEORGE L. EATON 9

A voice yelled through the phone, “I f you can't stop it, Barnes, every plane in the service will he grounded.

The two idling propellers were shining disks in the dim­ “How’s Timmy?” she asked the skipper. ming light of the late afternoon. Martin Dewart turned and smiled at her. “He's As Martin Dewart, the skipper, entered the pilot’s Ο. K. now, Peggy,” he said. “He’s going to pull compartment with his bag of registered mail, voimg through. He’s tough like his old man.” Jimmie turned and grinned at him. “His old man isn’t so tough when Timmy gets sick,” “How was the kid to-day?” he asked. Peggy Axton said, without thinking. “And he wouldn’t Martin shook his graying head. “He’s out of danger l>e so tough if anything happened to you.’* now,” he said. “The doctor says its just a matter of Martin Dewart’s head flew up and he gazed at the care and rest from now on.” He stopped speaking as his stewardess with startled eyes. She fin shed as she real­ voice broke for a moment. “You know, Jimmie." he said ized what she had said, and went hurrying down the in a moment, “I don’t know what I ever would have runway to meet the oncoming passengers. done if anything had happened to that boy of mine. He She stood beside the small portable steps which led is so little and so helpless. My wife and I------” Ho up and in through the oval-shaped metal door to the stopped speaking because he couldn’t go on. cabin. The passengers exclaimed over the soft, rich Young Jimmie Murphy leaned over and gave him a fabrics on the walls and the daintily curtained windows. slap on the back. “It’s over now, skipper,” he said. “Go Peggy Axton assigned them to the deep-cushioned, on and cry like a baby if you want to. I understand. single seats arranged in rows beside the windows, and You kept your chin up for three frightful weeks.” showed them how to adjust their safety belts when the The stewardess, a brown-eyed, trim little figure in her ship took off. jaunty uniform, came down the runway and stuck her Martin Dewart swung around in his bucket seat as the head in the pilot’s compartment. eighteen passengers came aboard. He studied them 10 AIR TRAILS carefully as they took their seats to right and left. He Martin Dewart was thinking about his kid, Timmy, liked to know what kind of people he was carrying, be­ as he held the ship steady above the high Fast Humboldt cause he was responsible for them. A couple of times Range of mountains. In his ear was the constant hum he had refused to take his ship aloft until men who had from a long-range l>eacon down below, guiding him on his had too much to drink were taken off. Flying was a course as surely as a lighthouse guides a skipper at sea. serious business with Dewart. As long as he rode the “radio beam” and the inter­ He gunned his engines as the stewardess flashed a locking signals A and N in the Morse code continued to “Please Fasten Seat Belts” sign over the forward door. sound in his ear, he was dead on his course. If he He listened for a moment to their muted roar, while his deviated to the left or port, a dot-dash, dot-dash would eyes scanned his instrument panel. warn him, if to starboard he would hear a dash-dot, He idled the motors down and waited for his take-off dash-dot, until he got back on* the radio "track” the gov­ signal from the dispatch tower. A moment later he ernment stations broadcast along the airways. taxied across to the runway that gave him the longest run He glanced at his altimeter and saw that he had ten into the wind. A white signal light flashed that all was thousand feet under him. Seven thousand was enough, clear, as a dispatcher scanned the air and Dcwart gave but Skipper Dcwart always played it safe. A fellow her the gun. He took the ship to ten thousand feet, never could tell what the air currents al>ovc that range where he leveled olT and adjusted his throttles to a of mountains might do. cruising speed of one hundred and eighty miles an hour. He began to think alxmt Timmy and his wife again, As night settled upon them Jimmie Murphy picked up and a warm glow suffused him. He decided he was a the radio transmitter^ pressed a button and chanted: pretty lucky guy, after all. It wasn’t everybody that “Trip No. 7. Trip No. 7 calling Station WVBD— had as sweet a wife and kid and a job that laid the money WVBD.” on the barrel head the way Amalgamated did it. He “WVBD. This is Station WVBD. Calling Trip slid back his ear phones and spoke to Jimmie Murphy. No. 7. Go ahead!” came back to his ears. “You know,” he said, “I’m going to stop crabbing “What is the wind surface? What is the wind sur­ about things. Here I have all kinds of things to be face?” Jimmie wanted to know. thankful for and I’m always going around lamenting like “WVBD to Trip No. 7. Surface wind WSW. Sur­ a man with coots in his l>eard. I------” face wind W SW ten one zero. Go ahead! Go ahead!” “Good!” Jimmie interrupted. “If you stop crabbing. the ground sent back. I'll stop smoking opium!” The stewardess flashed a light that read: "Passengers “There you go,” Skipper Dcwart said, “trying to l>e May Unloose Their Safety Belts.” Then she took a funny. Why don’t you get some cork and do it with a tray of sandwiches, wrapped in cellophane, and hot black face. The trouble with you is------” bouillon, coffee, tea, and fruit down the runway. The And then it happened! passengers settled back in their seats and found that they The faces of the two pilots turned white as they felt could eat. the big ship being flicked by the finger of eternity. Their - She flashed another sign that said they could now eyes sp^d to the altimeter. It read seven thousand feet. smoke. They settled down, all their nervousness gone. Dcwart yanked back on the wheel with all of the strength The soft, quiet swaying of the big ship lulled some of in his powerful arms. At the same instant lie knocked them to sleep. Some of them were laughing and chat­ his head phone back on his ears and the two interlocking ting gayly. signals told him he was on his right course. Far below, in the darkness, the mountains spread out He moved with the speed and coordination for which like an unending sea. But the passengers knew that transport pilots arc famous. But he moved too late. Martin Dcwart did not need eyes to see. The bettcr- There was a rending crash as the big ship sped into the informed ones knew that he had a magnetic compass side of a mountain at a speed of one hundred and eighty which showed him north at all times; a gyro compass, miles an hour. whose axis is free to turn in any direction, but so As the lights went out and the big ship folded up like mounted that its absolute and unvarying direction was an accordion, the night was pierced by the horrible maintained. They knew he had an earth inductor com­ screams of the passengers. pass, which had a generator which recorded the direction There was that one tremendous crash and then a half of flight of the plane; a controller which was set by the hundred lesser ones, as the plane settled and the engines pilot according to the direction in which lie wished to sobbed their last gasp. go, and the indicator, which would show any deflection Fire trickled out from the engine house and licked from his intended course. back, fanned by a devil’s breeze. The flame reached a They knew he had a “bank-and-tum” indicator to gas tank. The night was made hideous by the wailing show how much he was leaning to left or right as lie sobs of passengers who had not yet died, as a tank ex­ turned; an altimeter that would show him just how high ploded, then another, and another. he was flying, and an air-speed indicator that would tell Three hours later silence settled down over the twisted him how fast he was flying after deducting the speed of a thing that had been like a thing alive a few hours before. head wind or adding the speed of a tail wind. Far away, a ground operator chanted into his micro­ They knew he needed only the navigating instruments phone: “WVBD—WVBD calling Trip No. 7. Calling l>eforc him to take them safely through the night, and Trip No. 7.” they were not nervous. With the exception of one old lady, who was riding in Seat No. 4 on the port side. II— ANOTHER CRASH She was nervous and she didn’t care who knew it. HELL BROKE LOOSE along the mountain di­ But she would have been just as nervous if she had been vision of the Amalgamated Airways at three o’clock in lying on her bed in her own home. the morning. The general manager, the division opera- AIR TRAILS 11 tion manager, the division engineer, the traffic manager, and the communications superintendent were routed from their sleep and knew the panic a dozing front-line trench knows when the enemy attacks at' dawn. The first editions of the metropolitan press through­ out the United States carried large, black headlines of the missing Amalgamated transport. Later editions car­ ried editorials. Columnists devoted half their columns to the missing plane. When the public learned that Paul Mungo, the radio crooner who had held the country in the palm of his hand for years, and a senior United States senator were passengers al>oard the missing plane, they took an interest they had never taken in the air lines before. At daybreak Amalgamated Airways dispatched fast planes from all of the airports on the mountain division.

in search of the big transport. The army sent planes from as far east as Michigan and as far west as San Diego. They followed the regular route from Summit, Nevada to San Francisco, but found no trace of the missing plane. But at nine o’clock in the morning Charlie Spencer, veteran Amalgamated pilot, and Burt Longneckcr, traffic manager, located the tangled thing, that had been a transport plane, on the side of a mountain. It was fifty miles off its course. When Burt Longneckcr saw that horrible sight he Just before the two ships crashed head-on, buried his face in his hands. They flew low and saw that Bill pulled the stick back! The Lancer went there were' no signs of any one having left the plane roaring upward------after the crash. They knew that-the passengers who 12 AIR TRAILS had not been killed in the actual crash had been locked in a mountain.” Ralph Parks grinned. “I’m a young inside the ship to be burned to a cinder. No one could man an’ I got a lot of things to look forward to.” possibly have survived. Jerry Winsor looked at him in disgust. He was an “They were on their course, according to their re­ old man, as pilots go. lie was thirty-six. ports,” Longnecker whispered. “They reported right “When we get in the air you take the wheel,” he said. up to the time of the crash that they were riding the radio “O. K.,” Ralph said. He glanced over his shoulder Ijeam and everything was O. K.” at the six passengers. They were all, obviously, nervous. "Everything wasn’t O. K.," Charlie Spencer pointed “Our flying guests don’t look as though they had too out. “Everything wasn’t O. K. or Marty Dewart much confidence in us,” he said. “They’ve been leadin’ wouldn't have stuck his nose into a mountain. Old the papers.” Marty, of all people. He’s one guy I’d have bet my last Jerry Winsor “revved up” his single Falcon engine dollar would die in bed.'* until it was turning over smoothly and beautifully. He Congress, the department of commerce, the whole threw off his wheel brakes and the streamlined ship raced nation, clamored for an investigation. It was the third down the runway into the wind. The tail came up and crash on the lines of Amalgamated Airways within eight Jerry Winsor took it aloft in wide, sweeping spirals. months. They had all been on the route from New York He coaxed the powerful ship up and up, until lie had to San Francisco, and they had cost a total of sixty- fifteen thousand feet under him. The route he had to three lives. fly was one of the toughest in the country. It was fully The latc-aftcrnoon papers carried full pages of the as bad as that dangerous stretch over the Allegheny wreck, taken by news photographers from the air. They Mountains in Pennsylvania. carried pictures of Senator Gcttier and of the two chil­ "All right, Blériot,” Jerry said to Ralph Parks, as lie dren who had been traveling alone. Editorials struck a solemn note of warning that “The airways will lose the public’s confi­ dence if another such disaster occurs.” The five million women who had closed their eyes and listened to Paul Mungo croon to them became hysterical in their demands for some one’s head. The husbands of most of them didn’t say anything. The five million men who had followed the tirades of the senator from Louisiana on the floor of the upper house wrote letters to the newspapers and demanded that he he avenged. The chairman of the board of directors of Amalgamated Airways called a meeting of the directors in New York City. It was a worried and harassed little band of men who faced him around the long table. They saw a great enter­ prise crumbling Ixmeath their very eyes. And, somehow, they felt guilty of having taken those sixty-three lives. They were a solemn, nervous lot of men as Benjamin Shipman, the chairman of the board got to his feet. At precisely the same moment Shipman opened his lips to speak, a light flashed white in the traffic tower on the Amalgamated airport at Summit. A dispatcher on the field signaled that the air was clear. The pilot of the single-motored, six-passenger Meredith transport kicked the ship around into the wind as he studied the windsock and the wind vane. The co-pilot, a youngster of twenty-five, sealed the threw him the wheel, “do your stulí.” cabin door and went up into the pilot’s compartment. The Falcon whirlwind engine droned on and on above It was a short hop from Summit to Denver. Colorado— the tips and crags’and chasms of the mountains. At that is, short compared to the long, transcontinental hops, intervals the two pilots relieved one another at the con­ and the plane carried no stewardess. trols and the radio. The pilot, Jerry XVinsor, a veteran with a million flying Ralph Parks had the controls when he sighted Denver miles behind him, and a great many hours, looked at the ahead and began a long glide toward the airport. It was co-pilot, Ralph Parks, and shook his head. miles away and they stili had plenty of altitude when lie “I'm as nervous as a cat on a red-hot stove,” lie said. pulled back on the controls and tried to lift the nose. "I can’t believe old Marty Iras gone west. I never knew He looked at Jerry Winsor out of the corner of his eyes, such a careful guy and such a marvelous pilot. It’s got when the ship didn’t respond, and tried again. Nothing me down.” happened. The nose began to drop too fast. His face “Don’t get down too far or you’ll be stickin’ our nose was white when he spoke to Jerry as calmly as lie could. AIR TRAILS 13 “There’s something wrong. Jerry.” he said. “She The l)oard of directors of Amalgamated Airways was won’t respond. It feels as though the flipper and rudder about to adjourn when Henjamin Shipman’s secretary cables had gone.” stepped into the board room and closed the door behind Jerry Winsor stared at him as he signed oft on the him. His face was white and his hands were trembling. radio. Then he grabbed at his own wheel and began to The first time he tried to speak no sound came from his curse. Hut the nose was down now and nothing that lie bloodless lips. could do would bring it up. He gunned his engine and “You’re wanted on the telephone, Mr. Shipman,” he tried to warp the plane up. The passengers in the back said. "Long distance. It’s------” were getting out of their scats trying to get up the run­ "It's what, man?” Shipman bellowed at him. But he way. knew. An old axiom to the effect that “it never rains "Lock the door!” Jerry snapped at Ralph Parks. but it pours” flashed through his mind. Ralph Parks locked the door from the cabin to the pilot’s " it’s the general manager of the mountain division, compartment, as three men crashed against it. Their sir,” his secretary said. "There has l>een another crash!” faces were twisted into weird masks, and in their eyes was the fear of death. They bellowed like caged, angry Ill— A PLOT animals as Jerry Winsor fought his ship with all the BILL BARNES ran his hand through his shock of steady calm of a master pilot and a desperation l>orn of blond hair and then wiped it on the chemist’s apron he necessity. was wearing over his flying clothes. A little frown The sturdy ship was plummeting toward the earth at puckered his tanned forehead as his eyes wandered the a terrific speed, when the wings tore off completely. length of the diminutive lalx>ratory he had established The fuselage began to revolve as though some invisible on Barnes Field. Long Island. Then back to the figures

hand had the nose on a stick and was twirling it around. before him. He checked and rechecked the formula tor Jerry Winsor shut off the ignition and shouted above the new alloy of metals he was trying to develop. He the sound of the racing gale that went by them. “Good- knew that if he was successful he would have a formula by, kid,” and his lips were twisted into a smile. for an alloy that would reduce the weight of aircraft by Young Ralph Parks touched his uniform cap in a last nearly half. The possibilities for long-distance flight salute, as the ship’s engine drove into the ground and would be tremendous. It would be a discovery that ripped back through the length of the fuselage. would lx* of inestimable value to the defense of the There was not a sign of life amid that twisted and United States. tangled mass of steel and wood when fire trucks, ambu­ Feeling that he was getting closer and closer to a suc­ lances, and a wrecking crew arrived on the scene from cessful discovery, he had not left his laboratory since Denver. One of the passengers was breathing, but he noon the day before. Old Charlie, the head cook on died before he reached a hospital. The rest were man­ Barnes Field, had sent his meals to him on a tray. Most gled beyond recognition. of the trays had gone back to the kitchen scarcely 14 AIR TRAILS touched. He had slept for two hours, sitting on a high He laid the newspapers on a bench and drove his right stool with his head resting on his arms and his arms on fist into his left palm with a characteristic gesture. a workbench. "This.” he said, "is horrible. It’s going to set the air His face was lined, his eves red and swollen, and he lines back ten years. It------” was nearly exhausted from the absolute concentration "Did you sec what they said about Jerry Winsor?” of his job. He had told Tony Lamport, the chief radio Shorty asked. operator and communications superintendent on Barnes "Who said?” Bill asked. He grabbed at the papers Field, not to bother him under any circumstances. He «again. had told young "Sandy” Sanders, his secretary and the "The bright newspaper hounds,” Shorty answered. youngest member of his little squadron of famous fliers, "They intimate that lx>th he and young Parks, the co­ the same thing. He had l>een working alone for nearly pilot, were drunk.” twenty-four hours. "Drunk!” Bill roared. "Jerry Winsor never took a “C’mon seven!” lie said, ruefully, as lie gazed at the drink in his life.” His eyes raced down the column. formula and snapped his fingers. "I’ve almost got you, He shook with indignation as he read: baby. Get nice! Get hot! I'm going to crack you, so why not now?” Ambulance doctors, policemen and firemen, -who helped He climbed off his stool and moved over to a window remove the mangled bodies of the victims from the wrecked plane all agree that there was a very distinct odor of liquor that overlooked the myriad concrete and Tar via runways about the remains of the pilot, Jerry Winsor, and William that crisscrossed the field. The transverse bands of yel- Parks, the co-pilot. low-and-black pigment painted across the runways, to aid in night or fog landings, gleamed in the glare of the "A dirty, filthy lie!” Bill snarled. “Jerry Winsor and morning sun. Marty Dcwart were two men who took their business The field itself was completely surrounded by an seriously. They were two of the l>cst transport pilots in electrified wire fence containing burglar alarms that rang the world. They both had a million miles behind ’em. automatic bells in the strategically placed guard posts and 1 can’t understand it, Shorty. I can’t understand it!” turned on huge floodlights. "That’s what old Benjamin Shipman of Amalgamated Bill gazed across the field with unseeing eyes, until one says,” Shorty said, dryly. "The'papers arc clamoring of his yellow-and-black-and-red Snorters came plummet­ for the government to put Amalgamated out of business.” ing out of nowhere "It says,” Bill went and fishtailed in for a on, "that Marty was landing. Bill grinned riding the radio beam as he saw it roll up and his co-pilot was to the apron and saw checking in regularly the stocky form of by radio right up to "Shorty” Hassfurther, the time the accident his chief of staff, slide occurred. Yet it was over the side of the fifty miles off its forward cockpit to the course. How the hell concrete. Wearily, he could that be?” turned back to the "It couldn’t,” said problem l>cforc him. iShorty. "It isn’t pos­ He had just managed sible for such a thing to throw everything to happen. There’s else out of his mind something screwy 'when there was a some place, Bill.” loud, insistent pound­ "I’m not going to ing on the door of stand by and see two the laboratory. lie men like Marty De­ frowned and didn’t wart and Jerry Win­ bother to answer. As the lights went out and the big ship folded up, the night sor take the rap for But the knocking was pierced by the horrible screams of the passengers. some kiwi, after they did not stop. It only are dead and can’t I)ccame more persistent. He threw his pencil down, speak for themselves,” Bill said. "Jerry Winsor taught strode across the room with long, powerful strides and me half the things I know about flying. Shorty. After opened the door. His face was like a thundercloud. lie was born, they broke the cast. He was otic guy in "Listen!” he said, as he saw the grim face of Shorty a million.” „ Hassfurther. "I left orders------” “I know it, Bill,” Shorty said, softly. “Remember I “And I canceled them.” Shorty said. He stuck the knew Jern ’ a long time liefore you did. We were in the newspapers he had in his hand at Bill. “Get an eyeful same squadron in France for nearly a year. He never of that and see how you like it,” he finished. let any one down in his life.” Bill spread the first paper out. The headlines that "The paper says reporters found broken bits of a jumped at him drove the breath out of his body in a long- whisky bottle in the pilot’s compartment,” Bill said. drawn whistle. He quickly looked at the headlines of "Jerry or Ralph Parks never put it there,” Shorty said. the other two papers and then he stared at Shorty. His Bill looked up from the paper and gazed at Shorty face was twisted into a grim mask of anguish. with narrowed eves. “What do you mean by that?” "Marty Dcwart and Jerry Winsor,” he said, softly. he asked him. (Turn to />agc 63) 15 Seaplane Development

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This article continues the most vitally important series ever offered to young air-minded A mericans. I f you plan on the air for your career, follow it care­ fu lly . Save your copies.

Students busy in the modern radio laboratory of the Eve­ ning School of Aeronautics show that opportunities exist on the ground as well as in the air.

WO "learning new aircraft carriers, the U.S.S. as it can. Training planes at Pensacola are dipping their York town and the U.S.S. Enterprise, were launched pontoons every day into the blue-green waters of the Gulf. T and christened during 1936. As this is written they Silver wings arc flashing through the Florida skies—and are nearing completion at Newport News and will soon alighting just above the left breast pocket on young men’s l)c plying the ocean and mothering seventy-five or more uniforms. Every month a new class of flying students is airplanes apiece. New aviation squadrons, four for each entering the navy school and an old class is graduating. ship, have l>een in process of formation for months at The chances are that this rapid training of pilots will the Naval Air Station at Norfolk. continue for three or four years more. After that it may After the Yorktcrwn and the Enterprise will come the slow down. And it may not. Wasp, still another aircraft carrier, whose keel was laid There arc several ways to get to Pensacola as a flying at Quincy, Mass., on April 1, 1936. These three new student. The most important are: carriers are in addition to the Langley, the Saratoga, the Lexington, and the Ranger, already in service. More 1. As an aviation cadet of the naval reserve. 2. Asarcgu- lar officer of the navy. 3. As an enlisted man of the navy. than fifty other new vessels are under construction, not counting submarines, and fourteen others arc being A small number of students are aviation cadets of the planned. Many of these ships will use airplanes, launch­ marine corps reserve and a few are officers or enlisted ing them into the air with catapults and hoisting them men of the coast guard. alxxird after they land alongside. All of this building is part of the five- to seven-year TRAINING AS A CADET naval-expansion program, inaugurated in 1934, the goal About seventy naval reserve aviation cadets arc being of which is a “treaty-strength sent to Pensacola each navy” by 1940 to ’42. Before month. The waiting list 1934 the navy was authorized Official photo, of qualified applicants U . 8 . S a v y to have only one thousand has been a long one ever airplanes. The number of since the plan was in­ planes already authorized un­ augurated in July, 1935. der the treaty-strength plan But the air corps, left is one thousand, nine hun­ with unfilled flying cadet dred and ten. Almost six vacancies, has made its hundred new planes arc flying school offer more scheduled for delivery to the attractive—as related last navy during 1937. month in A ir T rails— To fly these planes the and it is probable that navy must have several hun­ from now on applications dred more pilots, and the Should you win your wings as an observation pilot, will be more evenly di­ navy is securing them as fast you would experience the thrill of catapulted flight. vided between the two. /

17 PART AVIATION TWO by CLYDE PANCBORN and LIEUTENANT W.M. W OOD Planes of the Scouting Squadron form steps heavenward as you would see them from the cockpit of a Vought SBU-1.

If you arc an unmarried male citizen of the United authorizes it. and you are enlisted to Ικ-gin as a seaman, States, between the ages of twenty and twenty-eight, of second class, in the volunteer naval reserve. good character and with practically perfect eyes and no First you are sent to a naval reserve aviation base for physical defects great enough to cause you to flunk the a month of “elimination flight training.” If you are rigid examination, and if. in addition, you have the eliminated you are sent home. If you arc found to have requisite educational preparation, you may apply with sufficient flying aptitude you arc appointed an aviation good hope of success for training as a naval reserve cadet. cadet of the naval reserve and sent to the naval air sta­ To qualify educationally you must l>e a graduate of a tion at Pensacola. recognized college or university (and if you have studied At Pensacola you get thorough flight training in both aeronautical engineering you'll have a better than ordi­ sea and land planes, including aerobatics, night flying, nary chance) ; or. he able to show credit for one half the instrument flying, cross-country flying, and formation work required for a degree and have completed thorough flying. The advanced military work includes scouting, courses in arithmetic, college algebra, plane and solid observation patrol, and fighting-squadron operations, geometry, plane trigonometry, and elementary physics; which embrace aerial machine gunnery. l>ombing. tor- or, have secured equivalent education bv other means and have experience, training or aptitude that makes you par­ How the home port ticularly desirable for the service in the opinion of the would look when on examining officers. flight duty with the Application blanks and instructions may be secured by aircraft carrier, "Lex­ writing the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department. ington." Washington, D. C. Applications arc submitted only to the commandants of the naval districts in which the appli­ cants live, who direct the examinations and submit nominations, of those qualified, to Washington. If you arc a successful appli­ cant you are required to agree to remain on active duty for a total of four years, if the navy department 18 AIR TRAILS pcdo dropping, catapult take­ sent to Pensacola have been offs, single combat, and other graduating each month. If military procedure. the navy keeps on sending as In the ground school you many as forty cadets a month study the regular aviation sub­ to the squadrons it will have jects. such as navigation, aero­ sent about one thousand, four dynamics, meteorology, air­ hundred and forty by the time plane and engine maintenance, the first class trained is sched­ and radio code. In addition, uled for return to civil life in there arc special naval courses the summer of 1939. In addi­ such as nautical navigation, tion, there are the regular gunnery, practical seamanship, officers and the regular en­ and so on. In addition, there listed men being trained every is military drill and calis­ A twin-engined, small transport of the type used for year. Information as to how thenics. advanced flight training, at the Parks Air College. many regular personnel are be­ Training is on a double ing trained is restricted by the schedule at Pensacola these days. While part of the navy department. But our own private guess is that students fly in the morning, the rest arc in ground school. from seven hundred and fifty to eight hundred regulars, In the afternoon the groups exchange places. The group officers, and men together, are being sent to Pensacola which does morning flying one week does afternoon fly­ during the present fiscal year. Half of these should get ing the next, in order to split the bumpy afternoon air through. Jf the navy keeps on for very long, at the evenly. Cadets arc up by six a. m. and ready for flying present rate, it is going to have lots of pilots. Hut then or classroom by seven thirty, five days a week. the naval limitation treaties expired on December 31, On graduation at the end of one year from the course 1936, and have not been renewed. at Pensacola, naval reserve cadets are rated “naval avia­ Foreign powers have begun construction of eleven tor/’ given their wings, and ordered to active duty with dreadnaughts, in addition to the swarms of smaller ships. aircraft squadrons of the United States fleet, provided And on the day before this was written President Roose­ such duly is authorized. As long as pilots are needed in velt ordered construction of two great battleships for the the expansion program it is expected that graduate cadets United Stales. That shows you how the wind is blow­ will l>e ordered to active duty. How long this will con­ ing. Bad news for the world, but people who want to tinue, or how many cadets in the future will be kept on fly can profit by it—and hope that their flying skill may for all of the three remaining years to which they have help scare the nations into not fighting after all. agreed, is a matter of conjecture. If you want to do any Have you been wondering how much money you guessing about it, here is a bit of information. would get as a naval reserve cadet? Well, for the first Around forty to fifty out of each class of about seventy month, as a seaman second class, you would get fifty- eight dollars cash. At Pensacola, for a year in training, you would get seventy-five dollars a month. Afterward, as a graduate aviator with a squadron, you would get

Naval aviation cadets mus­ tered on the flying line at Pensacola. one hundred and twenty-five dollars cash a month. In addition you would be given excellent food, lodging, a complete uniform, and a ten-thousand-dollar government life-insurance policy, with premiums paid by the navy as long as you remained on active duty. Upon return to civil life you could keep the policy up at a favorable AIR TRAILS 19

This Grumman F3F-1 typifies the planes you wou Id fly as an accom­ plished fight­ ing navy pilot. The particular plane shown is one of many now assigned to the carrier "Ranger."

Officio! photo, U. »V. S'avy premium rate. This policy has a very good permanent-disability benefit at no extra cost. And. in addition to all this, if you served four full years you would be given one thousand, five hundred dollars in cash to take home with you when you enter, a citizen of the United States, unmarried, at least were released from active duty. At that time you would five feet five inches tall, free from physical defects and also be commissioned an ensign in the naval reserve. in good health, and. possessed of a complete high school This reserve commission would give you the privilege or equivalent education. of doing a certain amount of flying in navy ships at the Students at Annapolis are midshipmen—not cadets— naval reserve bases, and you would l>e eligible for short, in the regular navy. There are about two thousand in active duty periods from time to time. 1 lowcver. under the school. Close to six hundred or seven hundred new present regulations there is little chance for a young man ones enter each year. Most of them arc appointed by taking the Pensacola course as an aviation cadet to get senators and representatives in Congress. You should himself a permanent flying job in the*navy, marine corps, communicate directly with your senator or congressman or coast guard. Nine lucky cadets got marine corps com­ about such an appointment. Each year one hundred en­ missions last August, but that was most extraordinary. listed men from the regular navy and twenty-five from the naval and marine corps reserve are chosen by com- GETTING IN AS A REGULAR petitive examination. In addition, the President is authorized to keep at Annapolis forty midshipmen, ap­ If you think you would like to I k * a permanently com­ missioned aviation flight officer of the regular navy, there pointed by him. from among the sons of men who were is only one way. killed in the World W ar or died of injuries before July 2. That is the long 1921. The President also appoints four from the Dis­ way through the trict of Columbia and fifteen others “at large” each year. United States Na­ Fuller information may be had bv writing the Bureau of val Academy at Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. There Annapolis. Md.. arc a number of schools which specialize in preparing where all prospec­ lx>ys to enter Annapolis. Two located nearby arc the tive regular navy Severn School, Severna Park, Md., and the Cochran- officers are given Bryan Prep School, Annapolis. Md. their training. A While attending Annapolis, midshipmen are paid seven young officer re­ hundred and eighty dollars a year. Food and room are cently graduated furnished, but they buy their own uniforms. The course from Annapolis may very probably go to Pensacola for is for four years. Upon graduation they arc commis­ flight training if lie wants to, provided he can pass the sioned ensigns in the regular navy. Naval officers get flight physical examination. A lot of Annapolis gradu­ base pay ranging from one thousand, five hundred dollars ates cannot pass it. And the usual percentage of those a year for newly commissioned ensigns up to eight thou­ who do pass it and begin flight training are “washed sand dollars for admirals, plus various allowances. The out" and put back on non-flying duty. Thus, if a man allowance for flying duty is fifty per cent of base pay. comes through as a good pilot, he has an excellent chance The lowest salary paid a flying officer is close to two for flight duty if he graduates from Annapolis. hundred and fifty dollars a month. It isn’t so easy to get through Annapolis—but getting FLYING FOR NON-COLLEGE MEN in comes first. To begin with, you must lx.* lietween the Now comes the information we promised you last ages of sixteen and twenty on April 1st of the year you month on how a number of young men (Turn to ffaycSl) The Flaming Finish Then, suddenly, things weren't perfect any longer_ A rapid-action story of the air by A. R. ELROD

OHNNY WALGKEN stood on the third rung of 1 made ’em let me in !” He his stepladder and with a feeler gauge and screw came up to the ladder, a florid- Jdriver did things to his racing plane’s engine. The faced man in a shaggy brown tools made clinking, musical sounds in contact with the wind-breaker jacket and a crumpled hat. His eyes were steel; and Johnny made allegedly musical sounds, hum­ slightly glazed. “You take care of this li’le puddle- ming. It didn’t matter at all about the tune. Nobody jumper, kid, an’ to-morrow we’ll both be rollin’ in the heard him. He was alone in the hangar, and nobody dough!” could get in because the doors were closed—and locked; Standing there with his hands full of tools, Johnny he’d seen to it himself that they were locked securely. kept the anger and disappointment from his voice. He So lie worked deftly, and he felt exactly right alxmt said, “I thought you were on the wagon. Dan------’’ everything. Everything was as perfect as it possibly “G’\Can!’’ roared Dan. “Listen, kid, I sold the cir­ could be, and he was happy. For last night Gwen Gibbs cus, an’ I just bet sixty thousand iron men on you to had come back, and to-morrow he was going to win win the Benson go.’’ the Benson Trophy race—if this Wasp did its stuff the Johnny Walgren whistled through his teeth. As he way it should. climbed down from the ladder, he felt cold. He re­ .And then, suddenly, things weren’t perfect any longer. garded Dan with incredulity. A figure lurched from the lean-to office of the hangar “You—what?” and weaved across the concrete floor. Poised and alert, "I sold our flying circus,” Dan repeated. there on the ladder. Johnny looked down at big Dan Oddly, when Dan was drinking, his tongue never Gibbs. Gwen’s father; and even from this distance lie thickened very much, and his speech was always clear. could tell that Dan was drunk again. He did idiotic things when he was drunk, and some­ “You li’l fox!’’ Dan Gibbs boomed, advancing on times never knew he’d done them, later on. Once he unsteady legs. “You li’l fox. I knew you’d be here, an’ had traded a new tri-motored airplane for a run-down 21

Smoke was choking him------It lightened up his nervous system and it planted a Flame scorched his face------deep-seated, growing apprehension. Even if he died, he had to “Look,” he said desperately, and took Dan by the get out------arm and walked him toward the door and out to his car. “You’re not drunk, arc you, Dan? You understand what this can do to us. Don’t you understand we’ve got to call this crazy business off?” Dan jerked his arm away. Ilis eyes were brightly blank. “I ’ll handle my own busi­ ness," he asserted truculently. “Don't try to tell me what to do! You’re one of the help, kid, and don't forget it!” Johnny Walgrcn thought swiftly. . In drink. Dan was always pugnacious and in­ alligator farm, which in due time he tractable. But this was one case which let the sovereign State of Florida confiscate for taxes. couldn’t be allowed to run its normal course. Johnny “Sold the circus!” Johnny echoed in a hollow tone. realized. Suppose that he didn’t win that race to-mor­ “Well,” said Dan, “I didn’t just exactly sell it, kid. row. Everything would be lost: a dozen splendid An English gen’leman tried to give me sixty thousand planes, ten years of work, all hope for the future— dollars for it, but I wouldn’t sell at first. So we made everything. He had to stop it. And he was going to a sporting proposition. I bet the circus against his stop it. sixty thousand dollars, so I just the same as sold it out. "Who was this Englishman?” he asked again, per­ I guess. Only, I was mighty slick! To-morrow. I’ll suasively. "Don’t you want me to go along and talk to have the sixty thousand and we’ll have the circus, too !” him and l>e a witness to the terms?” He slapped his thigh and laughed uproariously. “Terms’re all right.” Dan grumbled. "We got plenty Jolmnv pursed his lips and frowned. "Listen. Dan,” witnesses. I was slick enough for that. kid. Now you he said. “Arc you so drunk you can’t remember ? WJio finish checkin’ that engine—an’ to-morrow you better was the Englishman?” win that race!” “You wouldn’t know him.” Dan said. “All you’ve "Dan.” Johnny pleaded solemnly, “stop and think a got to do is win the Benson race to-morrow, and we’re minute, please! Are you so drunk you don’t know rolling in the dough!” what this------” Johnny wondered how it was possible to feel so con­ “Stow it, kid!”' Dan snapped. fident and grand one moment, and so downright scared “I won’t stow it,” Jqlmny answered stubbornly, his the next. Just a while ago he had been sure he’d win voice a little shrill with rising anger. "You haven’t got the Benson race, but now he wasn’t sure at all. The a right to do a thing like this, and I won't let you!” He knowledge that everything in the world he and Dan had took hold of Dan’s arm again, and urged him toward was in the balance of that race did something to him. the car. 22 AIR TRAILS Dan brushed his hand away. “Keep your greasy fin­ As best he could, he composed his mind, while he gers off me,” he growled. dressed and went to her hotel. To-morrow, somehow, A kind of desperation seized Johnny Walgren sud­ he’d win that race, and everything would be all right. denly. He tightened his grip, propelling Dan with force. Or maybe, before the race, lie could bring Dan to his And Dan Gibbs swung at him with a vicious, mas­ senses, if it wasn’t too late. But to-night, he’d try to sive fist. show Gwen how glad he was to have her back. Johnny dodged. It happened so unexpectedly that She met him in the lobby. She wore an evening dress he had no time to check himself, to think. He wouldn’t of sheer blue stuff that deepened the color of her eyes. have struck Dan for a thousand dollars; but when Dan Johnny forgot about Dan Gibbs, almost. jabbed, he countered refiexivcly with a left hook that They were finishing dinner at the Babylon when the connected with a thudding impact. Dan crumpled in waiter came unobtrusively with a note, and whispered. a heap, and lie didn’t get up. Stupefied by alcohol and “The man at the table under the balcony sent this, sir.” stunned by shock, he passed out. cold. Johnny took the note, and furtively scrutinized the man. For a moment, it all seemed utterly unreal. Realiza­ He was dark, with thin, tense lips. tion and reaction left Johnny Walgren weak and sick. The note was in a scrawling, penciled hand. It said: As a crowd of curious bystanders gathered, he lifted Dan’s great bulk into the back seat of his car and got If you want to make ten thousand dollars, come and in and drove to town. A doctor wasn’t necessary, but see me. he got a doctor. They took Dan to Johnny’s room at Johnny sat there frowning at it. puzzled by a vague the hotel and got him into bed. The doctor was to stay sense of warning. It was absurd, that feeling, but it there for a while. There was no use in Johnny’s stay­ was very real. ing; it would be no use to question Dan Gibbs further, Gwen said, “He’s mysterious-looking! Isn’t it nice now. I’m never overcome with curiosity?” Johnny went back and finished checking the engine Johnny grinned. “Some day those prying little ears of his plane. His mind kept turning to Gwen, and lie will get you in a jam. I ’ve got to find out what this is.” was miserable, wondering how he could bring himself He thought he knew already, but he slid his chair back to tell her what had happened. There was no one in and got up. the world more lovable than Dan Gibbs—when he was “The next dance is going to be a waltz!” Gwen pro­ sober. Johnny decided he wasn't going to tell Gwen, tested with her best hurt look. But Johnny was already unless he lost the race. swinging his rangy frame across the polished floor. The race loomed now not as the joyful competition He folded down into the waiting chair, under the it had been, but as something which dismayed him with balcony, and looked into a pair of inscrutably cold eyes its consequences. He could beat most of the field with in a hard, tanned, impassive face. He said huskily, ease, of course, but lie might not beat Duke Harde. “O. K., let’s have it. Fast.” To beat Duke------How could he be sure of that, when “Hello, Walgren.” the man said; “my name is Gerro. Duke had beaten him in four races out of seven in the There’s ten grand in it for you if you drop the Benson past two years? But he had to beat Duke. Trophy race to-morrow. Have I said it fast enough?” It was almost dusk when he finished the Wasp—the Johnny thought, “I guess I did know what it was swift, opalescent dusk of the tropics. Johnny locked about.” He started to get up. “Not interested,” he the hangar carefully, went outside and stared moodily said curtly. across the flying field. Overhead, stars incredibly bril­ Gcrro’s voice, utterly cold, pinned him back against liant stabbed through the purple dome of night. The his chair. “You do not win .the race to-morrow. I am Miami sky line threw up a band of delicate blue amber telling you. If you win to-morrow, you won’t live five on the clouds. The peace and serenity of evening minutes. You should be interested in that.” ^ brought to Johnny a sudden weariness with the con­ stant, stark uncertainty of barnstorming. A kind of tingling numbness spread like a flush across He was tired. He decided he would give this race Johnny’s rugged, wind-burned face. Anger brightened to-morrow everything he had, and then put in two his eyes, but an underlying caution checked him. months loafing. He remembered, suddenly, that he “What makes you think you’ll get away with this?” couldn’t loaf now. If he were to do anything about that he challenged. bet, he must get back to the hotel and question Dan. Gerro’s strong brown fingers manipulated a silver But when he reached the hotel, he found Dan gone. cigarette case casually. “There arc ways of doing There was a sheet of paper stuck against the door with things,” he said. Dan’s penknife. It said: “Not this,” Johnny snapped. “Why, you------” He reached across to grab Gerro by the collar, but the other Get some sleep to-night so you can do your stuff to­ was too quick. morrow. Don’t hand me any square lock washers, kid! P. S. I paid the doctor. "Do not be a fool!” Gerro murmured, unperturbed. His right hand was underneath his coat lapel; his left Johnny tore up the note in anger. · One thing, Dan was pushing a slip of blue paper across the tablecloth. was getting sober. If he got sober enough, he might He added with a spurious benignity, “You can cash call that fool bet off—if he remembered having made this at Tony’s—after the race. We are generous. We it. He must have remembered it, to say that in the could merely kill you, you know. But we are not note. Johnny felt worried anti sore as a fresh blister. joking!” He was in no frame of mind to see Gwen, but he would Johnny stared at the draft. It was for ten thousand have broken his leg before he would have broken a date dollars, payable to him. He said, “Who sent you to with her. try to fix this up with me?” (Turnto page84) 23 THE FLIER'S DICTIONARY The nineteenth lesson in the technical terminology of the air. Save your files!

AVIATION MARKINGS 1 Route arrow, with m ile a g e to town marked. 2 License number on bottom of lower left wing and top of upper right wing. Letter "S” before number repre­ sents “State,” meaning ship is the property of State or government. 3 The letter “R” before the number means the plane is limited to “re­ stricted” uses. 4 The identification mark on lighter-than-air craft is placed one quarter of the total length back from the nose. 5 Transport planes may have their line identi­ fication mark on upper left wing and lower right wing. 6 The letter “N” before the “C” means that the plane is a United States plane. This “N” must be on all planes cross­ ing national bounda­ ries, and may be used on all planes except gliders at the selection of the owner. 7 An identification num­ ber or mark must be on all free balloons at the maximum diameter. This must be on two sides of the aircraft. 8 The letter “C” before the number means that the ship has a commer­ cial rating. 9 Town identification mark on roof. 10 Meridian marker show­ ing true north. Arrow and letter “N.” 11 Airport marker point­ ing to nearest airport and giving mileage and type. 12 T h e letter “G” is placed before the num­ ber on all gliders and soaring ships. 13 Route arrow, without mileage on roof. 14 Air markings on high­ way showing junction of routes. 15 The letter “X” before a number means that the plane is to be used for experimental pur­ poses only. 16 Private planes must have an identification number or mark, but may not bear the “N” of licensed planes. 17 The license number and letter must be painted upon the ver­ tical tail surface as well as on the wing. 24

T live thousand feet Frank Bireley raised his hands above his head and yelled. “Take it A What a thrill! My third time up in a plane and I was to fly it on a full hour’s trip from Los Angeles. ΤΑ K E IT The instructions sounded simple: keep her nose at a level flight position on the horizon, and at the same time keep the wings parallel to the earth’s surface. I wandered all over the Southern California sky in AROUND the next fifteen minutes. My eyes jumped to the altim­ eter long enough to leant that I was down to one thousand feet—and had to climb. The next ’time I looked, we were up to eight thousand! My companion by Frank Kurtz did very little correcting and only when absolutely neces­ sary. But we wound up at Lake Norco as planned! After less than four hours of dual instruction it seemed into the wind; then, suddenly, there came that all-alone to me that I was prepared to solo—but safety factor is a feeling. For the first time I was not looking at the back prime requisite in aviation. There followed practice of a helmeted head while I flew. I was on my own. glides, climbs, take-offs, landings at strange fields. Eddie was gone. It was really my solo flight! Bireley overlooked nothing in the twelve hours of flying The old 0X 5 Waco circled the field steadily while that followed. During this period I was checked by a my confidence gained. We were headed back for a number of different pilots. Eddie Anderson, a graduate landing—the real test of my training. Cutting the throt­ of Pensacola, gave me much of this advance training, tle, I dropped the nose below the horizon, assuming a covering aerobatics, cross-country, and emergency ma­ normal glide for the approach. A thousand warnings neuvers ; and Eddie was my final check pilot. pounded through my head: “Don’t lose flying speed!” One day when we were “beating a path” around the “Clear all wires!” “Watch the wind!” “Don’t ground- Metropolitan Airport a Van Nuys. Eddie hopped out of loop!” They were confused, mingled, maddening, though the cockpit on one of the landings and said, casually. they seemed to conic clearly through my ear phones in "Take it around.” my instructor’s familiar, calm tones. Without a second's hesitation I “poured the coal on” I was safely over the wires. I was breaking the glide. (opened the throttle) and took off. It all seemed so easy A few seconds and the wheels were rolling along the and natural, the way she rolled ahead and lifted her nose ground. I was down! I had soloed and was in line for congratulations! 25

Commercial Test (the second-ranking license, transport The true story of a hoy who wanted being first) and the inspector had instructed the pilot to go to five thousand feet, make two spins to the left, to fly — and did\ Frank Kurtz climb back to five thousand, then make two spins to the earned his private pilot's license at right and assume normal flight, after which lie was to sixteen; set a world's junior speed land. He followed the instructions fine until he was sup­ record for land planes at seventeen; posed to land. Instead, he went back up to five thou­ and at twenty-one had more than sand. put the Fleet into another left spin ånd never came one thousand flying hours in his out. Due to propeller torque, a left spin is more diffi­ cult to recover from than is a right one. lie apparently log hook I became confused and lost his head, for after spinning two or three thousand feet, he could have used his parachute, but he didn't. When he hit the ground, the impact was you doing on that take-off? Your turns gave me a such that he went right through the instrument board ‘ship-thc-body-East’ feeling.” and into the front cockpit. One look and I didn’t want This continued for live minutes—and I had expected any lunch. congratulations! It was my turn to go up for the test. I think I must In order to become a pilot, one must build tip many have bounced all of live times on my first landing. Ed­ hours of “solo” time, and then take prescribed flight die told me I’d better get rid of the “buck fever” if I and written tests from the department of commerce wanted a license, and that the next two landings had to inspector. This means work and study. I enrolled in be “on the button.” Such maneuvers as spirals, land­ night ground-school courses. The following few months ing to a line (theoretically, a forced landing with a dead were spent practicing figure eights, spirals, landings— motor), figure eights, one-hundred-and-eighty-degrec those requirements prescribed in the departmcnt-of-com- turns and land to a line without use of the throttle, mcrcc test—and in going to ground school at night. .scvcn-hundred-and-twenty-dcgrec turns and land (two The ten hours required for my pri­ complete circles and a glide into landing without vate license were soon completed throttle), and spins were done in order. and I was set for the test. Having previously passed my written test, which I was brimful of confidence. Ed­ included a working knowledge of the department die had tutored me and told me. in of commerce air-traffic rules and regulations (this his convincing, assuring manner, part of the examination is comparable to a test for that I had nothing to worry about an automobile driver’s license, in that it requires so long as I did as I had been doing that one must know the rules of the airways as well in practice flights. We were watch­ as of the roadways). ing another pilot take his Limited

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In Africa it's bright beads that attract the native eye — in Mexico it's flashlights. 26 AIR TRAILS Upon completion oř my flight test, the inspector wrote “Keep her smooth over the course, and watch for any out my ticket. That day will always stand out as one of flutters coming out of the dives. You understand the the biggest of my life. international rules?" queried Xikrcnt. “Two loops west I had l)een flying nine months and felt like a veteran. to east and return; east to west and return; four times Much was happening in aviation, and I got to thinking over the course for average six*ed. Level off to one hun­ I could do my bit. The idea of a world’s land-speed dred and eighty-seven feet at the flags, and stay under record struck me. I confided my ambition to Bireley. that all the way. The flags are back one hundred meters “Why not?” agreed Bireley. This was the answer I from the course. Take her away, son—and tail winds.” had Ixen waiting for. Eager to lx- up where red-winged birds belong, the lit­ It was May, and I had over one hundred and ten hours tle streamlined ship stuck her nose into the wind, roared of solo. There were obstacles to hurdle. First, there down the course, raised herself as lightly as a dancer, was no official closed course west of the Mississippi over made a slow, climbing turn and headed off to the cast. Up, up—one, two, four, five thousand feet climbed the red bird. She poised, head up, tail down, as if on tiptoe, for a brief moment, then dropped her nose and screamed into a steep dive. I was watching the oil pressure, alive to the strains of ship and motor. The five-hundred-meter flags came charging up at me. “Now,” I whispered to the ship. Slowly. I began to ease back on the stick and to level off, thirty feet above the ground. Down the straightaway, hugging close to the course, giving her all she’d take. I wondered if the barograph, cradled in the compartment back of the cockpit, was functioning properly. The gas was O. K., just enough for the four laps and a ride back to the airport. The oil pressure was dropping slightly. What the devil! We reached the east line, crossed it, zoomed as the five-hundred-meter flags were left Ix- hind. Two, three, four thousand feet. The ship was warm to her task. She pealed off, lowered her nose and went into a pretty steep dive, leveled at the flags and screamed into the east-west straightaway. “The speed wing clipped that one off. What Suddenly I discovered my compass had taken time out— a swell rigging job Pacific Airmotivc had and over the Gulf of all places! It was getting dark------done.” The situation was becoming tense------The first loop was negotiated. Stromberger and Badger waved; time satisfactory. I put which these record events must be timed in order to her into a climb. receive official sanction and recognition. With the co­ “Not so steep on the dive,” I warned the Waco. operation of the National Aeronautical Association, the "Level off three hundred feet west of the five-hundred- city of Seal Beach and the Union Oil Co., the deed was meter markers—then j>our the fog to her.” done. A complete report, with pictures, descriptions, The last lap of the final loot)—east to west. and survey figures of the newly laid out course was It was over. I knocked on wood, whispered, “thanks,” sent to Washington and Paris, requesting official rec­ and set the red bird alongside Nikrcnt and his timing ognition. device. It was a blistering June afternoon, not a fit day for “Good kid,” said Joe. “You set a world’s land-speed flying, certainly not a day to set a speed record. The record for juniors.” He lifted out the barograph. “Un­ wind came bursting in from the white-capped Pacific, less the N. A. A. and F. A. I. (Federation Aeronau- whipping the checkered pylon as it cut across the three- tique Internationale) say no.” kilometer speed course. A red streamline Waco Taper Wing squatted at one end of the field, its struts whistling IT WAS nearing midnight at March Field, and the merrily. I was whistling, too. a few bars of “Come With engine was turning over with throbs of expectation. Me. Josephine. In My Flying Machine.” the same one Two years of planning and a longer period of dreaming over and over again. I climbed down from the cockpit, lay behind each staccato explosion in the cylinder heads. pulled off my helmet to talk with Joe Nik rent, who had I was to wing my way to the heart of Mexico with letters left his timing equipment and hurried over to the ship. from the Mayor of Los Angeles and the Governor of “What do you think alxmt the wind?” I queried. California for President Cardenas; later. I was to fly “Frank, it’s my guess the blow’s over. Turn her letters from Cardenas to the White House—if all went over. When you’re ready, give me the signal.” well—a total of nine thousand miles. The date was “Contact!” The red Waco roared to the line. “Good October 6. 1935, and the plane was Yankee Boy, a ship luck, kid.” offered Frank Hawks. which had already demonstrated its (Turn to page 89) 27 IPúcfoůaQJltit&uj tiuOfibi

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CΊΗ.&Υ Letters of an Air Student to His Friend No. 4 by George Swift

"J Q tČ L h s simultaneously the silence is broken by roars of laughter from the others. It doesn’t take me long to guess why. My slip reads No. .7, which Vom—S teve S t e r l in g . Jřa/i/io/- means that Training Ship No. 7 will Skyways Air School, lx· my race plane, and which also Greenvale, Calif. means that my chances of winning the race* are about 1.000,000,000.(XX) T o— 11ARRY RBED, to 1. This is because No. 7 is one of those ships which Burton, Penn. are known as “lemons.” Although the mechanics have D ear H arry, torn down the motor and thrown it together numerous Open wide your ears and listen to the story of the times, they have never been able to find out what is big air race! wrong with it. Tt is logy, slow, and will never be Here goes. otherwise. To make the story complete let me first explain that Of course. I realize now that the drawing was a put-up there arc two students at this held who are regarded job by Crosby and his gang. as outcasts. The two students are Kelvin and myself. I eye them silently as they split their sides with shrieks According to the rest of the fellows we are a pair of of mirth. I notice that Norwood, who has been stand­ reckless saps who are trying hard to get ourselves killed ing near watching the drawing, is not laughing. How­ and arc giving the school a bad name at the same time. ever, even though he knows the thing was fixed, as it The main reason for this belief dates back to the time is all in fun he cannot very well interfere. Kelvin and I went joy-riding when I was supposed to An idea occurs to me. lx? grounded, when Kelvin shouldn’t have been carry­ Believe it or not, even as 1 face that gang of hyenas ing passengers, when Norwood sent eight ships in pur­ I think of a way to beat them at their own game. suit of us and notified the i>olicc. and when we two “Just a minute,” I interrupt. “I want to thank you "outcasts” came near extinction in a forced landing. boys for letting me in on your race. f / urn to page 88) Anyway, such is the case, and I am. there­ fore, greatly surprised when Crosby, who is a sort of leader among certain of the other students, invites me to enter an air race which they are getting up. I had heard about this race beforehand. It is to be a jaunt from Skyways Airport to Hartland Airport, and the school training planes are to lx? used for racers. As they are all ships of the same make and type and arc equipped with motors of the same power, the race will, naturally, l>e a pretty even thing. “What do you say?” Crosby inquires. “Want to be in the race?” “Why—sure,” I reply. “Fine.” he says. "W e’re drawing lots to see who gets the different planes. Come along.” And so a few minutes later I am in on the drawing. Apparently by prearrangement everybody puts his hand in the hat and takes a slip. after which the hat is passed to me. We were practically neck to neck— and I was gaining! I pick out the last slip and look at it. and And they thought they'd handed me a lemon ! 29 SPLIT-SECOND ACTION - Hair-breadth escapes, hair-trigger decisions, dangerous moments that come once in a lifetime

IN NICARAGUA LT. FRANK SOIILT MADE TEN ROUND TRIPS IN BAD FLYING WEATHER AND UNDER CONSTANT FIRE FROM GENERAL SAND I NO'S REBELS TO RESCUE EIGHTEEN WOUNDED MARINES TRAPPED IN A SMALL ADOBE TOWN. HE USED THE TOWN'S MAIN STREET AS A LANDING FIELD.

THE LOS ANGELES STOOD ON HER NOSE AND SURVIVED/ WHILE MOORED AT LAKEHURST A SUDDEN CHANGE IN W IND DIRECTION LIFTED THE STERN OF THE AIRSHIP TO A 9 0 DEGREE MAJOR H.M.HICKMAN, IN JUMPING FROM ANGLE. QUICK ACTION BY THE A PURSUIT PLANE AFTER A MID-AIR GROUND CREW AVERTED COLLISION,CRASHED INTO THE TAIL DISASTER. GROUP AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS HE REGAINED HIS SENSES TO FIN D HIS PARACHUTE OPEN. HE FLOATED TO SAFETY THOUGH NEVER ABLE TO RECALL PULLING THE RIP CORD.

AL WILLIAMS ONCE FLEW A PLANE TO COMPLETE DESTRUCTION TO L-EARN WHY THE TYPE KILLED JON L. BLUMMER SO MANY PILOTS. 30 The REAPER ÍY'ZLr Mars sets a new sword----- The plane on the cove; Fokker s G-l

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A front quarter view of the Fokker G -l attack bomber reveals its formidable armament.

NTHONY FOKKER has done it again. The gear which enabled a Saxon pilot named Boelckc to “Flying Dutchman’s” new bt motored fighter, blast forty Allied planes to earth and become the first A named the Reaper and exhibited for the first great pursuit ace of the War. time at the 1936 International Air Show in Paris, proves From the alert brain of the Flying Dutchman tum­ anew that the businesslike little airplane designer from bled a continuous stream of original and highly prac­ the shores of the Zuider Zee is still one of the most tical ideas which speeded up the development of the progressive aeronautical engineers of his time. airplane to an enormous extent. His War-time achieve­ In originality of design and equipment, the new Fok­ ments culminated in the D-8, a monoplane scout nick­ ker G-l is just as far ahead of current two-seater fight­ named the Flying Racor, which appeared on the west­ ers as his famous D-7 outstripped its rivals in 1918. ern front just prior to the armistice. This remarkable And those of you who have studied World War planes machine was the granddaddy of the high-wing, cantilever will remember the D-7 as the most advanced and effi­ monoplane of to-day and was years ahead of its time. cient fighting machine of the War. Square-cornered During the period following the War, Fokker turned and ugly in appearance, this most famous of all Fokkers his inventive genius to the problems of commercial air­ was a forerunner of modern steel tube and cantilever craft design. Beginning with his famous old single- construction. Swinging like the scythe of death across engined Universal and Super-Universal transports he •the war-torn skies of northern France, the D-7 was graduated to bigger and bigger multimotored ships. feared and admired by Allied pilots, and must have These were widely used by American and foreign air caused many a bitter reflection on the part of the high lines during the late twenties. With the advent of the and mighty British officials who. in the early days of first low-wing, all-metal Douglas, the redoubtable Tony the War, rebuffed the little Hollander’s offer of his again demonstrated his mental receptiveness and Dutch services. Turning to a more receptive Germany, Fok­ commercial instinct. Quick to recognize a new and ker produced a long series of military aircraft which better mousetrap when he saw one, Fokker promptly were always a jump ahead of their French and Eng­ acquired the foreign sales rights to Donald Douglas’ lish opponents in fighting efficiency. Tony was the first brain child and proceeded to sell the speedy American to conceive and design the machine-gun synchronizing machines all over the world. 31 AIR TRAILS During this period the designer STATICALLY again turned his attention to mili­ FULL BALAHCCD 7/flM M INU CANrILL VEft tary ships and built a series of war f í o D B C r t S r A o s W iNÚ planes of various types for the Neth­ erlands air force. These ranked with the best foreign planes of their kind. Among them was a series of single-seater fighters designed ■ MACH/NC - 6ON around British Rolls-Royce engines. «V /tOTA rwc These little-known ships closely C v P O L A resembled the famous Hawker Fu­ ries both in appearance and per­ formance. I .ate in 1935 he switched Ft/FL. from the biplane form and turned TAMK out a low-wing, cantilever mono­ NAW/GAr/ON plane fighter. This was the D-21. L / θ Ν Τ ύ a single-seater with an inclosed cockpit, adapted to a variety of en­ Tyv/ N 7 / ”/ m gines ranging from six hundred to eleven hundred horse power. Fit­ ted with a Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs 7«/AV S.J /*1 LAIYOU'G · A/HSFUS liquid-cooled engine and retractable Auro. CANHO-VS F O L L Y R £ T R A C T A H L E landing gear, the D-21 had a high speed of two hundred and ninety- five m.p.h., which placed it in the explanatory view of the G -l shows the unorthodox front rank of that year’s pursuit This self- design with many innovations. ships. Realizing the need for greater fire power and performance in the pursuit category. Fokker is constructed in three sections and is built up of two took his slide rule in hand and, after wrestling long and lx)x spars of spruce and plywood, combined with ply­ hard, produced an unusual answer to the problem. It wood ribs. The covering is also of BakelTte plywood, is the G-l, the plane which appears on the cover. Two with the fibers running across each other diagonally seven-hundred-and-fifty-horse-power. air-cooled radial for greater strength. motors furnish a volume of power that is extraordinary A smooth, highly polished surface cuts down skin in this class of ship and is exceeded only by the new friction. At the extremities of the center section of twin-motored Curtiss attack plane. A nacellelike fuse­ the wing are reenforced structures to which are anchored lage combined with a tail unit supported on cantilever the engine mounts and the tail booms. Two strong box outriggers provides an unusually wide field of lire for ribs support the engine bearers and form the walls of the rear gunner. This, added to the tremendously pow­ a compartment between the spars, into which the land­ erful battery of fixed guns in the nose of the machine, ing wheels retract. % gives the plane its name: the Reaper. The ailerons are of chromc-moly steel structure, fab­ The G-l is a cantilever monoplane of the mid-wing ric-covered. They are statically and aerodynamically type. This placement of the wings in relation to the balanced and are operated by cables. Air-brake flaps engine nacelles and fuselage presents the best junction extend between the ailerons and the tail booms and from the aerodynamical point of view. Turbulence of between the booms and the fuselage. They arc oper­ air flow has been reduced to a minimum. The wing ated hydraulically and materially reduce the landing speed of the ship. The central portion of the fuselage is of monocoquc wood construction attached to the two master ribs. The BALANCE NAVIGATION space between the spars forms an internal bomb bay. WEIGHT ' L I G H T The pilot’s seat is placed just forward of the front spar and is adjustable vertically during (light. The rudder pedals are adjustable horizontally. Springing from the TRIMMING One of the spars is a braced pylon of welded chrome-moly steel TAB twin, vertical tubes, for the protection of the pilot in the event of a tails indicat­ nose-over. ing the fine The nose of the fuselage is constructed of heavy steel streamline tubing bolted to the master ribs. This structure sup­ and pertinent ports the gun mounts of a fixed battery, consisting of details. two 23mm. cannons and two 7.9mm. machine guns. These are operated by the pilot. The cannons are air­ cooled. belt-fed, function automatically and have a muz­ TAIL W HEEL zle velocity of one thousand nine hundred and sixty- M o u n t e d b e l o w C E N T E R O F eight feet per second. This last is an important item STABILIZER in high-speed combat. The magazines normally hold one hundred shells. The principal (Turn to page 91) 32 MODERN MOTORS Article Three The MODERN RADIAL Engine

by Arch Whitehouse and Alexander N. Troshkin Gu

A POPULAR AMERICAN RADIAL This is the Warner super-Scarab, rated at 145 h.p., and most suitable for amateur flying use. Many of these en­ gines are used on light planes. They are considered very economical to run and comparatively simple to service.

Aircraft Co.. Ltd., of London. It was built and designed by a Major Heckstall-Smitli. formerly of the Royal Air­ craft Factory. It was built to R. A. F. order and in­ tended as a new basic type to end all single-seater de­ \S T MONTH we probed into the mystery of the old signs. It was also built to use up much material already rotary engine and studied its cycle of motion. We available, such as S.E.5 wings and other stock fittings, L learned that it had certain vices and many fine quali­ tons of which had piled up in various aircraft centers. ties. We also learned that the rotary engine was not able At any rate, the Nieuport Nighthawk did 151 m.p.h. to keep pace with aviation because of the diflicultics using an A. B. C. Dragonfly engine rated at 320 h.p. encountered in attempting to raise the horse power much The Dragonfly was a radial. above 200. It should lie explained, also, that Sopwith had bought During the closing months of the War. the rotary was a number of these radial engines and had fitted them into fast losing its position to comparatively light water- several Sopwith Snipe models. In the right hands, these cooled engines of the Hispano-Suiza, Liberty, Rolls- Dragonfly Snipes actually did 152 m.p.h. Royce. and Sunbeam type. The British had shoved At first few believed that a radial engine could be built the Bentley rotary up to about 250 h.p.. but the hand­ to turn out such power or anything like it. They remem­ writing was on the wall. The two-seater fighters were bered that Blériot used a 3-cylinder Anzani radial when almost as fast as the scouts, and the designers were con­ he flew the English Channel and that for years after they fining their efforts toward more of the Bristol Fighter had tried to lxiost the h.p. up over the century mark, but class. Sopwith was using the Ilisso in his Dolphin and only succeeded in reaching 80 with 10 cylinders. getting 121 m.p.h. with six guns alx>ard. The Vickers The big trouble encountered, was the problem of cool­ F.B.H-16 was doing 147 with the 300 Hisso. and the ing. In the rotary, the whirling motion of the engine S.E.5 was more than holding its own against anything in provided a reasonably complete air stream about the the air. Bristol Fighters were driving the Fokkers out of cylinders: but in the stationary radial, air was only the sky. Then came the news of the Nieuport Nighthawk. directed on the front of the cylinder barrels, and consid­ Few to-day realize what this ship might have meant, ering the speed attained, not a great deal of that. had the W ar continued another 6 months. It was a For this reason then, the rotary displaced the radial scout biplane fitted with an engine that was totally un­ during the greater part of the War. and it was not until known in the R. A. F. Test pilots came across from a private firm in Great Britain actually showed that a England with the glowing stories of the Nieuport Night- radial engine, of suitable power output could lie built, hawk. a new craft built by the Nieuport and General that this type came into its own. AIR TRAILS 33 The A. B. C. Dragonfly was a 9-cylinder motor with in ill favor again, and the manufacturers once more an output of 320 h.p. or producing about 2 lbs. for each turned their attention to the development of high-power, lb. h.p. They were ordered in large numbers by the water-cooled engines. At least they did in Europe. But British for their Nieuport Nighthawks and one or two here in the United States there was still a small group other types. Fortunately the War came to an end late that believed in the radial. in 1918 and by that time one or two major defects were Charles I.. Lawrence, designer of the famous Wright discovered in the Dragonfly. First, they could not main­ Whirlwind engine was among these, and his efforts were tain their rated h.p. for any length of time: the distribu­ well rewarded in 1927 when so many record-breaking tion of the mixture to the various cylinders was very flights were successfully carried out with planes using uneven, and rough running was the result. This natur­ these motors. Colonel Lindbergh first put the Whirl­ ally brought crank-shaft fractures and other breakages wind on the map when lie made his notable nonstop flight and again cooling raised its ugly head. They were hav­ from New York to Paris. Clarence Chamberlin used i t ; ing difficulty in cooling the cylinder heads, and manu­ Admiral Byrd used it. Among other well-known names facturers had not attained the skill of handling aluminium that selected the Whirlwind for their distance- and rec­ as they do to-day. There was considerable difficulty in ord-establishing flights were Brock and Schlcc. Maitland attaching aluminium fins to the heads. The present and Hagenberger. Captain Wilkins. Kingsford-Smith, universal practice of inserting steel valve seats into and many others. aluminium heads was not fully considered. They at­ Lawrence had solved all the cooling problems and pro­ tempted to weld aluminium fins to the cylinder head, hut duced maximum efficiency in his J5 motor. lie had been the contact between the base of the fins and the head was careful to begin with a comparatively light-powered not well done and the fins failed in their purpose. motor. He was satisfied, first of all. to prove that the This failure of the A. 13. C. radial engine put the design radial was a worthy addition to aviation. He gave 220

S pecifications .

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JACOBS AIRCRAFT ENG1NE.MQDEL L-4M

JACOBS AVIATION ENGINE, MODEL L-4M Key to most important parts: 1: Front case. 2: Beadng liner. 3: Crank shaft (front half). 4: Crank shaft counterbalance weights. 5: Master rod. 6: Master-rod bearing. 7: Cylinder barrel. 8: Cylinder head. 9: Spark plugs. 10: Oil-pump drive shaft. 11: Intake pipe. 12: Piston. 13: Starter jaw and gear. 14: Cam drive spur gear. 15: Thrust bearing. 16: Intake push rod. 17: Exhaust push rod. (There are two push-rod tubes to each cylinder on the Jacobs engine.) 18: Push-rod tube. 19: Crank shaft main bearing. 20: Carburetor port. 21: Scavenger pump idler gear. 22: Link rod. 23: Crank shaft (rear half). 24: Magneto drive gear. 25: Valve gear shaft 34 AIR TRAILS h.p. in a plant that was easy to handle and service and Whether they are approaching their limit in h.p. in economical to run. During 1928 the Wright Co. turned radial design is a matter that is the subject of much con­ out 1,597 Whirlwinds, but the demand was far above the troversy. Many have believed that 1,000 h.p. would be supply. the peak in radial power, but the 1,200 h.p. engines of It should be stated here that almost at the same time to-day and the 1,500 h.p. which will be obtained this the British Bristol Co. had been working on a radial year makes the peak look a long way olY. which had been purchased from the Cosmos Engineering But what is a radial engine and how does it differ from Corp.. and they came out with the well-known Jupiter— the rotary and the in-line type which we have studied so which also performed well—and the radial was com­ far? In appearance it looks like the rotary, as it has its pletely accepted. cylinders mounted in a circle around a main crank case. There are some, of course, who will wonder why we But unlike the rotary, the radial is a stationary engine, have not mentioned the War-time Salmson. a French on which the crank shaft revolves and not the whole bank radial. Many American War-time airmen flew planes of cylinders. using these engines, but the Salmson was not an air­ Thus the radial engine is considered a static motor. cooled radial. It was water-cooled, and so did not have It may use 3, 5. 7. 9. and even as many as 14 (double to overcome the problems that later designers faced. row) cylinders on a single crank. Thus it gives com­ Many valuable improvements in general radial design pactness and light weight and does not produce the high were first developed in the old Salmson. Mainly because gyroscopic force faced in rotary-motor operation. It it was water-cooled it could carry much heavier parts. does not present any particular difficulties as far'as I f the truth were known, the Salmson firm deserves lubrication or carburization is concerned and aluminium much credit for the general design of the modern radial can be widely used in the crank case. In rotary motors, master rod and crank shaft. After the War the Salmson where stresses are high, chrome steel had to he used; firm gave up their old Canton-Unnc design and went which was much costlier and excessively heavy. into the air-cooled radial business. To-day they make a This month we have selected the Jacobs radial engine, radial-type, direct-injection, two-stroke engine which is the L-4M type as our basic type to explain the working water-cooled. But it is something of an experiment. of the radial engine. This motor is made by the Jacobs So to-day we see that the industry has leaped a great Aircraft Engine Co. of Pottstown, Pa., and the com­ distance since Manly first designed a water-cooled radial pany has been very generous in giving the writers full for Professor Langley’s airplane back in 1903. That details and information on their products. The accom­ strange contraption weighed 125 lbs. and produced 52 panying drawing was made from illustrations available h.p., and even then was ahead of its time. Compare this, in the Jacobs Instruction Manual. then, with the latest Wright Cyclone G-typc engine The drawing shows the general arrangement of the which produces 1.100 h.p. and weighs but 1,068 lbs. crank case, crank shaft, master rod, valve gears, piston, and other parts in relation to the No. 1 Cylinder. Actu­ ally, of course, the Jacobs engine is a 7-cylinder plant, but for simplicity we show only one cylinder and the working parts connected with it. But first let us look into radial-engine fuel systems and sec how the vapor gets from the carburetor to the cylinder. The carburetor is mounted at the lower part of the crank case at the point 20. Gasoline is vaporized in the usual manner and sucked up through a series of mixture-supply passages lxiilt into the crank-case walls. From there it is drawn into the intake pi]>es and through the intake valve to the combustion chamber, where it is fired by a spark plug and starts the normal power stroke. The fuel system in radial engines demands the finest of skill and ingenuity in design, for fuel must be prevented from settling in the lower parts of the manifold and at the same time be delivered in equal quantity to all the cylinders. In the Jacobs engine, a typical motor of the radial type, the mixture-supply passages and mixture annulus are built directly into the crank case. The crank case is built up of 6 parts. First there is a thrust-bearing plate and then a magnesium-alloy front case carrying the thrust-bearing and valve-operating gear. The third section is made of aluminium-alloy casting and houses the front crankshaft bearings. The fourth section is the barrel-type aluminium-alloy casting which supports the rear crank shaft and incorporates a ring-type intake Another Warner product, the Scarab, rated at manifold. The fifth section carries the rear plate, which 125 h.p. at 2050 r.p.m. This is a neat and supports the accessory drives, etc.; and the sixth is a clean job, using only the finest of accessories. magnesium-alloy accessory cover. (Turn to page 92) 35

As soon as possible after the questions are received, the Wing Commander of the Air Adventurers will answer on this page such questions as appear to be of general interest to our members.

Question: Please explain to me what a snap-roll is ing Yacht, built in 1930 by the Eastman Aircraft Cor­ and how to do it. I have heard that this is the hard­ poration of Detroit. The company is no longer in busi­ est aerial maneuver to perform. Is this so? C. R., ness. The Flying Yacht was a four-seater flying lx>at Fort Wayne, Indiana. powered with a 170 h.p. Curtiss Challenger engine. It Answer: As I have explained before, every type was a single-hay sesquiplane in design, and the engine ship has slight differences in the required control move­ was mounted as a tractor in the upper-center section. ment for the various stunts. The reason for these dif­ The hull was built of duralumin and had a single step. Its top speed was 112 m.p.h. and it cruised at 90. ferences will Ik * found in the power, speed, wing-surface area and control-surface area obtainable on various types. The snap-roll is not particularly hard, but it demands Question: Which of the opposing forces in the World certain precision in execution. The plane is put into War shot denvn the most enemy aircraft, and what single / level flight, keeping your eye on a guiding point like a country is credited with the most? R. T., Augusta, Ga. track or road. Pull back on the stick and apply full right or left rudder, depending on the direction of rota­ Answer: Your question is almost impossible to an­ tion desired. Once the plane has started to rotate, it swer, owing to the unreliability of the available records. will be noticed that it will display a tendency to con­ German records claim 6,794 Allied airplanes totally de­ tinue. The instant you sight your marker again, you stroyed. They admit to losing 8.513 airmen, hut how reverse your controls until the plane is in level flight many planes has never been given out. French losses again. The skill comes in timing this change of con­ were 5,353 airmen (no details of planes) while they trols so that normal forward flight is resumed the instant claim to have destroyed 2.962 planes and 347 observa­ your wings arc parallel with the horizon. tion balloons. The American figures are 781 enemy airplanes and 73 balloons destroyed for a loss of 289 airplanes and 48 balloons. The British figures are not Question: What is propeller torque? I have heard available because no records of aerial combat results this term used often, hut no one seems to be able to were kept prior to July 1st. 1916. The figures com­ explain it to me. J. R. Margate, Neiv Jersey. piled after that date appear to show British superiority Answer: Propeller torque is the tendency of a Whirl­ in the air. In that time, on all fronts, including Italy, ing propeller to turn an airplane about its longitudinal Egypt, Salonika, Palestine and Aden, the Royal Flying axis in a direction opposite to that in which the propeller Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service claim 7,908 revolves. Surely you have noticed this power in your victories and 258 balloons against total losses of 2,810. rubber-powered model airplanes. It will l>c seen, of course, that a cross checking of these figures indicates that there arc glaring discrepancies Question: Could an American citizen enlist in the somewhere. British Royal Air Force? D. M., Racine, Wisconsin. Answer: No. Only British subjects horn of British­ Question: Where can I obtain full information on ism parents are accepted in the Royal Air Force dur­ the Acronccr 1-B shoivn in the Air Trails magazine a ing peace time, at least. Many Americans joined the short time ago? E. L. K., Celina, Ohio. Royal Air Force during the Great War, but they had Answer: The Acroncer machine is still in the ex­ to temporarily relinquish their American citizenship and perimental stage, according to the latest from the Aero swear allegiance to the British Crown for the duration Engineering Corporation of I^os Angeles, California. of the War. The 1-B is a two-seater light cabin monoplane of low- wing design. The wings and fuselage arc all metal and Question: Can you tell me anything about a plane a 125 h.p. Menasco motor is used, which is said to give called the Eastman Flying Boat? A. B., Goderich, On­ the ship a top speed of 147 m.p.h. The above address tario, Canada. will reach the company and they will l>c glad to send Answer: You no doubt refer to the Eastman Fly­ you further details. 36

HE AIR ADVENTURERS arc marching on! Volumes on technical subjects, such as motors and The sky’s the limit and there’s no limit to the sky. rigging, may be obtained at the Ronald Press Co., 15 T You can’t go wrong, for we arc on the threshold East 26th Street, New York City: “Aeronautics,” by of the most glorious organization future. If you haven't Hilton F. Lusk; “Engineering Aerodynamics,” by Wal­ sent in your membership coupon already, can you give ter S. Diehl; and “Airplane Design.” by Warner, pub­ yourself one—just one—logical reason why not? You lished by McGraw-Hill Book Co., of 330 West 42nd owe it to yourself and you owe it to your country. The Street, New York City. future of the world is in the air and you can’t stay out One of the best all-around books on modern aviation of the hangar. is Assa Jordanoflf’s “Your Wings,” published by Funk We were talking to an old-timer the other night at and Wagnalls Co., of 354 Fourth Avenue. It is listed the Quiet Birdmen meeting, and showed him the gen­ at $2.50 and is well worth it, for it contains the most eral set-up of our Air Adventurers’ club. He listened up-to-date information on transport flying, acrobatics, intently for some time and finally said, with a whim­ instruments, avigation and radio. The drawings by sical smile, “What a break these youngsters get to-day! Frank Carlson are particularly instructive. You’re practically handing them a first-class course in The “Aircraft Year Book,” published by the Aero­ aviation. I remember back in 1911 when I tried to get nautical Chamber of Commerce, is a fine annual volume some information on flying. There was one book out, which should be available in all first-class city libraries. written by a Frenchman, or an Englishman; it doesn’t Those living in the large cities may be fortunate enough matter now, but it cost about $18.00. Where was I to to gain access to Jane’s “All the World’s Aircraft,” an get $18.00 in those days? It took me 4 years and about annual publication offering photographs and details of $3,000 in time to learn even the most simple laws of all planes, motors and airships produced each year. aircraft design and a spotty theory of flight. Do you Model makers arc all acquainted with the “Complete know that had I been able to answer 70 per cent of the Model Aircraft Manual,” written by Edwin T. Ham­ questions you are offering your readers, I would have ilton and published by Dodd, Mead and Co.* War and been head of the air service back in 1915?” historical data may be obtained from “Fighting the Fly­ The old-timer said more in those few words than we ing Circus,” by Rickenbacker; “Flying Fury,” by James could put together in a week, but it reminded us of one McCudden, V. C.; “German War Birds,” by Vigilant; point: The examination-question list for the various “Days on the Wing,” by Willy Coppens; and “Falcons ranks, which will be in the mail soon, will demand a of France,” by Nordhoff and Hall. certain amount of research and study. This will be no And, of course, if you have carefully filed your copies cheap circulation stunt. When you get past a grade in of Air Trails you will have a most reliable source of the Air Adventurers’ club, you will have learned some­ information at your finger tips. thing. We are all going to be very busy during the next few The questions will cover all phases of aviation, and months, and sincerely hope you will not request all this this month we are going to tip you off to a few easily information again. obtained books that will help you. But don’t forget, this is the chance of a lifetime. You First, for modern records, details and information on can’t buy your rank in Air Adventurers and there’s no record flights, statistics and figures on air strength of such thing as pull. The examination will be drawn up various nations, we heartily recommend the popular and, as you wish to progress, you must fulfill all require­ “World Almanac.” It is cheap and available at most ments. news stands. We appreciate the fact that many of the books we AIR TRAILS 37 have mentioned cost money, and that we are not all in headquarters, but even so. when you get your awards the position to purchase whole aeronautical libraries. it would lx* nice if we had snapshots and notes which But. for those who take up these examinations with the tell us a little bit about each other. proper spirit and enthusiasm, we can recommend the In other words. I want the Air Adventurers them­ good old method of personal research. Most of us live selves' to help me conduct this department from now on. near public libraries, where may be found shelves car­ There are so many things you can write and tell me rying technical volumes. Most of these shelves will of interest; suggestions which might help aviation as a offer volumes which, if carefully inspected, will provide whole. Many of our members have formed themselves most of the details we require. into local groups, and we would like to know what they’re doing. It may lx that I can find some item from among the notes you mail which will help other groups of Air Adventurers to get together. Our organization has grown so fast that it has been impossible for us to keep pace even with the members who live in our own neighborhoods, and we want this department to serve as a clearing house for information which will serve the purpose of making Air Adven­ turers acquainted with each other. You, as an Air Adventurer, may wish that there were other Air Adventurers close by. Perhaps there are available mcmlxrs who simply do not know about our organization. If there are, why not introduce them to Photograph of a model Curtiss Hawk P-6 it and in this way take your first step toward Incoming constructed by Air Adventurer Juan Mar­ a lieutenant. tinez of Neptuno #90, Havana, Cuba. Let them read over the February issue so that they may see what a real helpful organization we have, and There is a lot more fun in this sort of research, and you’ll be surprised at the interest they will show. a greater knowledge will be gleaned. Automobile You who aren’t in the select circle clip that coupon, handbooks carry information which can usually lx* fitted read it carefully. Read over the creed carefully. If you to aeronautical motor questions. Most- good air-adven­ feel that you honestly agree with the purposes and prin­ ture stories will include, somewhere in the text, infor­ ciples of our club and can conscientiously live up to our mation on planes and airports. Most manufacturing 7-point creed (self-reliance, courage, initiative, loyalty, companies, we have found, will gladly send illustrated integrity, independence and obedience) fill in the mem- catalogues of their products, if clean and neat requests bership application at the bottom of the page, and for­ arc mailed. ward it, together with Kty for your wings. You must learn to read for information as well as If your application is approved, your certificate and enjoyment, and we believe you will get just as much wings will lx mailed at once. out of this practice as you would by writing letters to So, until next month then, we’ll leave you to your recognized aviation writers and presenting lengthy lists problems. Remember, the sky’s the limit! of questions. None of them object to answering one or two straight­ forward questions, but they soon see through the busi­ Your Flight Commander. ness of hundreds of letters that come in. all asking the same list of questions. Let’s plug and dig this stuff out on our own hooks! And another thing. I want these two pages to l>e the two most lively pages in the whole issue. There is a great deal of activity among members of Air Adventur­ (MEMBERSHIP COUPON) ers, and it is time we told each other a little bit about it. To the Flight Commander, Air Adventurers, The first picture that came in shows what one Cuban 79-89 Seventh Avenue, Air Adventurer is doing. New York, N. Y. I am interested in aviation and its future develop­ Take your camera along when you undertake to fly a ments. To the best of my ability I pledge myself to model and see if you can’t get a picture of it. Whep support the principles and ideals of AIR ADVEN­ Air Adventurers get together they can take pictures of TURERS and will do all in my power to further the each other, showing what their activities are in connec­ advance of aviation. Please enroll me as a member of AIR ADVEN­ tion with aviation. It will make you feel good when TURERS and send me my certificate and badge. I you see the notes and pictures begin to appear on these enclose ten cents to cover postage. pages. N am e ...... Age Applications for advancement are coming in very fast, and it will soon be necessary to devote some space to A ddress ...... announcing the list of new lieutenants and captains. We also want to announce the list of those who have quali­ fied for Craftsman Awards. □ Check here if interested in model building. This information, of course, we will have here at (This coupon m ap not 6c u ttd after Map IS. M 7.) by Lt. Commander George O. Noville

The only ‘ ‘ aerial grave­ yard, ’ ’ last resting place fo r wrecks, is haunted by the ghosts of gallant men and planes. Tragic Balboni displays his official city license.

ECENTLY I was commissioned by a museum to secure for them an old and obsolete type of air­ R craft engine, a Clcrget rotary. I bad exhausted M em orial every source of information when a friend suggested a call on Arrigo Balboni. A short distance from the heart of Los Angeles I located the office of Balboni The three lots which constitute his establishment are and uncovered a mine of tragic and poignant memo­ covered with row after row and pile after pile of ripped, ries. torn, rusted, and shattered wings, fuselages, engines, But not all were tragic, for some were funny, others tanks, pontoons and landing gears. In a corner arc big ridiculous. Balboni is the proprietor of the only “aerial pyramids of flying wires and guy wires that were borne, graveyard” in the world. On a large plot of ground be shrieking and screaming, on wings that plunged into has established the last resting place of the crippled, the ground, some of them trailing streamers of fire be­ crushed, and broken aircraft of the last twelve years. hind. Rambling through these piles of debris, forlorn in Balboni is as interesting as bis weird collection of torn their detachment, the progress of aviation can be vividly and twisted fuselages, wings, and engines. In 1924 Bal­ and accurately checked. In this wreckage any one fa­ boni had two hundred and fifty dollars, a dog, and a miliar with aircraft can find fragments and parts of most pilot’s license. Then he saw an old Jenny that had an of the old planes that made the headlines a few short excellent coat of paint and not much else, and after a years ago. Wings with old, familiar marking are stacked couple of looks lie had a Jenny, a dog, and a pilot’s row upon row. license, and the flying business had acquired another In one pile of wreckage lie the remains of the old Gee barnstormer. The dog, Anna by name, was as essential Bee racing ship in which, according to Balboni, three to Balboni as the Jenny, because—of all things—Anna noted pilots were killed, Lowell Bayles at Detroit in was a parachute jumper. Balboni barnstormed and 1931, Russell Boardman at Indianapolis in 1932, and Anna jumped during that year until the gods intervened Cecil Allen at Los Angeles in 1935 after he had rebuilt it. and tossed a new profession into Balboni’s lap. In another corner are the twisted, bent, and broken re­ On one of his barnstorming hops while Balboni was mains of the old Romair, built by Earl Ovington, the attempting to cross the Tchachapi Mountains coming first air-mail pilot, in 1920. This group of tragic re­ into Los Angeles, his radiator froze and he was forced minders has lately l>een joined by the most tragic of all down. The plane crashed and was completely demol­ ships, the Lockheed that carried Wiley Post and Will ished. Balboni proceeded to Los Angeles by motor car Rogers to an untimely death in the frozen wastes of and offered the wreckage for sale. The best bid was $75. Alaska. He did not consider this enough and he returned to the Over 2,100 planes are collected in this vast mortuary, scene of the wreck with a truck and salvaged everything but wrecks are becoming increasingly scarce and with that could be gathered up. On his way back to Los the rapid improvement in the design and construction of Angeles he sold $150 worth of parts from the wreck and aircraft and aircraft engines this monument to the pio­ upon arrival in the city, lie canvassed the airports and neering efforts of pilots and engineers may lx? relegated eventually realized $900 on the salvaged parts. He then to the dim background. conceived the idea of an airplane “graveyard.” He still In this collection may be found also the abortive efforts has the graveyard; it provides an excellent and interest­ of the dreamers and visionaries, who financed and con­ ing business, and Balboni has become known to pilots structed weird and monstrous contraptions that would from one end of the country to the other. defy even the imagination of a Jules (Turn to page 95) 39 Can you answer the aeronautical definitions CROSS WINDS in this puzzle? 2— Uncommon thing 3— Air slang for bomb 4— Out of 5— Make of Czechoslovakia military planes 0—Old form of “you” 7— Place of contests 8— Window glass 9— To attach supporting wires on an airplane 10— H ateful 11— Make of lightweight U. S. aero engine 15—By word of mouth 17—Pertaining to birth 20— Peruse 21— Duration of existence 24—Arm joints 20—Cowboy’s rope with running noose 28— Gape 30—N earest 32— Concerning 33— Familiar term for father 35—Does a favor 30—Supporting structure 38—Shank of tool embedded in handle 40— Type of Hawker military biplane 41— Fall behind ,89—Maker of the racing plane A c r o ss 43— Kind of flowers, known as 1—Type of Fairey military bi­ “Miss Los Angeles,*’ and the B-3 flags plane 44— Parasitic insects 41— Abbreviation of name of 7—Smooth area in front of 45— Detects by scent navy dirigible airship hangar 47— Kind of medicinal plant 42— Part of airplane that 12— To conform 48— Biblical Arab tribe usually carries vertical and 18— M ilitary foray 51 —Specificat ions 14—Fail to rem ember directional controls (plural) 40— Girl 52— Be carried in a vehicle 10—Airplanes* source of me­ 55—Stomach 47—Fuel container chanical power 57—Period of time 18—Prefix meaning "three” 40—Balance of aircraft or vessel in its supporting medium 59—Abbreviation for cubic cen­ li)—First word in name of noted tim eter French military-plane man­ 50— Malignant spirit ufacturer 51— Type of British Napier aero CROSS WINDS engine 22— Kind of hardwood tree bear­ Answers for March ing acorns 53— Most perilous form of mois­ ture condensation to fliers 23— Dislike intensely 5 T R E S s A L A T E D 54— Kind of round dance 25—Brilliant star whose name is O E /Λ P E N N A G E 1 given to a type of Lockheed 50—Type of engine whose fuel is A W F υ L E R s plane ignited by heat of compres­ N O 20—Stringed musical instrument sion R O E A N T 1 C M O B 27—In a secretive manner 58— Devours E R β A T A c E s s N A 20—Make of Argentine plane 59— Staff of officers forming R R V s 6 E R N O R skeleton of a regiment 80— Pertaining to the nose ■ 1 k E A T c ■ 00— Figurative term for aerial 81— Poet U s R H O A S k O •S 33— By means of route N o 0 s E D L A y O u T 34— Suffix forming adverbs 01— Marks made by folding 1 M P E •L ;r. Λ P o ( 35—Belonging to ' R E B T 37—Be indebted D o w n E A s E A V O T E R I 38—Move a plane on the ground 1—Two or more of five equal E Ξ L A T E C o E R E f - M E s P T under its own power parts l£_ o F R E fN Z y 40 R TRAILS GALLERY A Picture Page ° f Modern Planes for the Collector

Northrop 2-J is.the army's.newest basic trainer. The engine is the Pratt & Whitney 450 h.p. Wasp.

The army's new nose-wheel amphibian is an experi­ mental version of the Douglas Dolphin. The engines are Pratt & Whitney 450 h.p. Wasps. Note the posi­ tion of the ship as it rests on all three wheels.

Giant 44-passenger Farman airliner is powered by 4 Knome Rhone 800 h.p. engines. Span is 118 feet.

Latest Norseman design built by Noorduyn Aircraft, Ltd., of Canada, 450 h.p. Wasp motor, has the usual Noorduyn landing-gear projections which support floats when attached.

Waco CUC amphibian is powered with «250 h.p. Wright Whirlwind engine. Floats are of Edo design with retracting wheels. Ship can be quickly converted to conventional landplane.

The 4-engined Hamburger Flugzeugbau Ha-139 has been developed for the Deutsche Lufthansa. Despite Al Williams' Gulfhawk, a Grumman G-22, is similar its size, launching is to be done by catapult. This to the navy's F3F-1. Power plant is the 935 h.p. plane will be placed in the German transatlantic serv­ Wright Cyclone. ice to America. 41 The MODEL WORK­ SHOP ^duiaui^åC ^t

ODELS always reflect the card it and try some other design. personality of the modeler It’s not his nature to work out the Mwho builds them. If you in­ problems that arise with each model. spect a model closely, or better still, He never waits for good flying watch the builder fly it. you’ll have a cross section of his weather. As soon as the model is completed it is flown. hal ds ana *«.>-tkougb*? In fact, every model I ’ve ever With only a guess at the wing and tail settings the motor seen had distinguishing characteristics which set ά wound mvl the model is launched. A good flight will from all others. Here arc some of the types I’ve probably inspire him to put in some additional work, noticed. smoothing out the rough spots. But. regardless of Iw«.----* First, there is the “hot-house” variety of model. The successful the preliminary flights, the model will be dis­ design and construction of this model has been carefully carded in a short time for a new model, which the builder carried out to the last detail. Indeed, the work has is certain will fly much better. been done so beautifully it would lie brutal to expose This restless type of builder is almost certain to be­ this model to the dangers of flying. But it’s a pleasure come a skilled modeler. His progress is marred by a to look at. And we’ve always marveled at the patience path of wasted balsa and tissue, but through his hasty and workmanship necessary for such a job. But the cut-and-try methods he stumbles uj>on some important careful workman responsible for its construction will not advances in modeling which more conservative builders stand by and watch it crack up during the necessary test would never give a serious thought. flights. Instead, the model will be given a place of honor The rare specimen among modelers is the type who on the mantelpiece. combines attractive appearance along with good flights. It’s a safe bet that the modeler who built this ship is He delights in making his models realistic, but not at the methodical and painstaking. H e’ll not stop until every expense of their flying ability and ruggedness. He is step in the construction is perfect. He works from full- usually careful of his models. He’ll keep them in the size detail drawings, carefully planning every step. The shop rather than expose them to the danger of gusty air . “cut-and-try” method is or the menace of a tree- x too crude for him. He’s surrounded field. probably a very slow The gadget expert is builder, working on the The Contest Calendar one type of builder that can’t lie omitted from same model for several SECOND ANNUAL Southern California Gas Model Contes«. months, giving it com­ Awards to be made ou point basis for precision and consist this discussion. Give him euey of (lights. Date: April 4th, 7 to 12 a. in. Entry blanks, plete and thorough treat­ information: I>. S. Hnlacy, Secretary, Aviation Advance­ an automatic stabilizer ments before he turns to ment Club, 4937 Vista Place, Sau Diego, Culifornia. or a retractable landing FLYING SCALE contest for beginners, all (lights by proxy: some new design. Louisville. Ky., previously tentatively announced for Febru­ gear to work with and ary 20, linully fixed fo r .May 7. M odels to be judged r»o% he’s happy. Straight­ Then there is the fac­ for living ability, 50% for resemblance. Prizes of cash, kits, model materials. Hules, entry blanks: Fred Harwood. 1814 away flights do not ap­ tory type of builder. He W. Burnett Ave.. Louisville, Ky. turns out a new model peal to him. To hold his 1937 EASTERN STATES Gas Model Meet. Sponsored by the overnight. He makes up Soaring Society of America, as a feature of the 8th Annual attention the flight of a National Soaring Contest. July 5-9. Sanctioned by the in numbers what his X. A. A. Events include altitude, duration, and payload model must be accom­ (lights, also special events for multimotored. radio-controlled, models lack in polish and and autogiro gas models. Trophies and cash awards. Infor­ panied by a parachute mation from Soaring Society of America, 1614 Delaware Ave., drop, a smoke screen, or refinement. This mod­ Wilmington, Delaware. eler is more interested in automatic flap action. The Model Workshop asks the aid of readers and clubs in de­ At some time during flying the model than veloping for their benefit a complete, detailed report of all model contests and exhibitions, large or small, everywhere. Listings one of your moments of making it beautiful. If it should be received by The Contest Calendar. AIR TRAILS. 79 fails to deliver a good 7th Ave., New York City, at least two months in advance: news daydreaming you might flight he is certain to dis­ of winners and results as soon as possible. have (Turn to page 94) 42 The 1936 MULVIHILL WINNER

CORDON S. LIGHT in collaboration with BRUCE LUCKETT

Bruce Luckett shown holding the Mulvihil! Trophy after his triumph Above— A rear quarter view shows the at Detroit. distinctive rudder shape, parasol wing and tail boom arrangement. Right— The gen­ eral design of the championship model is evident when seen from above.

H E M ULVIHILL is one.of the most handsome of the National trophies. It is a bronzed figure of the T mythical Greek hero, Icarus, testing his wings. 2. To distribute the weight in such a manner as to make the ship both inherently stable and able to stand the punish­ Icarus met disaster when he flew too high and the sun ment that outdoor contests arc sure to inflict. melted the wax, which was holding his wings, and he fell Λ plane with these features was produced only after ten into the sea and was drowned. The Mulvihill Trophy months of experimentation on my part and the part of vari­ was a donation of B. H. Mulvihill, vice president of the ous other members of the Model Aeronautical Engineers of Tulsa. The following features were outstanding on the first N. A. A., in 1923. A yearly contest is held and the ship: extremely high dihedral, low aspect ratio wing, fairly winner holds the trophy for one year. It’s impossible tp short moment arm, and a wing mounted rather high above get permanent possession of the trophy, regardless of the center of gravity. In the ships that followed several how often the same builder wins it. And since the age basic changes were made, as the above-mentioned features were far from ideal. limit is 21. few modelers have the privilege of winning After many test flights with the following models I found it more than once. it necessary to lower the dihedral, increase the aspect ratio But to have your name inscribed on the trophy entitles of the wing, lengthen the moment arm, and also to lower the you to a place on the honor wing itself. The finished roll of model building. Bruce product far exceeded my ex­ pectations. It had an un­ Luckett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, ABOUT BRUCE LUCKETT usually flat glide and was was the 1936 addition. And RUCE LUCKETT is a scale modeler who very sensitive to thermals. this month we’re privileged was converted to the outdoor way of think­ As a contest ship it proved in being able to include the B ing about a year ago. In February, 1936, he to be a consistent performer made his first official flight at a club contest, and I was more than pleased plans for his winning Mulvi­ winning second place. Next month, he did bet­ with its performance. Three hill entry, along with some ter, and won first place in the Tulsa T r i b u n e weeks prior to the 1936 N a­ of his ideas and viewpoints contest. And then, after placing third in the tionals held in Detroit, the on modeling. Tulsa Airmen’s club contest in May, he went to plane was entered in a con­ Detroit to win the Mulvihill Trophy with a test sponsored by the num­ Bruce can best describe flight of 41 minutes and 41 seconds. In addition, bers of the Tulsa Airmen’s this model and what features he placed fourth in the Moffett Trophy finals. Since then he’s placed second in the gas event Club. The plane placed he tried to incorporate in its of the Tulsa State Fair contest and third in a third, with a flight of liciter design. Here is a portion of recent club contest. than 15 minutes, and its scc- cond-bcst official flight was his letter: Bruce is just 17 and a senior in high school. 10:50. Three weeks later Aeronautical engineering is his goal. At present he is a member of the Model Aeronautical En­ this same model won the My prim ary purpose in Mulvihill Trophy at the Na­ •building this ship was to pro­ gineers of Tulsa, Oklahoma—one of the most active model clubs in the country. Already he’s tionals, with a flight of duce a suitable plane to enter working on his models for this year’s contest. 41:41, making a 9:06 flight in the outdoor duration con­ He has no intention of giving up the Mulvihill on its first official try. test. The factors that I Trophy. And what’s more, he has his eye on wished to put into this de­ one of the National indoor trophies. If he And this is Luckett’s very sign w ere: tackles the indoor problem with the same en­ 1. Good climb and a good thusiasm as he did outdoor modeling, the trophy modest account of how a con­ flat glide to enable the ship is as good as in Tulsa already. verted scale modeler set alxnit to take thermals more easily. to win an outdoor contest. AIR TRAILS 43

CONSTRUCTION balsa is used and the thickness of the walls does not The model lias the iWvantage of combining excellent vary. contest performance, and yet its construction is well The stick is used with the cap strip on the bottom, within the range of thebeginner. This proves again that whereas the boom is turned so the cap strip is on top. the most successful contest model is usually the simplest. This provides a flat surface for mounting the tail surfaces. Simplicity and efficiency go hand in hand in modeling, The front of the motor stick is cut off at an angle, and as in most other things. And, too, the model should be a small piece of balsa is cemented to it to provide a solid attractive to the builders who are working on a limited base for attaching the thrust bearing. The bearing itself budget. The cost of the material is small, compared to is bent from #20 wire. It extends up the front of the the usual expense of duplicating a contest winner. stick and over the top. To prevent the bearing from bending, it is reenforced with a piece of plywood. It MOTOR STICK AND TAIL BOOM can be either balsa or hardwood. However, it should be Both stick and boom are triangular in cross section, three-ply and at least y$” thickness. The front of the built up from three pieces of Hat sheet balsa. The con­ stick is equipped with a thrust holder. It is a wire struction procedure is to build a trough out of two pieces hook from # 2 0 wire and cemented to the plywood. The by cementing the edges together and then the third piece hook should be the same level as the hole in the thrust is cemented across the top, as^eap. Hard-grade balsa is bearing or just alxnit 7 .«" lx*low the bottom of the motor used in both stick and boom. stick. This thrust holder can be l>ent to give the pro­ The motor stick is 18" long and uniform in cross sec­ f ile r any desired negative angle. tion. V32" sheet balsa is used. The edges of two pieces The rear hook is bent from # 2 0 wire and attached of y* balsa are angled so they fit tightly together and to the rear of the stick. It is reenforced with plywood then joined with liberal coats of cement. The width of in much the same way as the thrust bearing. The center the trough or “V” formed by the two pieces should lx* of the rear hook should lx* 54" M ow the bottom of $4". The edges of the “V" should be levelled so they the stick. fit snugly against the cap strip which is VaaX-kJ"· The tail boom and the motor stick are butt joined. The tail boom is built the same way. It is 8" long and That is, the edges are cemented thoroughly and then tapering. The cap strip tapers from λ/ζ to and the pressed together, keeping in position until the cement sides of the “V" taper from 7/n " to 3/,«"· Λ " sheet lias dried. Remember that the fiat part of the boom is 44 AIR TRAILS

the wing will have to be broken and then cemented to raise the ends of the wings. Halfway out each side of the wing, the dihedral should be . Break the wing at this point and raise the tips until they arc 5" above the center. Liberal coatings of cement will restore the wing’s strength where it was nec­ essary to break it.

ATTACHING THE W ING The wing is mounted to the motor stick with a balsa saddle that rests atop the stick and is secured with rubber bands which pass underneath the stick. Two wing clips arc bent from # 2 0 wire. The front clip is Y\" higher than the rear one. The size of the clips gives the wing the correct angle of incidence. These clips are cemented and bound to the leading and trailing edges of the wing. The wing saddle consists of two pieces of V i«x^x4y j balsa which are cemented edge to edge to form a “V” which fits snugly on top the motor stick. The wing clips arc ce­ mented rigidly to this saddle. The rub­ ber bands are illustrated in the drawing.

ELEVATOR AND RUDDER The elevator is free from dihedral on top and the flat part of the stick is on the bottom. and sweepback, but there is the taper to consider. Eleva­ Naturally, the edges of the boom will protrude where the tor ribs C and D are shown exact size. The other three joint is made with the motor stick. Don’t cut these off. sizes of ribs arc cut so they taper in length and thickness. Fare any rough edges by filleting with pieces of balsa. Good practice is to assemble the elevator with only the These balsa pieces supply additional strength, in addition center and two end ribs in position. Then fit in the other to maintaining the symmetrical shape of the stick. The ribs, cutting them to the correct depth. By resting a boom is cemented at a slight upward angle. As is visible straight edge across the top of the center and end ribs you from the three-view drawing, the extreme rear top of can readily determine the depth of the intermediate ribs the boom should be just about level with the top of the The same process can be followed with the rudden motor stick. where ribs A and B are shown exact size and the other ribs arc WING MATERIAL REQUIRED fitted in. Part of the rudder is The airfoil used is the Eiffel MOTOR STICK AND BOOM made from V isheet balsa. Using 400. 20 ribs of Vio" medium- 2 pcs. 3/ 32x% x18/' the full-size pattern, cut this part hard balsa are used in the wing. 1 Ρ ° · 3/.32χ1Α χ 18 " and sand it to a streamline shape. The ribs are notched to take a 2 pcs. ViexVie*8" Mix'Vie” main spar. Consider­ 1 pc· V igx1/2x8" COVERING able checking will have to be 1 scrap 3-ply wood Vs" thickness No special treatment is used iti J/2 foot #20 wire done throughout all stages of this operation. Banana oil is wing construction, to make sure WING AND TAIL used to attach the tissue. The you build the correct amount of 1 trailing edge %x%x28" bottom sheet-balsa section of the dihedral and· sweepback into the 1 spar y8x5/ iexS2" rudder is covered with tissue. 1 leading edge V igxV igxS2" wing. 1 8" length of bamboo The stick is protected by one or Building the wing over a full- 2 feet #20 wire two coats of banana oil, followed size outline will insure correct rib 2 pcs. 7 iex%x4%" balsa for wing saddle by a rubdown with sandpaper. spacing and sweepback. Sketch 1 leading edge %x%x 18" The model is treated with light 1 trailing edge 3/ 32χ1/4 *1 8 " a full-size pattern on a piece of 1 spar Ί/8χΥΗ\19" dope—using as many coats as nec­ scrap wrapping paper. It need 1 i>c. sheet ^6x2x8%" essary to give the protection and be only the simplest outline of a strength for all-weather flying» drawing. Build the wing flat on ADDITIONAL MATERIAL the workbench ignoring the di­ 1 propeller block l^xlVfcxl·*" ATTACHING TAIL SURFACES #20 wire shaft and “S” hook, freewheel­ hedral until the wing has been ing spring, The elevator is mounted flat on entirely assembled. washers, 30 feet flat brown rubber, the boom. It is set at a two- Dihedral is put into the wing cement, banana oil, and dope. degree negative angle. If you’ve at three points. The center of attached the (Turn to page 92. AIR TRAILS 45 46

Flight records Club notes and a n d contestants news of model in competitions. Model Matters organizations. (In contest tabulations, results are to be read ns minutes (to left of colon), seconds, and fractions.)

Diego Gas Model Club, San Diego, Cali­ Brown succeeded in making lengthy San Diego Clubs fornia. flights with his miniature autogiro. He promises an assault on existing records The Aviation Advancement Club of for this category soon. San Diego, California, is one of the Junior Aviation League most active of the West-coast aviation Old records fell by the wayside when organizations. It has 25 members who Jordan Marsh-Boston Traveler Junior New Zealand Tragedy are interested in all phases of flying. Aviation League members flew in their We’ve a letter from Vernon Gray, The club owns and flies a glider. Inter­ first monthly contest of the new year, Moffett winner, who lives in New Zea­ est in gas-model flying runs high among Saturday, January 2nd, in the Irvington land. Fine summer weather, suitable for club members. The Aviation Advance­ Street Armory, Boston, Mass. model flying, has moved into New Zea­ ment Club has sponsored several meets. Junior contestants took top honors as land. But Vernon wasn’t on hand to They’ve developed precision contests they set three new Boston model aero­ greet it as an outdoor enthusiast should .rather than duration. Entrants are nautical marks. A senior flier estab­ be. He was in bed recovering from a judged by the appearance and attrac­ lished a new local record. crack up. About the end of last year he tiveness of their models; ability to make Every entrant in the Junior Aviation was badly injured chasing one of his flights within a reasonable time after League meet turned in a performance roaming fuselage models. He was be­ they’ve been called: and the take-off. beyond expectation, despite adverse fly­ ginning to recover when he wrote us, ing conditions. so by this time he’s probably up and Winners in the glider class were: flying again. We certainly hope so. He 1. Hewitt Phillips, senior (class B) 31.2 see. planned to do considerable model build­ 2. A rth u r Sampson, ju n ior (cla ss A ) 30.G sec. 3. W ilbur T y le r, senior (class A ) 30 sec. ing while in bed, so he could concentrate Gordon Cain, senior (class B) 30 sec. on flying when he’s on his feet again. Martin Phillips. 12, set the first record New Wakefield and Moffett entries are of the day, when he made a flight of a part of his building program. 27.8 seconds with his Class B glider in We’re sure sorry Vernon had tough the junior category. luck, but we can’t think of a more hon- Unusually lengthy flights were made in the tournament for flying scale mod­ John Pond of San Francisco with his els. Winners were: third gas model. Flights are made at 1. Arthur McLean (Rearwin Speedster) 50 sec. 2. Jack Golden (M onocoupe) 42 sec. Sunnyvale, California. 3. Morris Sulkin (.Monocoupe) 37.2 sec. In the fuselage rise-off-ground cate­ flight, and landing of their models. This gory, winners were: type of contest has almost completely 1. Robert Shea, senior (class B) 5:40 replaced duration events on the West 2. Irvin« Sherman, junior (class C) 5:03.4 coast. Practically every one agrees it 3. Ralph Brown, ju n ior (class B ) 3 :44 is more interesting for the spectators and Another record was shattered when, Flying scale Grainville model con­ the entrants. in this fuselage rise-off-ground class, structed by a member of the Model Recently the Aviation Advancement Morris Sulkin, a junior contestant, sent Aero Engineers of Hartford. Club joined forces with the San Diego his Class C plane aloft for 3:39. Gas Model Club in promoting gas-model The longest flights of the day came in orable way of lteing injured than in activities. One feature of their contests, the stick-tvpc hand-launched event. chasing a model airplane. We’ve which seemed attractive, is charging ad­ Those placing highest were: sprained ankles, been chased by bulls, mission to the flying field. A gas-model 1. Torrey Capo, senior (class C) 10:44 and have gotten ivy poison while chas­ contest is well worth a small charge and 2. Hewitt Phillips, senior (class C) S :52.2 3. Wilbur Tyler, senior (class B) G:3S ing models, but Vernon outdoes us. Wc it helps to finance the contest. And sort of feel ashamed. when the expense of the contest is met Helicopter winners were: by model clubs, as in this case, an ad­ 1. D ouglas Hannon, senior 1 :20.2 mission charge is a necessity. These gas- 2. George Elberfeld :45 Hangar 13 model contests are open to all model Hannon’s flight constituted a new Bos- Hangar 13 is the name of a model builders and every contest attracts a ton record. club in Beloit. Wisconsin. It meets in rousing list of modelers. That’s not Ornithopters provided much am use- the Y. M. C. A. every week. The club much of a surprise when you learn that ment. Winners were as follows: charges an initiation fee of 25c, and the San Diego Gas Model Club itself 1. Ralph Brown, junior :07.G 10c dues every meeting. In return the has 47 members and about 30 gas jobs. 2. Edmund W hitten. Jr., senior :07.2 44 members of the club get practically 3. H ew itt Ph illips, senior :0G Modelers planning to enter future con­ all the material to build models, except tests, or interested in joining forces with Both Brown and Whitten made new rec­ the motors for gas models. Also, the either of these two organizations, are ords for their respective classes. 500 plans and blue prints which have invited to write either I). S. Halacy, A highlight of the day’s flying was a been collected by the club are available Secretary of the A. A. C., 4937 Vista model autogiro, constructed and flown to the members. Prosj>ectivc club mem­ Place, San Diego. California; or to S. by Captain Willis C. Brown, adviser to bers must demonstrate definite interest Phillips Andrews, Director of the San the Junior Aviation League. Captain in the club for a period of 1 year before AIR TRAILS 47 they are given membership cards. This ing building, and the records turned in est point award is for a flight to an as­ eliminates those with only a passing in­ were remarkable for this type of model. signed point and return. terest in modeling and insures a 100- The winners were: Following arc notable soaring records: Duration with return to launching point, |)er-eent active membership. Junior: A le x Nekimkon 2 :07 The yearly financial report of the club Senior: DouA Decker 1 :49 36 hrs. 35 min.; distance 313.293 miles; Open: Carl Goldberg 2 :4G indicates that it is sound, and these altitude above starting point, 14,189.59 ft. funds insure the continuance of activi­ If Carl Goldberg tackles helicopters It is interesting to note that the Ger­ ties from year to year. The fact that seriously, we can expect this record to mans who originally developed this the club has been active since 1920 show a substantial increase in the near sport hold all the above-mentioned inter­ speaks well for this method of organiza­ future. Goldberg has been at the top national records. tion. of the list of indoor builders almost as Gas modeling is one of the chief in­ long as we can remember. It should be terests of this club. The photo which interesting to trace his progress with Jacksonville Model Club is reproduced here shows a model built helicopters. Starting the third year’s activity the by the club adviser, Conrad Hansen, Jr. Jacksonville Club will hold their spring Its the design of Irwin G. Ohlsson of Cas Model And Annual contest on Sunday, April 11th. Los Angeles, California. Dural outlines Since this club holds a charter in the have been used on the tail and wing. Soaring Contests Junior N. A. A., this contest, adhering to Dural is also used as a motor mount. precedent, will be run under the sanc­ Early in July the 8th Annual National It makes an extremely rugged and last­ tion of that body. Accordingly, all en­ Soaring Contest will be held. The scene ing type of construction. Winter flights tries must be designed to N. A. A. of this nationally popular meet is to be in below-freezing weather, being lost for specifications and flown under its rules. Elmira, New York, an ideal location for several days, and a variety of other hard The following are the events: soaring flights. Glider Haml Launched...... Classes B, C. D. An integral part of the meet will be Gliders Tow Launched...... Classes C. D, E. Stick M odels...... Classes C. D. the three-day Eastern States’ Gas Model Fuselage Models...... Classes C. D. E. Contest, full details for which will be Gas M odels contained in next month’s contest cal­ In addition to the above regular endar. events, others of special interest arc to In the rolling hills of this section some be included as follows: of the world’s finest soaring flights have Exhibition Scale Flying Scale been made. During last year’s competi­ Racing Models This Ohlsson-designed gas model is the tion one entry climbed to 6.500 feet, an product of Conrad Hansen, Jr., of altitude gained purely by the adroit use Plans are already on foot for a similar contest during the summer. Picked Beloit, Wisconsin. of rising air currents. Sailplanes fre­ quently travel a hundred miles or more, knocks have not dented it. The mod­ using fickle thermals or rising currents els climb is steep, and a wcll-strcam- to maintain altitude. lincd engine gives it a speed of about Since the Elmira district is the head­ 3a miles per hour. quarters for all those interested in the Hangar 13 is lucky to have Hansen various phases of gliding, it is in keeping as director. He’s an active organizer and to briefly describe the facilities located at a skilled modeler—a rare combination. Harris Hill, the jumping-off spot for the His work has probably hel|>cil many a competitors. beginner down the rough road of mod­ A development program expending Group of models built by members of eling. And we suggest that builders in over 8120.000 is providing the luxurious the Knight Club of Brooklyn, New York. the vicinity of Beloit take advantage of administration building, pilots* cabins his leadership. Address your letters to and a glider hangar. A road 3% miles members are to represent the Jackson­ Conrad Hansen, Jr.. Y. M. C. A., Beloit, long is being paved to the hilltop. There ville Club at the Nationals. W isconsin. a 200-foot runway 100 feet wide is in The director of this active club is Wil­ preparation for the forthcoming meet. liam L. Timpone and the secretary. Hartford Model Club Should you be fortunate enough to be Milton Myers. Headquarters are located The latest roll call of the Model Aero in attendance at this coming summer’s at 2048 Uoscllc Street, Jacksonville. Engineers of Hartford revealed an ac­ contest, you will be guaranteed a busy Florida. tive membership of 85 in Hartford alone. visit. The high schools of East Hartford, Giant sailplanes, whose birdlike wings Wethersfield, and Waterbury are organ­ span approximately 60 feet, rise to dizzy Utica Cas Model Club izing clubs under the Model Aero En­ heights in lazy circles, or occasionally ac­ The gas-model builders of Utica have gineers guidance. celerate to the uncanny gliding speed of recently formed a gas-job club. The The model photo is of the Grainvillo 70 ra.p.h. without sacrificing altitude loss club—The Utica Gas Job Club—at pres­ biplane, which not only appears well but of more than 3 feet per second. ent consists of fifteen members. The flies consistently. To successfully soar it is necessary to following members are the officers: delicately nurse the sailjdane from the President— Kay Darling Knight Club Of Brooklyn weakening top of one thermal down to Vice President— Tony Bally The group of models pictured is a the base of another, which, of course, Secretary— Bob Haiufeldt sample of the handiwork of the Knight must be sought for. Members plan to attend several con­ Club, an active organization of Brook­ Final rewards are made on a point sys­ tests this summer and are also going to lyn, N. Y., a club also proficient in the tem, which allots a preponderance of sponsor one of their own. Any gas-job building and flying of gas models. points to those accomplishing the most builders in the vicinity who wish to join difficult feat. the club arc cordially invited. Chicago Aeronauts Usually the easiest attempt is for dis­ For information, address Bob Ham- The Chicago Aeronauts held a contest tance; for maximum altitude a greater feldt, 648 James Street, Utica, New for helicopters recently in a 30-foot ceil­ number of points is given, but the great­ York. 48

The completed model with propellers re­ moved illustrates the color scheme de­ scribed. by Alan

INCE the data on this ship has been D. given on other pages of this issue, S let us start the model. B o o t o n Read the directions and study the drawings carefully. You will note that Here the unpainted G -l is shown in­ the model is a ’/c*" sheet-covered, all­ verted. Note the installation of the tail balsa type and that the main frames are wheel and landing gear. of the simple, rectangular type with the formers added. Provision has been made to get better performance from the model by the use of the 1st cabin station. CIS goes on each side of the 1st extension nosings that permit the use of longer propellers, cabin station, and C1B goes on the liottom of the 1st if desired. The tail surfaces arc removable for rubber cabin station, etc. installation, and change from Hying to scale surfaces. When the B3 stations on the bifuselage arc reached, they are continued by the longeron former method. WING The rounded nose of the cabin and the forms behind Where wider sheets of the Vo*" sheet arc required, the cowls arc carved and hollowed as indicated. The butt cement the 2" sheets together to the appropriate cowls are made simply by wrapping the covers (Vss* width. From such widths cut four oversize wing-panel sheet) over the prepared disks. Rubl>cr bands hold the patterns and two center section-panel patterns Vs” over­ covers until the cement dries. Conventional nose plugs size in chord. are used. Leave the carved parts and cowl off until After the ribs have been cut out, make a pair of slotted the model has been covered. main spars for the wings tapered to the last rib and RUDDERS AND STABILIZER wide as the wing is thick, also one center-section spar. The slotted main spars make possible the assembly of Taking one rudder for example, it is 1/c*" sheet-cov­ the wing panel parts without additional drawing. ered and has no frame. The Vic” streamline ribs are The assembling should l)e done on a soft, smooth cemented to the Vic” leading edge and left to dry. Cut 4 board. Taking one panel as an example, lay one of the rudder patterns to cover above the bottom rib. Cement wing-panel patterns on the board and assemble all the the edges of the ribs and around the edge of one pattern parts on it. using the trailing edge as a guide line. Slant and cover the ribs as making a sandwich. Fasten the edges Rib 1 for dihedral. Use plenty of pins to hold the parts of the sheet together with the scrap balsa clamps mentioned in place and then cement all joints. When dry, “toenail” above. Cement formers 6 and 7 in place on the lower rib. pins on a slant through the outside of Rib 1 and at the Former 6 must have the rear hook and end plug mounted. tip, then remove all of the other pins. Cover the remainder of the rudder longitudinally. Flow cement across the tops of all ribs but the tip, The stabilizer frame is made on a completed drawing and on the trailing edge and leading edge. Do the ce­ and cemented to the rudders according to the position menting quickly. . Starting at the trailing edge, lay the on the side-view drawing of the rudder. Leave the top cover on. Pushing in pins where needed, smooth stabilizer covering until later. over to the leading edge, using still more pins. Make REMAINDER OF COVERING the two other panels and cement them together with 1" or more dihedral angle at the tips. Cement the tip edges Slip the cabin frame to the center of the wing and pin together. Several of the scrap balsa clamps as shown in place, then cement all points of contact securely. Slip on Drawing 3 will hold the edges together. Cut out the the bifuselagc frames on the wing and plug in the tail ailerons by holding the wing to the light and cutting assembly. The center lines of the bifuselage frames, between the spars. Reattach them when parallel should match the with soft wire hinges. position of the top-view drawing, but Vic" variation will not differ. CABIN AND BIFUSELAGES Pin the bifuselagc frames so the Make 2 cabin side frames and 4 stabilizer sights in line with the bifuselage side frames from the side center section and then cement views, then space them apart ac­ all points of contact. Cut away cording to the top views, using Vic* portions of the cover and spars to sq. throughout. To these frames, allow motor clearance under the cement the formers in their proper The finished parts shown before final wing. Cover stabilizer with Vo*” positions, i. e.: C1T goes on top of assembly shows the simplicity of design. sheet. (Turn to page 87) AIR TRAILS 49 50 AIR TRAILS AIR TRAILS AIR TRAILS Vi ' 53

H ave you a question on model we ll answer it in the interest

building or flying that bothers of readers everywhere. Replies you? Bring us your problem and by mail require return postage.

DRAWING CURVES held as part of the National Contest which is scheduled Question: IIow do you draw the long outline curves for late June or early July. How the two-hundred- on a side vino oj a fuselage model? G. M., Fremont, dollar prize money offered by the A. C. Spark Plug Co. Ohio. will be distributed among the winners is not known. Answer: In the drafting room, long curves arc made But you can be assured that the winner will get a sub­ with curved pieces of celluloid known as “ship” curves, stantial share, that will go far to repay him for the or with splines, which are flexible curves that retain expense of building a radio-controlled model. any shape to which they arc bent. But this equipment PROPELLER PITCH is usually too expensive for the modeler draftsman. Question: What is meant when the pitch of a pro­ You can make an efficient substitute spline for a few peller is said to be 1.4 times the diameter? P. H., cents. Obtain a three- or four-foot length of J^xj4" Punxsutawncy, Pcnna. straight, hard balsa. Insert pins into the balsa piece every few inches. When drawing a curve, bend the Answer: Propeller pitch is a phase of design that balsa to shape and secure it by pushing the pins into troubles most modelers. The question has been asked the drawing board. Before drawing in the shape, change 1>efore. But it’s important enough to discuss again. the balsa spline until you’re convinced it’s the curve you Pitch refers to the angle of the propeller blades. A want and then draw in the line. This will spare you high-pitch propeller is one in which the blades are at needless erasing and will enable you to visualize the a steep angle. That is, as a high-pitch propeller re­ shape of the finished fuselage better than a line on the volves, the blades “bite off” large chunks of air and tend drawing paper. to move forward much more rapidly than a low-pitch propeller, in which the blades are at a flatter angle. TIRE TREADING The pitch of a propeller is determined by the size of Question: IVhat is the bandtex mentioned by Alan the block from which it is cut. For example, a propeller Booton in his article on gas-model balloon tires in the from a block with 2" width and depth would have a October, 1936, issue? M. D., Brooklyn, N . Y. much higher blade angle than if the depth was reduced I to half. The most efficient propeller is one in which the Answer: Bandtex is available in drug stores. Its blade angle decreases toward the tip. That is why pro­ chief use is for dressing finger cuts. Merely wrap a peller blocks are tapered before the blade is cut. The piece of bandtex around your finger and press the ends usual rule is to make the depth of the block at the tips together. Bandtex will not stick to anything other than about half the depth at the center of the blade. A typi­ itself, unless, of course, cement is used. It resembles cal method of block shaping is illustrated in the plans ,for - adhesive tape* in many respects. Booton used it for Luckctt’s winning Mulvihill model in this issue. treading on his gas-model tires. Here it was necessary The pitch of the propeller can be found from the for to use rubber cement for attaching. Possibly you’ll dis­ mula based on the dimensions of the block. Pitch equa cover that your drug store has the equivalent of band­ ~ PlVunh*r o ~ · Finding the pitch of Luckctt’s mo^K. tex under a different trade name. It’s a convenient material to keep on hand in the model shop. we have -,T x l1<8x 3--4. Performing the arithmetic, the ^ pitch is 20.6 inches. RADIO-CONTROLLED MODEL RULES And now for the original question of what is meant Question: Will you please give me the contest rules when the pitch of a propeller is said to be 1.4 times for the radio-controlled gas-model contest which will be the diameter? This ratio l>etwcen the pitch and the conducted this summer? M. D., Los Angeles, Calif. diameter is merely a convenient way of identifying the Answer: The only requirement in this contest is that types of profilers. This value is obtained by dividing you conclusively demonstrate to the judges that you are the pitch by the diameter. Referring again to Luckctt’s capable of controlling your gas model from the ground. ship, the pitch-diameter ratio would be about 1.5, which If there are a number of entries, naturally the model is an average value for outdoor rubber models. For Inform ing the most complete list of maneuvers will gas models the propeller pitch will lx? only one half the win. So little has been demonstrated in the way of diameter. radio-controlled gas models that definite rules are im­ A high-pitch propeller is out of place on a gas engine, possible. The size of the model will not be limited, since the steep blade angle will offer too much resist­ since a large model will probably be necessary to carry ance to rapid turning and the gas engine will not be able the additional weight of the radio equipment. Entrants to speed up to its designed r.p.m. The exact opposite in this contest will be given a free hand as far as the effect is wanted on indoor models. That is, for maxi­ design of the model is concerned, and they can spend mum duration, with little power, a slow-turning pro­ all of their time on the radio control. peller is necessary. The pitch is likely to be about twice The contest is tentatively set for Detroit. It will be the diameter.

ΒΗΜμ Μ Η Κ · ^ · tftl 54 \ Doubí e-surfaced Indoor Tractor A regal flight-king for the indoor enthusiast. by Lawrence N. Smithline

HJREE YEARS AGO a small clique of indoor builders, the Aeromits of New York, came to the Tconclusion that double-surfaced ships would be the ultimate design. One of this group built 3 double- surfaced wings. The first was an ordinary wing, ex­ cept that fiat ribs were put in for a lower surface. Great difficulty was experienced in flying this model. Apparently covering the wing on the bottom had a tendency to make the wing floppy, in spite of the fact that as a single surface wing it was all right. The second wing was built on the same principle, except that the spars were made hollow—to prevent floppiness and still keep the weight down. This wing, although it still showed a tendency toward floppiness was satisfactory. However, before any extensive tests could be made, an indoor glider took out most of the ribs and covering. The third wing was a radical departure from cither of the preceding wings. It was a monospar type, the spar of which ran along the one third chord point. This wing. on. a test flight, collapsed, and with it went the last of double-surface experimentation for 3 years. In presenting this design it is hoped that more fel­ lows will experiment with this type, so that its true value might be determined. The design being pre­ sented is perhaps not the ultimate; however, it elimi­ nates the bad features found in the (Turn to page 94)

56

The The model a?'t progresses through exchange of ideas. The Discussion Corner is a monthly sounding board fo r your opinions. This month readers discuss color visibility. Discussion For M ay the subject is adjustable pitch propellers on outdoor models. Other topics are listed below. Think about them, then write your opinion in 150 words or CORNER less a?id send it to The Discussion Corner. One dollar is paid for each answer printed.

ROM past experience in flying all-weather models. I Black and white is a perfect combination. At night find that the background against which they are white stands out perfectly against the dark sky. In the F flown is either blue and white, as on a bright, sunny daytime black is correspondingly clearly visible.------Max day, or gray and drab. Red coloring shows up splendidly Burnstein, Brooklyn. New York. against a bright background, and the yellow is plainly One of the lx?st color schemes is red in combination visible against dark clouds. The best coloring scheme is with yellow. It is effective and attractive. For utility, a yellow tail surface and fuselage with red wings. A the fuselage and stabilizer should be dark red, and the silver or black propeller will reflect the sunlight on bright wings and rudder a bright yellow. The red surfaces will days. As these colors predominate on contest models. remain in sight longest against a light sky. The yellow they must be the logical choice.------J ohn Vopat, J r.. wings can lx? seen against dark clouds, and in combina­ Garfield Heights. Ohio. tion with the yellow rudder can be located when in trees or on the ground. We fly in mountainous terrain, and The upper surface of a ship should be colored some frequently have models in flight which arc below the crest light hue, such as yellow, which is a definite contrast to of a distant mountain, or even below us in a valley. ,Thc the landscape and facilitates finding the model after it red-and-ycllow combination proves lx*st for visibility. has landed. The bottom should The propeller should be of be covered with dark, opaque natural-wood color but highly tissue. Dark so that it can be polished, so it will glitter in the seen against a light sky when This M ont/is Topic sunlight when high in the sky. overhead. A high polish on What color combination is best on an —E arl Stahl, Johnstown. the propeller is important. all-weather outdoor model, for greatest Pennsylvania. Many a contest is won because visibility? the ship is timed for a few cx- I find that black and red are a seconds, visible only by the lx*st—red wings and a black ;iint of the sun on the spinning propeller.------Curtis fuselage. The black body will show up against a light J anke, Sheboygan. Wisconsin. background, such as fog or clouds. The red will show up brightly against the blue sky and will also accent the effect of the black on a light background. The best color scheme for an all-weather outdoor On a large model I favor the use of black on the wings model is either solid red. or red combined with white or and a red fuselage. This will make a larger patch of yellow. A good scheme to use is a red wing and stabil­ contrasting color in the sky; while on a smaller model izers and a white or yellow fuselage and a yellow rudder. I favor a reversal of the alx>ve combination. A small Another good idea is to make the propeller glossy. The model usually flies lower than a large model, therefore a flash of the propeller in the sun will keep the model in red wing will lx* more easily visible against a background sight longer than any other color scheme on the other of foliage.—Douglas C. Atkins, Washington. D. C. parts of the model.------R yan M cMurtry, Jackson. (Turn to page 96) Mississippi.

Colors for outdoor models should be: yellow wings COMING UP are these topics: with a dark-blue fuselage and yellow tail surfaces; orange For June—IVhat trouble do you experience with gas wings and tail with a black fuselage. Brown and black models? Is it in construction or motor operation? Has should never lx* used together, because they arc the color increased expense kept you from building gas models? of the ground and do not show up well against foliage. Answers must reach us by Mårch 15th. Light blue is talxx> because it is the color of the sky. For July—Which type do you prefer for best results White has the disadvantage of lx*ing the same color in the original flying model: parasol, wing flush with as the clouds.------Roger L. Laskey. Wakpeton. North fuselage top. or low wing? Answers must reach us by Dakota. April 15th. 57 Enlargement Of Plans Builder's Guide by William Winter

/ (

58 M ile s Mohawk Colon el Lindbergh's new half-British half-American high-speed sport plane. by William Winter

HE Miles Mohawk, Colonel Lindbergh’s new, high­ speed, low wing was designed and built by Phillips Tand Powis under his supervision. The Mohawk is similar to the standard Miles two-seater, except for a number of modifications not discernible to the unprac- ticcd eye, chief of which is the use of the American Menasco engine. Since the manufacture is essentially British and the engine American, the plane has been dubbed “Colonel Lindbergh’s half-English, half-American plane.”

DIRECTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTING THE MODEL All material dimensions are given at the close of the directions. Trim a block of soft balsa to the required outside dimensions of the fuselage. On the side of the block draw the profile of the fuselage and shave away the excess wood. On the top of the block indicate the top outlines and again cut away the surplus balsa. Shape the semifinished block to the desired cross sections, check­ ing the work with the templates supplied for the purpose. These templates may be pasted on stiff paper for accuracy. The cabin portion may be either cut out and then built up or may merely be painted white and outlined with '»lack after the job is finished. Before sanding the fuse­ lage to a satin finish drill the holes to receive the wing attachment dowels. •'Cut the tail surfaces to the required shapes from */** ^oft-sheet balsa and trim them to the necessary stream­ lined cross section. Sand the finished tail units and cement them in position on the fuselage, noting that the one-piece stabilizer is to be filleted in later. Cut each wing panel to its required outline, tapering the depth as seen on the front view. Shape each panel blank to its indicated rib sections and sand smooth. At the point of the landing-leg attachment to each panel score the upper surface, so that the wing may lx? cracked for the proper dihedral. Cement these weakened por­ tions of the wings so that the desired amount of dihedral will lx? retained. Drill holes in the butt ends of the panels and force each panel in place on the fuselage dowels, cementing copiously. Mold the fillets with plastic wood. Cut and shape the landing gear legs from sheet balsa, sanding each unit well before cementing and pin­ ning it to the wing. Carve the propeller from scraps and mount it on a straight pin so that it is free to turn. (Turn to page 94) ORANGE WINGS AND TA Hr LANDING GEAR AND FUSELAGE BLACK-STRIPES ORANGE

M/LES MOHAWK SCALE 1 = 1 SEE DIRECTIONS a ' TO ASSEMBLE SPECIFICATIONS SPAN 35 FEET LENGTH 2 5 FT. 6 IN EMPTY WEIGHT 1605 LBS. USEFUL LOAD 1095 LBS. AILERON GROSS WEIGHT 2700 LBS. HIGH SPEED 2 0 0 M.P.HAPX. 60 Designing to Meet the New Wakefield Rules

by Cordon S. Light

The famous Wakefield WAKEFIELD CONTEST DURATIONS

Trophy for YEAR TIME RULING which the 1928 52.6s No weight requirements world's and best flight counted. 1929 lm 10.4s 41 model build­ 1930 2m 35.0s ers have con­ 1931 4m 24.8s “ tested dur­ 1932 7m 57.2s 1933 5m 21.0s Average of 3 flights ing the past 1934 lm 51.8s Minimum weight 4 ounces nine years. for 200 square inches. Average of 3 flights. 1935 2m 30.0s 4« 1936 4m 09.0s «4 1937 >·>·>·>■>·> Minimum weight 8 ounces for 200 square inches. Average of 3 flights.

H E new Wakefield rules require a minimum weight of 8 ounces with a wing area of 190-210 square inches. TThis means the minimum wing loading is one ounce doubling the number of strands of rubber required. How­ per 25 square inches, or twice the loading used in the last ever, the number of turns which can Ik* stored in this three Wakefield contests. What can we do to maintain fly­ motor (assuming 20 strands of % n flat rubber) is about ing ability in the face of increased weight requirements? x/i less than an equivalent length of 10 strands. The This is the question facing every designer whose ambition actual decrease in propeller duration would be greater turns to recapturing the Wakefield trophy for this country. than J/j, since it would lx* difficult to develop a propeller The choice of methods for combating weight can lx* which would deliver sufficient thrust to fly an 8-ounce catalogued into two varieties. The first method has been model and still maintain the same r.p.m. as the type used used on models ever since weight rules were first intro­ on a 4-ounce model. duced. about 5 years ago. The idea behind it is to build Therefore, the larger rubber motor is certain to result a model with a relatively short, powerful propeller run in faster propeller speeds. It is not unreasonable to which will take it to sufficient height for a long glide. assume that for the same length of rubber the propeller Even if the model does not pick up helpful currents, the duration on an 8-ounce model will be only y2 the dura­ sinking speed is slow enough to give satisfying duration. tion of a 4-ounce model. At present, the propeller dura­ This high-climbing variety of contest model has been tion on the average contest model is about 60 seconds. so successful in recent years that it has discouraged any Thus, in an 8-ounce model it would lx* 30 seconds. work on geared or multiple motor models. In every recent The sinking speed on a heavier design suffers along contest the modeler who has patiently developed a sys­ with the decrease in propeller run. The glide angle of \ tem of gearing, or other ways of increasing the propeller the model is not affected by weight as long as the “clean­ duration, has seen the lighter and simpler models carried ness” of the model remains the same. But the sinking out of sight on a thermal current. The smooth, steady s|>eed is faster, since the velocity of the model along the flight, of average duration, turned in by geared models glide path would be greater. Our calculations indicated will not equal a thermal flight. And its slow climb and that the sinking speed would lx* increased about 40 per extra weight has made it less sensitive to thermal currents. cent. The sinking speed is about 2 feet per second with But the increase in weight requirements will close the a 4-ounce model. And this would lx* boosted to 2.8 feet gap between these two types of models. And this year, l>er second with an 8-ounce job. Sinking speed is what for the first time, the designer is called on to make an determines the duration of glide. So. in terms of total important decision—choosing between gears or a direct- flight duration, it’s likely that the total flight will lx* about drive single motor. 70 seconds. This duration will lx equally divided be­ We’ve been doing some performance calculations for tween propeller duration and glide duration. an 8-ounce model, to determine whether or not we can CONVERTING INCREASED WEIGHT INTO get worthwhile duration using a single motor without RUBBER MOTOR gears. For the purpose of calculations, we assumed a model of the same general characteristics as previous There is every reason to think that on an 8-ounce Wakefield entries. The only change, of course, was the model it would lx possible to convert much of the 4 extra increase of the weight. Doubling the weight means ounces into additional rublxr motor (Turn to page 93) 61 SEVERSKY P-35 A new all-metal fighter powered with 1000 h.p two-row Pratt &ř Whitney Wasp> capable of 315 7n.p.h. Army contract calls for 77. 62 Ex p o r t Fig h ter another solid scale plan

29' LENGTH 22' 8 “ HEIGHT 7 6 , TREAD 68' WING AREA 154'sq. Π ENGINE PR A TTi-WHI TNEf WASP JUNIOR 420 HP 2250PPM.

HIGH PERFORMANCE EXPORT _ FIGHTER DESIGNED TO ARMY C SPECIFICATIONS-DIVE TESTED

1'L)“ AMERICAN ARMAMENT FIGHTER SCALE Wf-VEST POCKET PURSUIT DESIGNED BY DONALD DE LACKNER AIR TRAILS 63 DEATH RIDES THE SKY (Continued from page 14)

“Nothing except what I said,” Shorty plate as far back as the rear cockpit. “How are things with you. Monkey? ’ answered. “I ------” The rear quarter was fabric-covered, Bill interrupted, hastily. A telephone bell pealed beside the also the aerodynamically balanced con­ “So-so, Bill. I want you both to little desk at the end of the laboratory. trol surfaces. The rudder was provided meet my business associate, Mr. Marat.” Bill glared at it, then moved across the with a trimming tab to comi>ensatc for The flat-faced man behind Worts nod­ room, took the receiver off the hook engine torque. The twin cockpits were ded his bullet head at each of them and grunted into the mouthpiece. arranged in tandem and completely in­ without a change of expression. He “This is Tony, Bill,” the voice of the closed by sliding, transparent hatches. was a short man, built along the same chief radio operator said in his ear. “Do you see that machine-gun sight lines as a brick smokehouse. But Bill, “Some bird who called himself Monkey and the bomb racks underneath the watching him for a moment, knew he Worts just made contact with me. He’s center-section hatch?” Shorty asked Bill. could move with the agility of a cat. Hying here with another man to see “ I s e e 'em." Bill said. “That baby is “Sit down, Mike,” Worts said to you. I told him I didn't think you fast—retractable landing gear—and it Marat, as he threw himself into a chair. were here. He said he’d land and wait could do a lot of damage. I wonder Bill sat down behind his desk and for you.” why Monkey Worts is flying that kind Shorty took a deep, leather chair near “ Tell him ------” Bill began, and then of a job around the country?” a window. Marat leaned back against stopped. Something flashed in his “He probably stole it,” Sborty said. the wall where he had l>cen standing. mind, something he couldn't quite grasp. “But he’ll tell you he found it in his He, evidently, preferred to remain on It was as though he was trying to re­ stocking at Christmas time.” his feet. member a name that constantly eluded They turned away from the window “You got a great place here, Bill,” his memory. “Tell him.” he said again, as “Monkey” Worts and the man with Worts saidj “a great layout. I see you “I’m over in my living quarters. Send him waddled out of the ship and un­ even got tennis courts and a swimmin’ them over. I’m going there with Shorty fastened their parachute packs. pool. How many hangars you got?” in a few minutes.” “Keep your mouth shut and let him “Six.” Bill said. He put the receiver back on the hook talk,” Bill said. “What did the gov­ “An’ a crash truck an’ fire engine an’ slowly. He was still trying to recaj>- ernment ever do about that dope-smug­ ambulance,” Worts went on. “An’ your ture the thing that had flashed through gling charge against him?” own power house an’ factory.” his memory. He shook his head and “They dropped it,” Shorty said. “You seem to know all al>out it,” Bill laughed. “Monkey pulled a politician out of his snapped. “An old pal of yours is going to drop hat and they couldn’t get an indictment “I been lookin’ you up, Bill,” Worts in to sec us,” he said to Shorty. Shorty against him. I’d hate to have the things said. “I think maybe you an’ me can lifted his eyebrows. “Tony said Monkey he has against him on my conscience.” get together.” Worts is going to drop in with another “He probably doesn’t have any,” Bill “W hat’s on your mind. Monkey?” Bill m an.” , said. “There is probably a bubble in asked again. “Another rat, probably,” Shorty said. bis brain where his conscience ought “I got a good line-up. Bill. I got “What the hell docs lie want around to be.” something good. All you got to do is here?” Bill sat down in the chair behind his contribute your name, your field and “I don’t know,” Bill said. “C’mon desk, opened the lower drawer and l)e technical adviser,” Monkey said. over to my bungalow and we’ll find transferred an automatic from it to the “Technical adviser to what?” o u t.” top right-hand drawer, which he left “My new air line,” Monkey Worts Bill carefully locked both looks on the open. When a knock sounded on the said. “I got a great proposition for door of the laboratory from the out­ door he called out a cheery, “Come in.” you, Bill. We can go in it on a fifty- side. Then he motioned to a uniformed Any one could have told why the fifty basis, if you’ve got some cash to guard ~nd told him to keep an extra man who first stepped into the room put in along with your airport as our sharp lookout over the lalioratory. was called Monkey. He was a big man Eastern terminal.” As soon as Bill and Shorty "ere in with a large-boned body and a power­ “ W hat routes arc you going to fly?*^ Bill’s bungalow he picked up the tele­ ful torso. But his head was too small Bill asked, politely. phone on the desk in his living room for it. It sat directly on his shoulders, “Oh, I thought I mentioned that,” and told Tony Lamport to send Cv and it was small and wizened and bat­ Worts said. “It’ll be just like it has Hawkins, another of Bill’s veteran pi­ tle-scarred. His eyes were small and always .been—a transcontinental route lots, over to his quarters. rheumy, and the hair on his head was from coast to coast. We’ll use the same Both Bill and Shorty stepped to a almost negligible. His eyes darted airjiorts Amalgamated used from here window as they heard the high whine around the room as he stepped into it. to the coast and on the little side lines of a plane. It came in for a landing His face cracked in what he thought up the west coast.” on Barnes Field. Bill did a t s c h , t s c h was a smile, as he advanced toward Bill did not show by the flicker of with his tongue against his teeth, as he Bill with outstretched hand. an eyelash the way the mention of Amalgamated Airways really affected saw the sleek, low-winged ship that “How are things going with you, him. He glanced at Shorty, and when came to a halt on the apron. Bill?” he asked, as Bill reluctantly took he returned his gaze to Worts there was What he saw was a streamlined, low- his hand. wing. internally braced monoplane of a bland little smile on his lips. “Fair,” Bill said and the absence of sturdy design, built around a two-row, “What has Amalgamated to do with his famous smile was noticeable. “You radial, air-cooled “ticker-geared” engine it?” he asked, quietly. know Shorty, of course?” to drive a standard, controllable-pitch “Ain’t you seen the papers?” Mon­ propeller with two blades. The twin “Well,” Monkey Worts said, as he key Worts wanted to know. “They Dart engine was inclosed in an N. A. moved toward Shorty, “it’s *an honor know they’re washed up—finished. C. A. cowling of the latest design to see the boy who won the War They’re going to lose their franchise equipped with air-control flaps. again.” and license. I got a ninety-day option The fuselage was of metal structure, “Your wit,” Shorty said, sourly, “is on the whole works for a song. A cou­ covered with panels of smooth dural about as funny as your fa------” ple of boys I know on Wall Street are 64 AIR TRAILS

going to form a syndicate to furnish a man who likes to kill for the sheer he and Bill were alone in the room. me with the dough. Then they’ll float joy of killing. “Look at that automatic,” he said. an issue of stock to pay themselves “Shall I let him have it, boss?” he “He carries it in a shoulder holster and back, with a little added. The stock asked the blood-smeared Worts as he he has the grip and barrel casing cut don’t have to pay no dividends and heaved himself to his feet. down so no one can tell it’s there. you and me get the gravy. See?” “In a minute,” Monkey Worts Very, very neat.” “I see,” Bill said. "I should think rasped. "Hold your gun on him until Bill grinned back at him and reached you’d need'a lot of money to buy all I knock his teeth down his throat. If for one of the telephones on his desk, of Amalgamated’s equipment.” he raises a hand, give it to him in the as a bell pealed. He motioned to Shorty “Not so much,” Worts said, grinning. stom ach.” to take the automatic he had in his "They got the old pressure on ’em. Worts steadied himself, while Bill hand. See? They got careless and had too stood helpless, with his hands flat on "Yes, Tony,” he said into the mouth­ many accidents. These friends of mine the desk before him. Worts’ face was piece. He listened to what Tony had are putting the pressure on ’em. See? the face of an animal, as he moved to­ to say with a strange expression on his They’re glad to get out. These friends ward Shorty, his big hands working face. “Put him on,” lie said in a mo­ of mine arc big shots—’way up! They’ll convulsively. m ent. give you the same protection they give Then Bill saw the door from the hall­ “This is Bill Barnes, Mr. Shipman,” me. See? An’ with your name behind way opening slowly. lie held his breath he said. “Yes, speaking.” He listened the thing. Bill, we’ll clean up. We’ll for what seemed hours, until he saw to the voice at the other end of the make plenty sugar.” Cy Hawkins’ leathery face peering wire for a moment. Bill could feel a white-hot anger surg­ through the crack. He shifted his eyes “Right,” he said. “I understand. I’ll ing through his body. He pretended away from the door with an effort. He lie at your offices within an hour. And to look at a paper on his desk, to hide saw that Cy had taken in the situa- I’ll have some interesting things to tell the thundercloud that came storming you. A notorious pilot named Worts over his face. He knew, as surely as is here, trying to sell me Amalgamated he knew it was daytime, that Monkey A irw ays.” Worts had something to do with the He slapped the receiver on the hook inglorious deaths of Marty Dewart and and put the telephone down on his desk Jerry Winsor and their passengers. He with a bang. His eyes narrowed to clenched his teeth and dug his finger mere pin points as he regarded the two nails into the palms of his hands to racketeers in front of him. get control of himself. He knew that “I’m in all right. Monkey,” he said. Monkey Worts had more things to tell "But I’m not going to play on your him and he wanted to hear them. He side. You’ll never get Amalgamated wanted to hear them before he lost con­ Airways if I can prevent it. So far trol of himself and threw Worts through you mobsters have left the air lines the window or smashed his face in. He alone—until yesterday. I don’t know cleared his throat, whirled around and whether you had anything to do with looked out of the window for a mo­ those crashes yesterday, but I’m going ment, stalling for time. to find out. And if you did, Monkey, ‘‘Do you think there was any sabotage you’re going to burn for them.” Burt Longnecker. connected with those accidents on “Listen, Bill,” Monkey Worts whined, Amalgamated’s lines. Monkey?” he “there is still time for you to come in tion and was ready to act. But he asked as calmly as lie could. w ith us. Y ou’ll clean up------” Monkey Worts studied him for a mo­ didn’t expect him to do what he did do. Cy pushed the door open until it was “Scram!” Bill shouted. “Get out of ment and then a slow, knowing smile here and take your muscle man with wide enough to admit him. Then he broke over his ugly face. He winked you, before I get mad!” „w, AVC antj curled up the corner of his took two quick steps and jabbed some­ thing into the back of the gunman, M arat. - rdon’t know. Bill.” he said. “What IV— BILL GETS A JOB “Hold everything!” Cy said in his do you think?” soft drawl. "Drop that gun and get TWENTY MINUTES LATER, Bill Barnes, dressed in a tweed suit, snap- “I think you’re a filthy rat!” Shorty your hands reaching. And you, monkey- Hassfurther said, as he came bouncing face, keep your hands out of your brim hat, a white shirt with a soft collar, plain navy-blue necktie and tan out of his chair. He reached Worts in pockets.” two strides, grasped him by the throat As M arat started to whirl. Cy grabbed brogues, stood on the apron beside the Silver Lancer, while Martin, the chief and yanked him to his feet. At the him by the collar and said, “Better not, mechanic on Barnes Field, warmed it same instant he drove his right fist tough guy, or you’ll be wondering how against Worts’ nose with all the strength vour spine got in two pieces. Drop that up. He was giving instructions to dour in his i>owerful shoulders. Worts stag­ gun!” old “Scotty” MacCloskey, major-domo and head technician of his staff. gered backward and slid to the floor, Marat dropped it and lifted his hands as M arat bounced off the wall with an above his head. Bill grabbed at the “You better spread the word for automatic in his hand. automatic in the top drawer of his every one to be on the alert,” he said Bill Barnes read murder in Marat’s desk and trained it on him. Then Cy to Scotty. “Be careful about who the eyes as he shoved the gun in Shorty’s stepped out from behind Marat and guards admit. Monkey Worts may get stomach. He knew that only a miracle picked his gun off the floor. As he it through his head that I'm going to could save Shorty’s life. He started to straightened up he wiggled the index block his attempt to grab Amalgamated. reach for the automatic in the top finger of his right hand. “Imagine If he does, he’ll use his usual methods drawer of his desk. Marat’s cold, shooting any one with that,” he said to get rid of me.” wheezy voice stopped him. with a grin. Bill realized for the first “Don’t worry about things here, “Hold it. punk.” he said, “or I’ll kill time that Cy had not been armed. boy,” Scotty said. “We’ll keep a cou­ both of you!” His gimlet eyes went Cy studied the gangster’s gun with ple of Snorters warmed up and ready back to Shorty. They were the eyes of no little interest. He acted as though to take off. Red Gleason and Bev AIR TRAILS 65

B ates w ill 1m? back from Canada some Take advantage of this special FREE offer now! time this afternoon. Shorty and Cy SPRAY 1 DOZEN Experience what a real pleasure it is to do busi­ and Henderson arc here if you need ness with a model air- lo r Y our or SH EETS lane supply house that them—not to mention Sandy.” Eceps promises! Every MODELS JAP. TISSUE order Is shipped same A frown flitted across Scotty’s face. day received! All ma- ---- trrials are of highest He looked at Bill, cleared his throat quality! Prove this to yourself Learn why to many builders, dealers and club* deal with SKYWAY! Dealer*! Send for prices. and went on. hesitantly. ‘‘I’ve been 18" BALSA SHEETS 18* BALSA STRIPS Wooden Wheels Machine Props Sheet Aluminum 1/32x2 ...... 5 (or Se 1/16x1/16 ... 100 for 5c 2 pair . .3* 5* ...... 4* .003 . sq. ft. 10c wanting to s]>cak to you al)out the lad. Ι Ί6χ2 ...... 5 fir 5c I/I&x'e ...... 35 for 5e pair ..2* (add Ic per 3/32x2 ...... 4 for 5« nXft ...... 30 for 5e I* . pair . .4* in. for props Alum. Tubing Bill. Have you noticed anything pe­ J4x2 ...... 4 for 5« 1/16x3/16 ... 20 for 5c IH*. pair ..4c up to 16*.) 3 16x2 ...... 3 for 5c l%*. pair . .7* 1/16*. 3/16*. I / I 6 x '/4 ...... 1 5 for 5c Rubber Motors ·/·* . ..10* ft. culiar about him lately? He seems to / 4x2 ...... 2 for 5c 3/32x3/32 . .. .30 for 5* 1/16 sq. 20 ft. 5c '/ax2 ...... 1 for 5c Vox'/e ...... 12 for 5c Celluloid Wheels •Λ flat .20 ft. 5c l>e so preoccupied and quiet and he’s For 3 ' sheet*, double above '/4x'/4 ...... 6 for 5* *4*. pair .. 5e ALUM. LEAF. price* . . . .3 for 5* I . pair .. 7e INSIGNIAS— 2 sheets for Ic l>ecn staying away from the field until BALSA PROP BLOCKS Vzx'AM· ...... 3 for 5c l%*. pair .. 9e French. American. li·", pair ..I5e Enqlish. German WIRE. 6 ft. 3t / 4x%x6 ...... 6 for 5e iy4*..4 for 3c all hours of the night. It isn’t like i'jXV*x5 ...... 7 for 5c 18* BALSA PLANKS Balsa Balloon 36* length*. %xl*8 ...... 3 for 5c Ixl, I for...... 4e 2* ...... Ic him. Do you—er—suppose the kid is Wheels I sheet of 24. 5c NOSE PLUGS, %*lx8 ...... 3 for 5c 1x2. I for...... 9e . .2 pr. 3c *4xl'/4xl2 2 for 6c 2x2. I for...... 15* -----pr. 2c Dummy Radial large. 10* doz. mixed up with some girl or something 1x1/7x12 1 for 6c 2x3. I for...... 19c Engine« small. .5* doz. I x I v»x 15 ...... I for 7« 2x6. I for...... 35c -----pr. 3* ...p r . 5* l/a* Diam---- 14c Miscellaneous of the sort?” For 36' lengths double above prrices and add 10c postage P1' . . . . pr. 8c 2* ΓDiam...... 18c 15* Bamboo Shoot Celluloid Clear Cement -----pr. 14c 3* Diam...... 23c Washers. x/ a Ya Bill laughed. “I don't think so, Ι/ΙβχΥο .6 for 5« 2x6 ...... 2e I or...... 5c s* doz...... Ir Shredded . 40. 5c 6x8 4* '/* Pt...... 25* PROP. SHAFTS. DOWELS. l/6x Scotty—unless the girl is an airplane. Japanete Tinue 12x16 ...... 15c 1 Pt...... 45c 2 lor ...... Ic 12.10c per doz. Sandpaper.pkg.5< All color*. Dr. 18c Model Pins. Clear Dope Wood Veneer PAUL-O-WINA SPOT WELDED He’s probably thinking up some new Silver or Super­ I oz...... 5* 20x30*. I tor. 9* HOLLOW pkg...... 5« fine Tissue.. 5e '/a Pt...... 25* 2 for ...... I7e JAP PROPS Brushes No.6 ..5c gadget with which he is going to change Dor...... 50* Reed 5* ...... 10c WHEELS Colored Dope 1/32. 1/16* (add 5c per 1* ...... pr. 6c Thrust the course of aeronautical history. Leave Thinner Be*t I oz...... 5e ...... 3 ft. Ic inch for props I%*...... pr. lie Searings ...fc I or...... 5c '/» Pt...... 30c '/e* ...... 3 for 2e up to 10*.) r / r ...... pr. 14c Bushina*, doz. 3c him alone.” ORDERS 75c or under I5e postage. Postage prepaid orders over 75*. West of Mississippi add 10c extra. Canada: add 15* extra on orders under $1.00. On order* over $1.00 add 15%." “Oh, I’ll leave him alone." Scotty CASH OR MONEY ORDER—NO STAMPS—NO C. 0 . D.'s. 383 Seventh Avo.. said, hastily. “I’m only too glad to SKYWAY MODEL AIRCRAFT SUPPLY CO. Dept. B leave him alone. It’s a relief not to Brooklyn. N. Y. be combing him out of my hair every few minutes!” slioutcd. as Bill released his brakes and man would see him immediately. A Bill laughed again and climbed into kicked the ship around into the wind. l>oy directed him into the inner office the forward cockpit of the all-metal sil­ “What’s this I hear about your stay­ and led him down a hallway to a door ver bullet, lie dropped into the bucket ing out until all hours of the night?” with Mr. Shipman’s name on it. The scat and adjusted the scat parachute. Bill asked into the intercockpit phone boy rapped on the door and opened it. Then, he revved up the tandem-Diesel after he had leveled off at three thou­ Bill stepped into the room. Shipman engines that drove the twin props in sand feet. came out of his chair with his hand different directions. He listened to their “Aw, that’s a lot of hooey,” Sandy extended, as Bill crossed the room in full-throated roar. said. “I’ve just been seeing some three strides. He checked over his ammunition shows. Bill. I’m going to sec a matinee “This is quite an honor. Mr. Barnes,” counters and his two .50-caliber ma­ this afternoon.” he said. “I have always been curious chine guns and the 37mm cannon “You’re going to sit in the Lancer about you.” mounted in the V of the cylinders. His and keep your eye peeled, while I call Bill smiled, shook Shipman’s hand eyes ran over the flight instrument panel on Benjamin Shipman of Amalgamated and sat down in a chair beside his desk. and the radio ]>anel an d he tested the Airways,” Bill said, decisively. “I’m He saw immediately that Shipman was yellow-and-green amphibian gear lights, not going to leave it moored at 31st one of those men who go far on their lie lifted the infra-red ray telescope that Street without some one to keep an personality. |>crmittcd him to sec through fog. clouds eye on it. with Monkey Worts in the lie was a big man, with large fea­ or darkness, checked it and let it drop background.” tures and a black head of hair that was buck to its folding position in a recess “Hey, Bill!” Sandy shouted. “I got gray at the temples. The touch of in the instrument board. a date. Honest. What’s that bandit gray gave him a distinguished appear­ He lifted a hand of farewell to Scotty, Monkey Worts got to do with it?” ance. His brown eyes were clear and when a thatch of reddish, blond hair “You can telephone and break your quite frank. Bill judged his age at stuck itself over the rim of the cockpit. date,” Bill said. He told Sandy about fifty-five and decided he was going to The hair was followed by a bronzed Monkey Worts’ call. like him. He knew that Benjamin face, in the center of which was a Sandy exhaled his breath in a re­ Shipman was a very wealthy man and v freckled nose and a pair of laughing signed sigh and said, “O. K., Bill. I served on the board of a score of large blue eyes. The gap below the freckled sup|>osc if you need me I got to stick corporations. He also knew Shipman nose, that was a mouth, tried to shout around. But you might have told me hadn’t inherited his wealth. He had above the roar of the engines. Bill cut l»cforc I------” earned it. He had fought his way up his throttles and pushed his ear phones “Before you what?” Bill growled. from the bottom, with that combina­ tion of ruthlessncss and sagacity that off his ears. "Let’s skip it,” Sandy said. Bill circled once above the East River, is necessary in the modern business “What do you want, cabbage?” he until a string of barges were^ out of his world. shouted. way. Then, fishtailing to reduce his “What do you think about this mess. “Hey. who’s a cabbage?" Sandy San­ s|>ecd, he struck the water with a cloud Barnes?” Shipman asked. ders, the kid veteran of Bill’s squadron of spray and roared up to the landing. “It looks to me like wholesale mur­ wanted to know. “I want a ride in your The floats of the big ship slid halfway der,” Bill said grimly. “Monkey rumble over to the city. Scotty said up the face of the inclined turntable. Worts knew a great deal more about you were going up to the seaplane land­ The turntable came up and swung half­ the thing than he told me.” ing on 31st Street.” way around. An attendant wheeled up “Who is this Monkey Worts?” Ship- Bill made a motion with his thumb a set of steps and Bill emerged. He m a n a s k e d . and young Sandy went over the side hurried up the pier toward the row of “A notorious and extremely skillful into the after cockpit. He pulled out waiting taxis. pilot,” Bill answered. “He has been the ear phones and slipped them over A girl, with too much rouge on her mixed up in everything from aerial dope his ears. cheeks and an inclination to flirt when smuggling to gun running in China. He “Thanks for the lift, mister,” he Bill gave his name, told him Mr. Ship- is one of those warped characters you 66 AIR TRAILS

road about in fiction. His face is that we get in touch with you. He merce, “is if another broadcast could warped and his brain is warped. He’s said you would want to see the ships.” break in on the regular radio beam sent an aerial gangster, if you know what “Burt is a good man,” Bill said. “I’ll out by the department of commerce I m ean.” keep in touch with you. You can al­ and take a man fifty miles off his “Using his knowledge of planes and ways reach me through my radio sta­ course?” as a pilot to make any dishonest money tion on Barnes Field. I’ll have your “No,” Siebert said, slowly. “That is, he can?” Shipman suggested. full support?” I don’t think it could. Just how do “Exactly,” Bill said. “I asked him “ A b s o l u t e l y /” Shipman said, earnestly. you m ean?” if he thought there was sabotage con­ “I’ll back you with everything I have, “Like this,” Bill said. “The pilot is nected with the accidents on the Amal­ Barnes. It’s to my advantage. I don’t riding the beam straight along the air­ gamated lines yesterday and he gave see how Amalgamated can survive un­ way. The interlocking A and N arc me a knowing grin, winked and asked less you do the trick. But take care coming in regularly, and he knows he’s me what I thought.” of yourself. I don’t want to have your on his right course. Then, he deviates “ U - t i m m p ! ” Shipman grunted deep blood on my hands.” off his course a little to starboard and down in his throat. “What kind of a “I usually manage to get through in the dash-dot, dash-dot signal comes in. proposition did he make you?” one way or another,” Bill said, as he Just as he is about to kick his rudder Bill told him about Monkey Worts’ got to his feet. He returned Shipman’s to get back on his true course, this visit from beginning to end. When he strong grasp on his hand, touched his fake range beacon cuts in with the regu­ finished, Shipman was gazing at him forehead in a half salute and marched lar interlocking A and N. It is louder with eyes that were mere slits. He sat out of Shipman’s office without an­ than the real radio-beam signals and silent for several minutes, with the tips other word. lie thinks he is back on his true course. of his 'fingers together, his index fin­ So he settles back in his seat, sure that gers touching his lower lip. he’s on his course O. K. And the next “Do you think you can clean this V— AN AERIAL DUEL thing he knows he sticks his nose in the thing up, Barnes?” he asked, finally. AN HOUR LATER Bill made con­ side of a mountain. The fake beam I mean, clean it up to the satisfac- tact with the radio dispatcher on Boll­ has taken him way off his course.” ýo n of the department of commerce, ing Field in Washington. He got the Clement Siebert’s angular face turned lie newspapers and the public?” direction of the wind and the ceiling, a shade paler; his mouth dropped open S- ‘I can try,” Bill said. “I’m as much and twenty minutes later took the as he stared at Bill. interested in wiping those smears off Lancer skimming across the field for a “You think that’s the way that acci­ the book of aviation as you arc. They workmanlike landing. dent happened on Amalgamated the arc a dark blot that it will take some “All right, kid.” he said to Sandy, as other night?” he asked. time to erase. There are a number of he killed his engines and went over the “Could it happen that way?” Bill in­ angles I don’t understand. To all ap- side, “sit tight. I’ll get back as fast as sisted. |>earances, and according to the records, I can.” “I suppose it could,” Siebert said, Marty Dewart was riding the radio “You’re certainly making a fine heel slowly. “But who would want to do beam right up to the time of his crash. out of me,” Sandy said. “You’ve al­ such a thing as that. Bill?” Yet he was fifty miles off his course. ways told me promptness in keeping “Then it could happen?” 1 can’t understand that. And there are an engagement was an important thing. "Why—er-r-r—I’d want to talk to other angles.” I’m three hours late now!” some of our engineers before I answered “Then you’ll take on the job?” Ship- Bill took two steps and then wheeled that definitely. Bill,” Siebert said. “It’s man asked. Looking at Bill at that mo­ around. “Listen!” he shouted. “Why a fantastic idea. Just a moment, I’ll ment Shipman could understand why do you make dates when you’re sup­ Bill had won himself an international posed to l>e on duty? What do you "Never mind.” Bill said, and he reputation for great accomplishments. think you’re being paid for? Your grabbed Siebert’s hand and pumped it. “I’ll take it,” Bill said, shortly, “on beauty? If you hadn’t come sticking “That’s close enough. You’ve told me condition I can go alnnit the thing in your nose over the side of the Lancer, what I want to know.” my own way. It seems to be a ques­ asking for a ride, you’d been able to tion of getting Monkey Worts with the slip out and stay out half the night, YOUNG SANDY sat breathless in goods, before he gets Amalgamated. I the way Scotty says you’ve been doing. the rear cockpit of the Lancer, while think I can get him.” Now, pij>e down and stop sulking like Bill related, over the intercockpit phone, ^ “I’m sure you can, Barnes.” Shipman a baby. If she loves you she’ll wait what Siebert had told him. said, grimly. “I wouldn’t care to have a week for you.” He watched Sandy’s “Good gosh, Bill!” he said, finally. you out gunning for me. What will freckled face turn from pink to a deep “That’s just plain murder.” you do first?” crimson. “That’s what it is, kid,” Bill said. “I’ll hop down to Washington this “She!” Sandy said with scornful dig­ His face was a grim study in concen­ afternoon and have a little talk with nity. “I’m not talking about any ‘she.’ tration as he opened the throttles of the air bureau of the department of I’m talking about keeping my word, the Lancer and stuck the nose toward commerce about the radio beam. I want about honor. I------” He waved one Barnes Field. to learn if there is any way a person hand in the air. “I ------” “You think Monkey Worts cooked could throw a fake beam that might “Yeah,” Bill said, “you’ll have yours that up?” Sandy asked. lead a pilot ofT his real course and into cooked medium rare with four pounds “No,” Bill said, decisively. “There the side of a mountain.” of French-fried potatoes and a whole is some one behind Monkey Worts. He “You think that’s |>ossiblc?” pumpkin pie.” is a crafty pilot and he’d murder his “I don’t know,” Bill said. “But I’ll He grinned and started toward the own family, if there was any money in find out. Then, to-night. I’ll hop out administration building and a taxicab. it, but this mess is a little too deep for to Denver and Summit and take a look “What,” he asked himself, “is that kid him to work out. He’s probably doing at those crack-ups. They have been up to now? He’s more trouble than the strong-arm stuff.” left as they were? I mean, as much so two sets of quintuplets.” Bill glanced anxiously at the low- as possible while taking out the bodies?” “What I want to know,” Bill said to hanging, cumulus clouds and the fog “Yes,” Shipman replied. “Burt Long- Clement Siebert, expert in the radio that was gathering in the hills below necker, our traffic manager, suggested division of the department of com­ them as the sun crept toward the hori- AIR TRAILS 67 zon. He flicked his radio key and chanted Tony Lamport’s call letters in the microphone. When Tony’s voice came back to him he asked him about the surface wind and the ceiling on Barnes Field. “ESE wind, Bill,” Tony told him. "But you’ve only got a thousand-foot ceiling. It’s closing in fast. You bet­ ter whip up your horse.” “Thanks. Tony,” Bill said. “I’m signing off.” Bill nosed the Lancer down to a thou­ sand feet to get out of the clouds and spoke to Sandy again. “You get ready to—— ” he began, but lie didn’t finish. He. didn’t finish because the screaming roar of a diving plane drowned out the drone of his Diesels and he could feel machine-gun bullets drumming into the tail assembly of the speeding Lancer. “Break out that swivel gun!” he roared to Sandy, as he saw a low- winged monoplane race beneath them, lie could tell by the tone of the engine that it was a twin Dart, and he knew without looking again that it was the ship Monkey Worts had landed on Barnes Field that day. He stuck the nose of the Lancer down in a half-inverted loop or bunt and rolled it right side up at the bottom. The monoplane had cased out of its dive and was chandelling back to meet him. Bill’s face was livid with anger as lie opened his throttles and raced head -011 toward the sturdy monoplane. He knew the monoplane had Wen waiting there in the clouds to attack and that the pilot had exjieetcd to get him with that first burst of fire from his guns. And lie knew that with Monkey Worts at the controls, with his eye glued to his Three low-winged monoplanes dived telescopic sight, he was lucky that he out of nowhere and pounced. Their didn’t get him. He had learned two years before that Monkey Worts was a engines wailed a high-pitched cres­ dangerous man behind a pair of machine cendo as their bullets drove into the guns. He could fly and he could shoot. Lancer------He estimated the distance that sepa­ rated them as about five hundred yards, as he rolled out of that bunt. His ntcly by the chatter of a swivel gun from “I’m sure,” Sandy answered. “Stick fingers played with the electric gun trip the monoplane. the nose down ancl let me get a crack on the control column as the two ships Suddenly, Bill’s blood ran cold as he at that gunner. He almost knocked mv raced at one another at terrific speed. heard a half moan from Sandy. He head off.” shouted into his microphone, and when Bill cased back on the stick and But Bill didn’t need any encourage­ the kid didn’t answer he swung around stuck the nose up a little as he rolled ment from Sandy now. He was so mad in his bucket seat and glanced over his the Dancer over on its back, then stuck that he could feel the blood pumping shoulder. He saw Sandy sitting still, the nose down again as he rolled right through his body. He stuck the nose holding a hand that was smenred with side up. At the same instant his finger of the Lancer down as the monoplane blood to the side of his face. clamped down on his trigger. His pow­ raced up to meet him. erful .50-caliber guns belched fire and “What is it, Sandy?” he bellowed. The combined speeds of the two ships lead in the dim light, as he got the He saw the monoplane racing back at must have been over five hundred miles monoplane dead under his sights from him, trying to get under his tail, and an hour, too fast for accurate shooting, above. lie stuck the nose of the Lancer straight as they raced at one another again. up and opened the throttles. But in that same instant the pilot But this time Bill remembered, as of the monoplane slipped his ship off It’s nothing, Bill,” Sandy gasped in he took his sight, that the ship had to the right, out of range of Bill’s deadly a moment. “A bullet just creased my slipped off to the right before. He got aim. The two ships roared by one an­ cheek bone. It knocked me silly for the speeding monoplane’s nose under other and Bill heard the tat-tat-tat of a moment. I’m all right.” his sights and clamped down on his Sandy’s .30-caliber flexible gun as he “You sure, kid?” Bill asked, anx­ trigger. Then he kicked his rudder ever brought it into action, followed immedi- iously. so gently to correct his aim. He saw 68 AIR TRAILS his bullets smash into the nose of the Scotty MacCloskcy and “Red” Glea­ you you have a red-hot potato in your oncoming ship and saw the propeller son were standing on the apron as he hand and you’d better drop it.” shatter into a thousand pieces. brought the ship to a halt. Bill helped “It’s a cinch Monkey wasn’t piloting Just before the two ships crashed Sandy over the side and told Scotty the ship that jumped me this after­ head-on. Bill pulled the stick back into to hurry him to the infirmary. noon,” Bill said, slowly. his stomach and the Lancer went roar­ “He’s all right. Bill?” Red asked anx­ “Not with that throat trouble both­ ing upward like some great monster of io u sly . ering him,” Red said, dryly. “He has ten thousand years ago. “Just a crease,” Bill said. “Come been dead a couple of hours. You’d Before the Lancer raced into the over to my quarters and I’ll tell you better rej>ort this quick, Bill. It looks clouds Bill saw the nose of the sturdy about things. Where’s Shorty?” to me as though Monkey might have little monoplane drop. The tail began “I don’t know,” Red answered. been planted here for a reason.” to oscillate and then the nose began to “W ho jumped you. Bill?” “It’s a warning to me to keep my spin. As it disappeared from his sight “I think it was Monkey W orts,” Bill nose out of Amalgamated’s trouble,” he saw a lone figure dive over the side said. “It was the same kind of ship Bill said. “I’ll telephone the commis­ and saw his ’chute open up behind him. he flew in here to-day. He had a gun­ sioner of police. He’ll take care of it Then the low-hanging clouds hemmed ner with him—probably that same go­ fo r m e .” h im in . rilla he brought here. One of them Before lie called the commissioner, “Do you think that was Monkey crashed with the ship. The other one however, he threw ethics to the winds Worts, Bill?” Sandy asked in his ear. bailed out. It was too dark for me to and went through Monkey W orts’ pock­ His voice sounded normal now. try to land and find him.” ets. They were entirely empty. “No one but,” Bill said. “How do They went down the concrete walk to Tony Lamport located the commis­ y o u feel?” Bill’s bungalow. Bill oj>ened the door sioner at his home, dressing to attend a “Oh, I’m all right, Bill,” Sandy said. banquet. His voice was apprehensive “I slapped a piece of bandage across and not a little cold as he came on the m y fa c e .” te le p h o n e . Bill made contact with Tony Lam­ “Now what has happened out there, port on the radiophone again and gave Bill?” he asked. him instructions about reporting the “It’s a murder, commissioner,” Bill monoplane that had attacked them. said. “And we’ve got to keep it hushed When he had finished with that he asked up for the time being. There arc sev­ Tony about the ceiling on Barnes Field. eral angles I must tell you about. H ow \ “It’s zero,” Tony said. “The fog is soon can you get out here?” right down on the ground. You’ll have “I don’t know,” the commissioner to use the radio signals for a blind answered. “I’m scheduled to make a landing and your infra-red ray tele­ s|x*ech at a banquet. I’ve got to go sc o p e .” because ‘the boss’ will be there. You’re “O. K.,” Bill said. “I’ll let you know going to get yourself into some serious when I’m coming in.” trouble one of these days. Bill.” H e sig n e d ofT fo r a few m in u te s . T h e n “I’ve been in serious trouble lots of times,” Bill snapped back. “Does this picked Tony up again as lie circled above Monkey Worts. his own field and got the direction of thing come under your jurisdiction, or th e w in d . doesn’t it?” “All right,”, he said, “I’m coming in.” to the living room and snapped on the “I’ll send Inspector Winnie with o' He lifted the infra-red telescope out light. As the room was flooded he put couple of his men,” the commissioner of its recess in the instrument panel and up a hand and signaled to Red. answered. “He’ll notify the coroner and sighted down the old-fashioned stereo­ Red saw the broad back of a man the medical examiner. I’ll get out there scope eyepiece. The fog opened up be­ sitting at Bill’s desk with the chair as soon as I can.” swung around. An automatic popped fore him for five hundred yards. It There was an expression of pensive into Red’s hand from nowhere. was as though some invisible hand had wonder on Bill’s face as he slowly put “Who is it?” Bill half shouted. But swept it aside with a broom. the receiver back on its hook. He sat even as he said the words his stomach But his face was strained and tense down in a chair and his eyes wandered turned over ami he knew. For an in­ as he stuck the nose of the big ship over the horrible figure of Monkey stant his knees nearly buckled beneath down to glide in for a landing. He knew W orts without seeing it. that with the Lancer kissing the ground him. Then he was across the room and “Anything wrong. Bill?” Red asked. with its wheels at seventy-five miles an whirling the chair around. The thing “I mean, what did the commissioner hour anything might happen. Too much he saw there almost completed the rout s a y ? ” stick and he and Sandy might go to of his stomach. the hospital to never come out. As Bill whirled the chair the head of “He’s sending Winnie out,” Bill an­ swered, thoughtfully. “This thing is all He glued his eyes against the eye­ the thing that was sitting there lolled piece of the telescope and held the stick down at a grotesque angle. Great screwy, Red,” he said after a moment. with the delicacy a surgeon uses for an brownish stains spread over the front “Monkey Worts told me he had a operation on the eyeball. The ground of his coat, and Bill saw that his throat ninety-day option to buy Amalgamated came out of the fog to meet him. He had been slit from ear to ear and his and all its equipment. Shipman said eased back on the stick with the true mouth was propped open to show that they had given no option. touch of a master. The big wheels his tongue had been cut out. “But that’s of no importance. I touched the ground and then the auxil­ “Monkey Worts!” he said to Red in a mean, it looked at first as though Mon­ iary nose wheel came down. The vcl- breathless whisper. key knew what he was talking about. low-and-black stripes flashed under his It looked like a cut-and-dried case. It looked as though Monkey and some of wings, lighted by the flush border lights VI— FUGITIVE and his landing lights. His flaps cut his mob had decided to muscle in on down his speed as he rolled up the “SOME ONE,” Red said, “took a the air lines the same way other mobs illuminated runway to the concrete delicate way of telling you Monkey have muscled into the laundry, the haul­ apron and set his wheel brakes. talked too much. They’re trying to tell ing, the artichoke business. The air lines AIR TRAILS 69

had a little trouble. W hat do you know were right down Monkey’s alley. So, Road this Letter ...... he went to them and told them he a b o u t it? ” one of the m any w e have received “This lias got to be kept out of the “ Having received the laet order, / am more than wanted a cut—or else. pleased, especially the texture o f the balsa, How do papers until I get a chance to do some you manage to sell *such excellent material and yet keep “They told him to go lay an egg or the price so lowf Λ'ο company has yet sent me such fine work on the thing behind it,” Bill said. materials /or so low a cost. B'inAins; that every model count the shingles on his grandmother’s builder would give your company a try, I remain house. That made him mad and he The inspector nodded and Bill· told him Sincerely yours, (Signed > Loran Brunou· SSi Washington Ave., Peru, Ind. arranged those four crack-ups that have everything that had hapjwncd lhat day. HEADQUARTERS FOR occurred on their lines to make ’em “You have no idea how they got QUALITY GAS MODEL listen to reason. After those two crashes W orts back in here?” Winnie asked. SUPPLIES QUANTITY SERVICE SuH 3c postage for csUiot “Not the faintest,” Bill said. “I 24 yesterday he saw a chance to grab the With All orders for $1.00 or over—your choice of whole works for very little money. So, haven’t had a chance to check that part one (only) of these FREE OFFERS he came to me in all seriousness. A yet. I landed and came right over to 1. Large bottle clear 4. I skein Vs flat cement and 100 rubber. Add 15c crook like Monkey thinks every one’s my bungalow. But if any one on the I 16x1 / 16x 18 balsa F packing charge for mind works like his own. If it doesn’t, field had known anything about it 2. 50 ft. Vs flat rub- ofler No. 4 ber Free Postage on all he thinks they’re crazy. Scotty MacCloskcy would have told me 3. 3 sheet* silver tis· R Orders in United States for 75e or over. “That’s the way it looked to me early when I came in.” Except West of Miss., 18' BALSA E add 10c: Canada. U- to-day. But now I know I was wrong. A few minutes later the medical ex­ l/U ix l/l« . 100.5c S. Possessions, and 1 /1 Ux '.4 35 for 5c Foreign, add 15%. Monkey was only an errand boy in an aminer and more detectives arrived. i/iGx3/ie. is. 5c Foreign. Under $1.00 1/iexVå 15 for 5c E add 15c. No C.O.O.’s. organization that is ruthless and deadly. They spread jxiwdcr over everything in 1/16x14 5 for 5c No Stamps. 3/32x3/32 30. 5c He got ideas, and thought because he the room and shot pictures, looking for 14X*.4 30 for 5c Send 2c Postage For Catalog »«x3'lC 12 for 8f PROPELLER CAMEL'S HAIR was the muscle man of the organiza­ fingerprints. They took photographs of (4x*4 10 for 5c BLOCKS BRUSHES 3/16x3/16 H. ’ VfX Λ4χ 5 8—5c Small 3c: Lge. 5e tion he could muscle in alone. He talked the body from all angles. Then a cou­ ‘i X '-4 6 for 5c *·.·χ *54x 6 f —5c: Extra large...8c *IxV4 3 for 5c a.x l x 7 4—.v; NOSE PLUGS to o m u c h .” ple of men covered the body of Monkey (4x*4 2 for 5c 54x1 x 8 3—5c! V4“ ...... doz. 8c 1/«4x2 6 for l«c •V, xl *4x10 DUMMY RAD. “And there he is,” Red said. W orts with a sheet, laid it on a stretcher 1/32x2 8 for 1 Or 7*xl *,xl2 :tcc*. ENGINE (Celu.) 1/ 16x2 8 for 10c [ x l*4x12 4cea. 1*4" d. 18c: 2"d. “And there lie is,” Bill repeated. “I and took it out to an ambulance. 3/32x2 7 for 10c xl'4xl5 «cca. 20c: 3* d. 25c. *4x2 « for 10c SHEET ENGINE ΑΝ0 thought it was going to læ easy to clear “Any diagnosis, doc?” Winnie asked 3/16x2 3 for 9c ALUMINUM COWL (Celu.) x2 3 for Uk- .0003x3*4 .. ft. Ic 1*4" »Ha. ...18c the thing up. I should have known bet­ the medical examiner as he was about 3* sheets or 3«' .005 in. 6x6 5c 2* dla...... 20c lengths. double .010 In. «X« 6c 3" dlu...... 25c ter. Monkey didn’t have the brains to t o go. above prices: add CLEAR DOPE CELLULOID 10c p * ck1n e 5c per oz.; Large PANTS, per pair engineer anything as big as this is go­ The medical examiner looked at him charge for 36' bottle. 8c; Vt pt. *4" to 1" ..18c lengths. 30c: 1 pt. 15c 1 %" to 1 7i" .33c ing to be. It’s just history repeating in disgust. “Not definitely,” he said, 18’ PLANKS THINNER METAL lxl 5c; '4x2 6c Same as clear dope PROPELLERS its e lf.” grinning, “but I suspect some one cut lxl'4 fc; 1x2 10c COLORED DOPE 2 hlade* 3 blades 1x3 15c: 2x2 18c ...... 1 * 4 '..5c . . . .08 “How do you mean?” his throat!” 2x3 23c; 2x« 30c! 2*4". 10c . . . .10 3x3 40c: 3x6 75r *' ·' * J ’ 3 4 '. 15c . . . .20 “The railroads went through the same “We’ll want to do some work around AllTISSUE. nit., dor. AA 19 c !?LEAR r> LKryruT CEMENT 1*4'-20c . . . .25 Stiver ... ca. Or I £ .8 « £ : ALUM. TUBING thing when they were first being built this room. Bill,” Winnie said. “Is it Superfine, wh. >> bo*,Jr · *■: P* 1/16. 3/32. ‘4 WHEELS per pr. . 1 pi ...... ft. 7c ami organized. When competition got all right if we close it up and put a Břeh Blsa Celu MACHINE-CUT 3/1G or *;.rt. 10c .01 .03 BALSA PROPS ALUM. tough they hired muscle men and the guard here?” .02 .04 .05 5* 4c: 6' 5c: COWLINGS .05 .07 7' 6c; 8" 7c: 1*4' 15c 2" 18c gangster of that day and age to tear “Yes,” Bill said. "I just want to get .0 1 .08 .10 1«" 8c: 12" 19c 3* 25c .07 .io .i« 15' ...... 15c Specify whether up tracks, beat up train crews, destroy a few things. I’m going to hop out of 15 BAMBOO antl-dravorclosed PI N E WHLS.. pr. } «I x»2.5 BOMBS here within an hour.” ·>*".. Ic l* 4 '..7 c freight. Some one is smart enough to Itoth aides alike L IOxU xLmIz. 10c1« 3 * ..lte •\'4c: I' 6c DOWELS GUNS WITH know that the air lines arc coming into “Where are you going. Bill?” a voice 1*4* 8c: 1-4' 13c 1/16x0 . .doz. 5c *»\I8 ..2 for He RING MOUNT NOSE BLOCKS 1*4' 10c I V 15c their own before long. They know Itehind him asked. Bill whirled and 1x2x1 1c 3/16x*, .2 for 5c PURSUIT 2x2x1 2c WIRE MACH. GUNS th e y ’ll Ik? carrying passengers and ex­ saw the inustachcd face of Commissioner 2x2 (4x1 3c 6-8-10·12-14 ·%". 1*4" or I V . 3x3x1 5c ...... 2 ft. Ic each 5c press and freight, with planes that weigh Barton. He was wearing a dinner jacket 3x3x2 8c WOOD VENEER BUSHINGS 3x3x3 10c PAPER 1/1« .. .4 for Ic three and four and five hundred tons. draped over his shoulders and a scowl INSIGNIA 20x30 ..1 for 10c W0ND. WATER 21 and stripe* 5c BAMBOO SPRAYER 15c It’s progress— from the horse to the rail­ on his face. His beady black eyes lxircd WASHERS PAPER 2 for 15c MODEL PINS 1 doz. ’* or *4 1c CELLULOID (4" or 1 ' pkg. 5c road to the automobile to the airplane. into Bill like gimlets. “W hat’s this all THRUST 6x8 ...... 5c SANDPAPER BEARINGS 12*4x16 ....1 8 c FVoz. »tipets... 5c They’re getting in on the ground floor about?” he barked. Small. ..doz. lor WING ANO PROP. SHAFTS. Large. .. doz. 15»· TAIL LIGHTS REAR HOOKS and using any means to get control. Bill told him. When he had fin­ RUBBER 12' 10c: 15" 15c: »loz...... Sc .015 ...2 5 f t. 5c 21' 20c. MOOEL “There are brains and money behind ished, one of the telephones on Bill’s i !·· sq., 2o ft. Be REED STANDS 1 *4 flat .. 18 ft. 5c 1/32-1/16-*4. Small ...... 15c this thing, Red,” Bill finished. “And tlesk rang. It was some one who wished Skein ...... 50c ...... 2 for lc ’Large ...... 25ck I’m right back where I started from 20 IN. FLYING PLANS 10c-3 for 25c* to sjjcak to the commissioner. Bill saw Sparrow Hawk. Boeing Trans. 247, Spad Chass.. when I saw the papers to-day. With Vought Corsair. Curtiss Swift L. W., Waco Cabin the commissioner’s eyes dart toward Biplane, Douglas Dolphin, Boeing PI2F. Fokker Monkey dead, I don’t have anything to D-VII. S.E.5. Goshawk. Gee Brc. Boeing P26A. him, then widen in surprise. Monocoupe, Northrop Gamma. Fairchild 24 Cabin, Corbcn Super-Ace. w o rk o n .” “Anything more to tell me?” the com­ “ Y o u c a n ------” Red began, when a SELECT ANY 1 OF THE ABOVE PLANES O C * * missioner asked after he had hung up in 2 0 " FLYING KIT Postpaid knock sounded on Bill’s door. the receiver. Dealers: Send for Wholesale Price List “Come in!” he called. “Nothing of any importance.” Bill IMPERIAL MODEL AERO SUPPLY 4I6E MCDONALD AVENUE BROOKLYN. N. Y. A man with a red face, iron-gray hair, said. “You can talk to Scotty Mac­ kindly blue eyes and a body like a teu­ Closkcy. You know him.” ton truck came into the room, followed The commissioner nodded. by three other men. “Why can’t wc talk to you?” he “Hello, Bill,” he said. He shook hands a s k e d . with Bill and Red Gleason and intro­ “I’m going to get the Lancer warmed duced the men with him. Bill already up and hop for Denver,” Bill said. “I knew Sergeant Heath, one of the men. 45 CAL. Frontier Model have a feeling—a horrible feeling—that Basswood construction kit with working plan* and all ncrcs- e | 45 “Now,” Inspector Winnie said, these crashes haven’t ended. Things aary hardware. Barrel and ▼ I = “what’s wrong, Bill?” cylinder are machined. A arc beginning to shape up in my mind COLT 45 Cal. “ FRONTIER*· model lclt. 5 t t ' b a rre l...... $1.55 Bill pointed at the blood-smeared fig­ now. Probably from talking about the COLT 15 Cal. "FRONTIER” model kit, 7 ' barrel. -70 coi.T 45 Automatic Pistol K it...... L00 ure draped grotesquely on the swivel thing with you and the insjK?etor. I COLT 25 Cat. automatic pistol k it...... 5® THOMPSON SUB MACHINE GUN model k i t . . . . 3-00 c h a ir. have a very slight suspicion alxnit those Savage Cal. 32 automatic pistol kit...... 73 LUGER 9 M/M auto, pistol kit w/4" barrel...... 1.73 “Yeah. I noticed him,” Inspector two crashes, and if I’m right there may LUGER 9 M/M auto, ptstol kit w/6' barrel...... J *0 All kits make Iwsi.ilful fufl scat· modal·. Postpaid tn U. 8. A. Winnie said. “Looks as though he’d be more of them.” GUN MODEL CO.. DepL W24. 2908 N. Nerica Are.. Oirat·. M. ' 70 AIR TRAILS

“They’re out of our jurisdiction, to the hangars and tell Martin to make “I called the commissioner of jxdice Bill,” Barton said. “But you can’t leave a quick check of the Lancer. Tell him and told him about it,” Bill went on. here. I’ll have to hold you until we get to load in all the fuel she’ll take and “He’s an old friend of mine and has a little further on with this thing.” check my ammunition. Then have him helped me a hundred times before. But Bill looked at Barton as though Bar­ warm her up. Let her idle so she won’t this time he’s thumbs down. He in­ ton had slapped him in the face. He attract Baaton’s attention. When she’s sists on holding me for the murder of was both incredulous and indignant. warm tell him to roll her out so she’s Worts. He tells me some ‘higher-up’ “You know I have nothing to do with headed into the wind, ready to go.” has given the order and lie doesn’t dare Worts’ death,” he said. Red cursed, bitterly and said, “You’re disobey.” “No,” Barton said, “probably you taking a big gamble, Bill. You’re “He can’t do that, Barnes!” Shipman haven’t. But I’ve been in hot water really under arrest.” said. a couple of times for letting you skip “Yeah,” Bill said, “I know. A cou­ “Maybe he can’t,” Bill said. “What out of here after all hell had l>een blown ple of Barton’s flat feet came out of my I’m pointing out is that he is doing it! to pieces. I can’t do it this time. Bill.” bungalow a couple of seconds ago to But I’m going to slip out of here in a “You mean,” Bill said, completely tail us. Barton isn’t taking any chances. few minutes, if I can. They’ll be after amazed, “you’re going to hold me here But I’m going to get away from here, me like a pack of bloodhounds. But when a dozen lives may hinge on my Red. So help me!” I’m sure those two disasters yesterday getting away?” “It’s the worst thing in the world you arc not the end. I want to get out “I mean just that, Bill,” Barton said. can do,” Red said. “If you run away there before another one happens.” He shifted his eyes away from Bill’s you’ll practically convict yourself.” “What makes you think another one gaze. “I’ve got to hold you. Probably “Hell!” Bill said. “I’m not running will happen?” Shipman asked, breath­ we can arrange bail. Then you can do away. I’m going to get the birds who lessly. what you want to.” arc really responsible for all those mur­ “It’s too long a story to tell you over “Bail!” Bill said. “You’re talking like ders. Some one powerful enough to the telephone,” Bill said. “I think an­ a crazy man. Barton!” make the commissioner listen to reason other one is scheduled, and I think I “Maybe I am crazy,” Barton snapped. is Ixdiind this thing. There is no sense know where it will take place. What “I just got orders over your telephone, to Barton’s holding me for the death I want you to do is use your influence Bill. The big boss tells me to keep you of a gangster. It’s just a plant to keep with the commissioner and get to the here. There isn’t anything else I can me here until Monkey’s employers fin­ man he calls the boss. If you don’t do.” ish their job.” they’ll slap me in jail the minute I Bill stared at him with an expression “Bigger men than you have been rail­ arrive in Denver.” of unbelief on his bronzed face. A hun­ roaded to jail. Bill,” Red said. “I don’t know that I have any in­ dred thoughts flashed through his mind “Nuts!” Bill answered. “You get fluence, Barnes.” Shipman said. “But that led nowhere. He could only stare over and do what I told you, while I I ’ll do w hat I can. Y ou’ll keep me and shake his head for a moment. get Shipman on the telephone.” inform ed?” “Listen, commissioner,” he said, and Bill went into his office, lifted the “Yes,” Bill said. “Through Burt his face was ugly now, “do you mean telephone receiver and asked Tony Lam- Longnecker, your western traffic man­ to say some big-shot politician is hav­ port to locate Benjamin Shipman and ager, or through Tony Lamport, my ing me held here because of the murder get him on the wire. radio chief here.” of a lousy racketeer?” “Any ideas about finding him?” Tony “How soon arc you going to leave?” “That’s the gist of it. Bill,” Barton asked. Shipman asked. said. “Take it easy. Don’t try to bat “Well,” Bill said, wrath fully, “don’t “The moment I hang up this re­ your brains out against a stone wall. look under your own hat. You know ceiver,” Bill said. “Good-by.” This thing will lx? ironed out.” more about how to locate him than I “Just a minute, Barnes,” Shipman “Then there is some one way up be­ do!” He heard Tony chuckling as he was saying into the mouthpiece, as Bill hind all this,” Bill said, half to him­ slammed up the receiver. slapped his receiver on its hook. But Bill wasn’t listening. self. “Some one with eiiough power to While he waited for Tony to com­ muzzle justice.” plete the call he drew a lightweight white He had heard the dr of his office “No one said that. Barnes,” the com- overall over his clothes and stuck a o]x*n quietly while he was talking and issioner rasped. “You want to learn heavy automatic in a pocket. The he knew there was some one in the •*«»keep your mouth buttoned.” phone rang while he was adjusting a room. He turned around slowly. Ser­ “Or I’ll be picked up looking like white helmet and flying goggles. Ben­ geant Heath, one of Barton’s crack Monkey Worts, eh?” Bill said. His face jamin Shipman’s deep voice sounded at men, stood smiling at him. But his was a deep crimson and his eyes were the other end of the wire. smile was not a pleasant one. It curled up one corner of his mouth in a way angry red spots. “I only have a moment, Mr. Ship- that made it look more like a sneer “O. K.,” he went on. “I’m going over man,” Bill said. “I just wanted to tell than a smile. to the administration building to tele­ you that while I was coming back from “Going to take a little run-out pow­ phone Benjamin Shipman of Amalga­ Washington I was attacked by a ship mated Airways. I’ll have to tell him he similar to the one Monkey Worts flew der, eh. Bill?” he said. will have to get some one else on the in here to-day. I shot it down, think­ “What’s on your mind, Heath?” Bill job.” ing Monkey Worts was at the controls. asked. “That’s sensible. Bill,” Barton said. But he wasn’t. When I got back to “You,” Heath said. “I don’t want “When you’re through, come back here. Barnes Field Monkey Worts was sit­ to have to get tough with you. Bill, so We’ll want to go over this thing again. ting behind my desk, in my living quar­ just take it easy. The commissioner is You can sec there can’t be any mis­ ters, with his throat slit and his tongue waiting for you over in your bunga­ takes, with the big boss horning in.” c u t o ut. I ------” low.” “Yeah,” Bill said, “I see.” He mo­ “Wait a minute, Barnes,” Shipman Bill saw that Heath’s arms were tioned to Red Gleason and stalked out said. “Tell me that again. I can hardly folded, and he also saw that his right of the room. believe my ears.” hand waa pushed down inside the left “Listen, Red,” Bill said, when they Bill went over the thing again. He lapel of his coat. He knew Heath’s were halfway to the administration heard Shipman draw in his breath as right hand was curled around the butt building, “get this straight. Slip over he spoke of Monkey Worts. of the automatic that rested there. He AIR TRAILS 71

Bill literally dived into the front cockpit. He threw off the wheel brakes as he heard a shout and a shot behind him. He opened the throttle wide------grinned at Heath, shrugged his shoul­ the two detectives were only ten feet lacking now. He would have to ac­ ders and spread his hands in a gesture away when the Lancer l>cgan to roll. His complish the thing he had set out to of resignation. At the same time he lips moved in a silent prayer. accomplish, or he would be shown no took a step forward, so that Heatli was Then the two giant props dug into mercy. His reputation and fame would only two feet away from his left the air. The Lancer went down the do him no good if he was arraigned and .shoulder. runway like a silver bullet. He eased tried for murder. As Hill's ..ands drop]>ed to his sides the stick back and took it into the “Nor will the power of the men his weight cainc forward on his left night in a long, low climb. aligned against me help them if I can foot. At the same instant he pivoted hang those murders on them,” lie said on the hall of his foot and his right softly to himself. fist came up from his hip. When it VII— SNOW AND SLAUGHTER That thought gave him courage. He exploded on the side of Sergeant Heath’s HILL BARNES’ whole body was flicked the key on his radio panel and jaw it cracked like the re|>ort of a trembling as he settled back in his spun the master tuning control. “Call­ small-caliber rifle. bucket seat and wiped the inspiration ing B. B. X. . . . Calling B. B. X. Bill knew that with the strength and from his dripping face. He snapped . . . Calling B. B. X.,” he chanted weight he put Indiind that blow Heath off his million-candle-power landing into the microphone. would fall forward on his face. He lights and the world became a huge “Scram, Bill!’’ Tony I^im]>ort’s voice > | caught him 21s his hands dropjwd to his black void around him. whispered in his ear. “Hell is popping. sides and his knees buckled. He eased As he took the big ship higher and Signing off!’’ him down to the floor and crammed his higher, the crisp, fall air became chill­ Bill scowled as he threw the radio hat under his head. ing. He closed the hatch over his head. key and saw the ruby light on the panel He locked the door behind him and He saw a few flakes of snow flutter vanish. He had now been cut off from sauntered down the front steps of the down on the hatch. He looked over the only contact lie dared make. administration building. He saw the the side. Long Island was a dim mass But he forgot aliout that as the fury props of the Silver Lancer turning over of blurred lights below him. of the wind increased and snow began slowly on the main runway in front of He continued to climb until he had to beat against his windshield. The the traffic tower. That would mean twelve thousand feet under him. He ascending and descending currents of air the wind was from the south. knew that if he ran into a storm over caused his compass needles to jiggle in As he rounded the traffic tower he the Allegheny Mountains the weight crazy fashion. From each dial on the saw two men that he knew were detec­ of the snow on his wings would begin instrument panel came a pale, ghostly tives hurry away from the front of to tell. glow. His gyro compass and earth- Hangar No. 9 and come toward him. For one brief instant he wondered if inductor compass and turn-and-bank in­ He covered the distance to the he had been a fool to smack Heath in dicator were doing things that reminded Q Lancer in three long strides and liter­ the jaw and run away. He knew that him of toy acrobats on a swinging tra­ ally dived into the front cockpit. He now he was nothing more than a fugi­ peze. He clenched his teeth and used threw off the wheel brakes as he heard tive from justice. Then, his mouth set­ all his powers of concentration on keep­ a shout ami a shot behind him. # His tled in a grim slash across his face. ing on the course he had mapped. eyes skimmed over the instrument panel He knew that he was entirely on his T he big ship drop|>cd in to j>ocket as he opened the throttles wide. He own. The powerful interests he had after pocket, slapping him against his saw, out of the corners of his eyes, that had behind him so many times were safety strap. He slid upward on ascend- 72 AIR TRAILS ing currents of air and down on the bone shattered against his bucket scat. directions. The Lancer was at the apex other side like a small boat in a turbu­ He eased the stick back and coaxed the of their converged fire. Their engines lent sea. big ship upward, as a giant hand tried wailed a high-pitched crescendo as their Suddenly, the blood in his body to press it earthward. bullets drove into it. seemed to freeze, as a voice sounded in Just ahead of them, he knew, .loomed It only took a split fraction of a sec­ his car. He glanced at the tumbler the Pass. His altimeter read four thou­ ond for Bill’s mind and musclps to co­ switch on the intercockpit telephone and sand feet and he knew, also, that he ordinate. He knew that he could not saw that it was on. had to have at least five thousand un­ escape all of their bullets, b u t he hoi>ed There was some one riding in the der him to get through sa/cly. He the terrific speed of the Lancer would rear cockpit of the Lancer! pulled the control column back into his save him and Sandy from being killed. The voice sounded in his cars again, stomach and changed the pitch of his After that first fleeting glance up­ but the terrific roar of the twin Diesels propellers. The ship responded slowly. ward, he bellowed Sandy’s name in his half drowned itrout. He touched the But it began to climb. microphone and yanked the stick of the switch and found that it was only half The next thing of which they were Lancer back into his stomach. His lips on. The voice came again. really conscious was their glide down were twisted back over his teeth as the “Hey!” it said. “If you’re going to the other side of that dirtiest air strip three thousand horses in the nose of run away from the cops, why not go in the world. The Lancer leveled off the Lancer lifted it vertically into the some place where it’s warm?” like a thoroughbred, and Bill fed juice sky. It was all that saved them from Bill’s breath whistled through his lips into his engines. annihilation. They actually shot up­ in one explosive blast, as he swung “That was nice going. Bill,” Sandy ward inside those three converging around in his scat and looked over his said. “I couldn’t have done it better streams of lead. They could feel the shoulder. m yself.” Lancer trembling under the impact of Young Sandy’s impish face glowed “Yeah,” Bill growled at him. “Your the bullets that drove through her. But faintly in the phosphorescent glow from boyish modesty almost makes me cry.” for some miraculous reason Bill and his instrument panel. The bandages He stuck the nose of the Lancer on Sandy were untouched. underneath his helmet bulged the left the two-million-candle-powcr beacon As Bill came to the top of that ver­ side of his face. The straps of adhesive ahead. The night was clear as soon as tical zoom he cased the stick forward across his nose and chin looked like they were over the mountains. The to level off. The three ships had come spokes in a wagon wheel. And he was little villages that sailed behind them out of their j>owcr dives and were zoom­ trying to grin. rivaled the constellations of the sky in ing upward to attack again. Bill’s body “What the hell------” Bill began. brightness. They had a thirty-mile rode with the Lancer as he banked But Sandy interrupted him. “Now wind on their tail and Bill eased open around and slapped the control column take it easy, Bill.” he said. “I’m not the throttles of the Lancer to take ad­ forward. He aimed the big silver ship here because I want to be. Red told vantage of it. The air-speed indicator dead at one of the climbing planes. me you were going to take it on the crept past three hundred and fifty miles “Get ready to use your swivel gun if lam and I climbed in the back to get an hour, three seventy-five, four hun­ I miss him!” he shouted at Sandy. my camera Indore you left. I had it dred, four fifty. There he held her. “It’s a fine way to wake a fellow up,” with me this afternoon. That’s what The powerful engines sang their lul­ Sandy muttered. “I’ll shoot his lousy , Scotty was talking about—my staying laby to the night as they flashed over buttons off.” out until all hours of the night. I’ve Cleveland. Toledo and that great maze The low-winged monoplane that led been taking night pictures with infra­ of twinkling lights that was Chicago. the other two was nose-on for the div­ red plates. I wanted to get my camera, Two hours later he left the l>eaconed ing Lancer. Bill held his fire as lie saw trail where prairie wagons once rolled lines of smoking tracers whip out from “What the hell are you talking and cut southwest toward Denver. The the other ship. He waited until he could about?” Bill l>ellowed. “Why didn’t sluggish water of the South Platte River feel lead smacking through the wings you let me know you were there sooner, was barely discernible in the dim light and l)elly of the Lancer. Then, for if I kidnaped you?” of the early morning. that brief instant that is enough, the “Well,” Sandy said, “I didn’t want Bill’s hanil was wrapped tightly fast, little monoplane came under his to startle you. I thought I better keep around the control column as he fought sights. His two powerful guns vom­ finy mouth shut. I didn’t want you to to stay awake. He was slumped down ited their flaming cargo of death. It get nervous and break both our necks. in his bucket seat, so tired he could drilled through the length of the mono­ I th ought------” hardly keep his swollen eyes open. He plane during that brief instant. “ You t h o u g h t Γ Bill shouted. “Fou kept going over and over the events Bill saw the pilot jerk upward in his t h o u g h t ! You never thought in your of the past day. He was trying des­ scat as though he intended to bail out life. You’re in a nice mess now. You’ll perately to put the jagged ends of the to safety. Then he collapsed over his be lucky if they don’t hang you!” problem confronting him together. He stick, as the ship yawed wildly and stuck “It won’t cost them any more to hang wasn’t surprised at any of the things its nose toward the never-ending moun­ two of us than one,” Sandy said, but that had happened. Too many things tains below. had happened to him in the past for Bill wasn’t listening now. Bill cursed savagely as he threw the him ever to be amazed at anything. The storm was roaring at them like Lancer out of range of the guns of the some giant monster, as they neared the But he knew he must solve the prob­ two remaining monoplanes. He wanted Allegheny Mountains. He checked his lems before him now or it would be the to follow those two ships upward and bearings while he fought to keep con­ end of his career. He had never before blast them out of the air with his 37mm trol of the ship. And he was getting hit a policeman on the chin as he was cannon. But he didn’t do it. He knew .cold—not ordinary cold, but a clammy, about to be arrested for murder. that they would have shown him no nasty cold that clung to his skin. His head was nodding and his eyes mercy if they had the upper hand. Yet He began to feel his way cautiously, were nearly closed when three low­ he could see no point in shooting them carefully. He had to use every sense, winged monoplanes dived out of no­ down when he could not land beside relying as much on his touch, |>crcep- where and pounced. They streaked them to question the pilots if they still tion and instinct as he did on his in­ down on the Lancer in a precipitous lived. There was not a place within a struments. He crouched forward over dive, with their guns blazing. hundred miles where he could have the stick to keep from having his back­ They raced down on him from three made a safe landing. AIR TRAILS 73

He banked the Lancer around, put trol. After lie had tuned in on a sta­ it back on its course and opened his tion on the West coast he turned the SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! throttles. He could feel the ship surge wave-control dial again and began to BALSA SUPPLIES AT ROCK BOTTOM These prices apply only to orders for $2.50 or over. ahead as the powerful engines roared. chant. “Calling WYBD. . . . Call­ ABSOLUTELY FREE WITH EACH ORDER 1 »kiln Vi' Rubber—no packing charge It seemed, in a moment, that the fast ing WVBD. . . . Calling WYBD.” 18' BALSA PROP. BLOCKS BUSHINGS Prr 200 PER DOZ. , 1/161.D.. 100 15« little monoplanes behind him were “WVBD. This is Station WYBD. 1 :.-\! !·· . . . 8< ...... 5e WASHERS 1 16x1 111 . . . 8« « ίχ ζχ β ...... 5« standing still as the two big air screws Who is calling. Go ahead!” sounded 1/1βχ3/32 ::.is« *■' *«isK? ‘ per 100 1/16x1 * . .15« S x lx s ...... l e c t o r 5. O.D...5« in the nose of the Lancer set their teeth in his ear phones. 1 16x3 It; .22« *, xl ViXlO 25« MACHINE CUT i i»;xi/i . ...25« 4»xlV*Xl2 PROPS. per doz. in the air ahead. Bill couldn’t help “Private plane,” Bill answered. “Pri­ 1/ 16x1 /2 . ...60c;lxlVixl2 ....38c 9 3/32x3/32 ...2le lxlV4xl5 ....52« ;V · §££. · JJ* feeling elated as he felt that terrific vate plane. I want to make contact l/8 x l/8 ...... 25c oc c t 1/8x3 16 . . . .47c , BAMBOO io*!Í45c lř'.'.60c surge of power. The spell was broken with Burt Longnecker. . . . Burt 1 '8x1/1...... Ί ...... 50« '* ÍÍÍSí.H * - '------fií,?·---- WHEELS, doz. by Sandy’s amazed voice. Longnecker.” 3/16x3/10 ...55c 1/16*1Λ6*1- Birch Bal. Cel. 1 1x1/1 ...... 76« «tom 15« . V .04 .05 “Hey, Bill!” he shouted. “You’re go­ “Who is calling? . . . Who is call­ 1/1x12 ...51.50 CLEAR DOPE v," .05 .10 .24 1 2x1/2 ...52.15 I oz. ...doz. 40« 1* .07 .13 .25 ing in the wrong direction. Those two ing?” the Amalgamated goat head asked. 1*1 -----2 for 6« |0c »eller doz. 60c 1-V .09 .18 .35 >;\2 ...2 for 8« ·· ·· * 1 0 0 6.75 I V .15 .35 .60 “Longnecker is here. . . . Longnecker ■U°J. 'iPLM* lpt.35« ships arc behind us. If you bank around 1*1*4 "* ί0Γ ji* rqLMiVK.i.OÓe C lRF /Λ5 1 ' · 1x2 ....2 for 13c i Kd| each. 51 .5 0 RE· 100 FT· fast you can catch ’em before they is here. . . . W ho is calling? Go 2x3 ....2 fo r3 2 e * ' No.6 20« Ko. 1025« 1 >.1x2 20 for 16c COL RED DOPE n 0.S23c No l230e sneak away!” ahead. . . . Go ahead.” 1/32x2 20 for 14c All color» No. H ...... 35« “That’s where I want ’em—behind “Private plane,” Bill repeated “Pri­ 3/32x2!/!£2 20 ί0Ιfor 20« 10c LM· »eller 'l?'·’!*·. doz. 60«'555,p r o p , s h a f t s •ix2 20 for 22« ** " km vs 6.75 1 Kro**...... *** us,” Bill said. He knew the thoughts vate plane. . . . Must make contact 3/16x2 20 for 31« V4 pt. 27c 1 pt. 45«! NOSE BLOCKS 1 /4x2 20 for 40« 1 η»...... - 70«! PER OOZ. that were going through Sandy’s mind. with Longnecker.” \C »licet * or 36* V4 gal. .51.25 lx?xi 6c 3x3x120« length», double CLEAR CEM’NT;2x2x112«3x3x239« The kid had the idea that you should “WYBD td private plane. Will try above price« and add 10c parking; !<**· **>1. dz. 40« r f 5 gal...... 6.50 1 doz. 5« 100 32« us. Those three pilots knew they didn’t answered. “Get Longnecker.” Remit with order. Because of these low prices, we do Bill very nearly held his breath while not pay shipping charges. No C.O.D.'s. No stamps. have much of a chance to get the Send for complete price list. Lancer. Their hearts weren’t in their he circled high above the city of Den­ RELIABLE DEALERS SUPPLY work. They were just being used for ver—so high that from the ground the 416E Gravesend Ave., BROOKLYN. N. Y. cannon fodder to keep us from reach­ Lancer was only a tiny s|K>t in the sky. ing Denver.” He left his radio switch open and heard “Who sent ’em after us. Bill?” Sandy the ground operator at WYBD talking asked. to Amalgamated planes in the air. Then PICTURE PLAY “I’d give a lot to know for sure, another voice came from WYBD—a gives you more for kid,” Bill answered. “It’s the same gang voice that Bill knew was Burt Long- 15c Monkey Worts was working for. The necker’s. than any other movie magazine on man at the top is gambling with every­ “WYBD calling private plane. WYBD the market. thing he has.” calling private plane,” he heard Burt’s Get your copy to-day “You got any ideas. Bill?” voice chant. 15c Per Copy “A couple,” Bill said, grinning. “Shut “Private plane answering. . . . up! I want to think.” Private plane answering.” Bill said. He went over and over the course of “Want to make personal contact with events again, as they sped toward the you, Longnecker,” lie went on. “Where AVIATION city of Denver. can we make personal contact with­ APPRENTICES o u t------” Ambitious, air-minded young men, “The only person in the world who interested in entering the well knows for certain where I am going is “I understand!” Longnecker inter­ pa id bold of Aviation, write im­ Shipman,” he told himself. “I told the rupted. “Will meet you on private field % mediately, enclosing stamp, to Mechanix Universal Aviation Service commissioner I wanted to go to Den­ fifty miles north of Cheyenne in one Incorporated Strathmoor Station Dept. T Detroit. Mb ver. But, of course, both of them are hour. Stay in air and follow me in. out of the picture. The question now Do you get it?” is how I’m going to get in touch with “I get it,” Bill answered. “I get it. Burt Longnecker without l>eing thrown In one hour.” CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY in the hoosegow for murder and run­ “Keep your eyes open,” Longnecker An opportunity to contact a large ning away.” warned. “Signing off.” field on a small lineage. Rate 10c per “Hey, Bill,” Sandy shouted in his ear, “Signing off.” Bill answered. word (Minimum 20 words). Cash with order. Address: “hold her steady. I’m going to try to He laughed softly as he threw his get a couple of pictures with my new radio key. “There,” he said to himself, AIR TRAILS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING infra-red plates and long-focus lens.” “is another gimper—a guy who’ll never 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City “O. K.,” Bill said. “What will it do let you down. All the real men seem that any other camera won’t?” to be in the air these days. Miscellaneous “It will take pictures of tlungs at a “Did you have your radio switch distance that aren’t even visible to the KCRRER thread H odm an Rubber Co., New York— open?” he asked Sandy. 261 F ifth Avenue: Chicago—412 So. Wells 8t. Dealer« naked eye,” Sandy said. “I want to and Manufacturers only. try shooting it through your infra-red- “Yeah,” Sandy said. “He didn’t even Model Airplanes ray telescope to see if I can get night mention your name or anything. He’s FREE G IFT will» every balsa sheet »tripper purchased pictures. It might work.” a smart guy. You think he’s going to 5.33 postpaid. 1.1 twin Uros.. 474 Kast l'Sth St., llrook- “It might,” Bill said, automatically. be able to tell you anything. Bill?” b n . N. Y. JUST OI'T ! I 1 BOY'S eatapull glider. Hand or “I hope so,” Bill said. He brought catapult launched. IV each, no »tamp». Atlanta the Lancer around in a long, sweeping Glider». Box Cl. Sta. C. Atlanta. Ga. VIII—ARRANGEMENTS bank and held the nose almost due Instruction BILL threw the switch on his radio north. He cut his throttles down as GET 1937 GOVERNMENT JOB8. Start 3105— and twirled his master tuning control— much as he dared in the thin air over $175 month. Men—women. lYepare now for next an­ nounced examinations. List positions. FREE. Writ« then the volume and wave-length con­ the mountains. today. Franklin Institute. Dept. II IS. Rochester. N. \ \ ■ ■■ ·

74 AIR TRAILS

Within forty minutes Bill was cir­ “What about the other one?” your camera and stay on the job! Is cling high above a small, private air­ “There wasn’t enough of it left to get that clear?” port fifty miles north of Cheyenne. any clues,” Longneeker said. “It’s a “Yes, sir,” Sandy said, but he kept the Both he and Sandy had closed their cinder. Something took Marty off his camera under his arm. overhead hatches and Sandy had turned course. He seemed to be riding the “Just make Shorty understand that I the valve that supplied oxygen from one radio beam and reporting in regularly. want him and Red to come to Denver. of the two tanks beneath the bucket He had plenty of altitude according to Tell him to keep in touch with you so seat in the after compartment. his reports.” you can lead them here. Is that all Sandy was first to sec the two-place “Yet lie stuck his nose in the side of right with you?” light cabin, M e r e d i t h . It came up fast, a mountain,” Bill said, bitterly. “It “That’s Ο. K.,” Longneeker said. circled the little landing field and doesn’t make sense.” He whirled and “They’ll probably be arriving out here swooped in for a landing. pointed at the long log cabin that stood about the time we’ll be coming back. Bill stuck the nose of the Lancer on the edge of the flying field. “Any­ It’s going to take me a little time to down in a vertical power dive from body in that place over there?” he get satisfactory fuel for your Diesels. twenty thousand feet. The roar of the asked. I’ll have to test it.” tandem Diesels in the nose rose to a “It’s unoccupied right now,” Long- “Where’s that key? I’m asleep on high-pitched scream as it plunged to­ neckcr said. “It belongs to Hank Faw­ my feet. Bring me back some food, ward the earth at terrific speed. cett. He uses this place up here as a kid. The Lancer will be all right here?” Both Sandy and Bill were opening hunting lodge. I have a key if you Bill asked longneeker. and closing their mouths like fish out of want to get in.” “She ought to be. No one ever uses water to take the pressure off their cars. “That’s what I want to do,” Bill said. this field. Very few people even know The gale that screamed by the big ship “I want to get in there and get some about it. You may find some food in was like the wail of a million banshees. sleep Indore I drop over. I’ve only had the house, Bill. But we’ll bring some “Hey!” Sandy shouted into his micro­ about three hours’ sleep in two nights.” back to you. You need all the sleep you phone. “That’s easy,” Ixmgncckcr said. can get. You look like hell!” “All right, kid,” Bill bellowed back, “What do you want me to do while Twenty minutes later Bill was “I’m coming out!” you’re sleeping?” stretched out on a couch in the beamed They both oj>cned their mouths and “Take Sandy back with you and load living room of the log lodge. He was l>egan to shout at the top of their voices up two of your ships with fuel and too tired to even look for food. He to prevent them from “blacking out” as bring it back to me. It won’t do to pulled a blanket over himself and fell he eased the control column back. For land the Lancer any place, but I’ve asleep immediately, exhausted. one frightful moment it seemed that the got to have her loaded with all the fuel Lancer was going to shake itself apart. she’ll lift. Once I get in the air again IX— SANDY'S DISCOVERY It did not seem possible that anything I’ll havp to stay there. I won’t dare could withstand that terrific pressure. land. I want to search the ground THAT WAS the way Shorty, Red, Then, the nose came up and Bill took leading out of Summit along Amalga­ Sandy ami Burt Longneeker found him it down in a series of shallow dives. mated’s air courses.” seven hours later. He did not hear They saw Burt Ix>ngneckcr standing on “You have an idea, Bill?” Longneeker them come in for a landing. He woke the ground beside his little monoplane asked. up when Sandy shook him and stuck and Bill waved an arm over the side “Yes,” Bill said, shortly. a thermos bottle of coffee under his as he came around in a steep bank and “You’ll need help to do that. This nose. fishtailed in for a landing. is wild country.” “You never killed any one if you can “You don’t care whose neck you break, “I’m going to send for help,” Bill sleep like that,” Burt Ixmgnccker said. do you?” Burt Longneeker grinned as said. “I may cut my own throat by Bill didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His they slid over the side and shook his doing it, but I’m going to get my field mouth was too full of food. He ate hand. and tell my radio man to send Shorty like a man who had not eaten in days “I wanted to get down here fast to get Hassfurther and Red Gleason here. instead of hours. He refused to talk e dope,” Bill said. “Let’s have it, They can make it in six hours.” until he had consumed all the food and irt.” “Won’t the police be able to pick up all the coffee they had brought him. ’here is a hush-hush alarm out to the call, too?” “Look at these. Bill,” Sandy said to you up for murder, assault, resist­ "Probably,” Bill said. him. He held three 4x6 prints in his ing arrest and ------” Longneeker began. “What about Burt putting through hand. Bill pushed him away, impa­ “Do the papers have it?” Bill asked. the call from Denver?” Sandy asked. tiently. “No. The police are stepping very “That’s it!” Bill snapped. “Do you “They’re the best pictures I ever got,” easy. But it looks as though you were think you can make Shorty understand Sandy insisted. “ Ix>ok a t th e detail in in a real jam. Bill.” Longnccker’s fore­ what you mean without letting the po­ them . Look------” head was creased in a frown. “Wjio lice know what you’re talking about?” “Look at ’em yourself!” Bill said. are you supposed to have killed. Bill?” “I can try,” Burt said. “Shorty’s a “Don’t bother me with that stuff. I “Monkey Worts,” Bill said and he pretty smart guy.” want to talk to Shorty and Red when told Longneeker the things that had “Sometimes,” Sandy said. I finish this food. Thanks for bringing happened during the past day. When Burt Longneeker grinned. It was it, kid. It’s the best food I ever ate.” lie had finished with that he asked, common knowledge along the airways “What is your opinion alnxit those two “And these are the best pictures you of tliQ country th a t young Sandy con­ crashes day before yesterday? Were ever saw,” Sandy went on. “They’re stantly took a terrible ragging from they accidents or were they rigged?” Shorty Hassfurther and Red Gleason. “I think they were rigged. Bill,” Long- “It sounds to me as though he bought necker said. “I’m almost certain of it. “Shut up,” Bill said to him. “What’s himself a camera,” Shorty said to Red. The control cables on Jerry’s ship looked that thing under your arm?” They both grinned. as though they had been smeared with “My camera,” Sandy said. “I’m go­ “Yeah,” Red said. “The first thing something that ate right through them. ing to try to get those plates developed you know he’ll hear ab o u t th e m ovies.” And some one planted a bottle of whisky while Burt is having a couple of ships He turned to Sandy. “Did uh ’iddle in Jerry’s office. It broke in the crack-up loaded with fuel.” boy take a big, big picture wiv his ’iddle and looked bad for Jerry.” “Listen,” Bill shouted, “you forget camera?” he asked. AIR TRAILS 75

“N uts to you, sm art guy!** Sandy said. “At about the same time they smeared “That would be best if you can man­ "Listen, Bill, I want you to look at acid or something else on the control age it that way,” Bill said. “I can’t these because there is something funny cables of Jerry Winsor’s ship. They land at Denver to pick him up with­ on them. You remember after you saw put a bottle of whisky in the pilot’s out taking a chance on being arrested. Siebert in Washington yesterday you compartment, where it would break If Shorty or Red land there it will be told me you thought perhaps Marty when the plane crashed and make it a give-away that I’m close by. I’ll keep Dewart’s crash was caused by a boot­ look bad for Jerry.” in touch with you. Burt, and let you leg radio beacon? Well, I think I can “Who do you mean by They,’ Bill?” know what develops. I may need help.” see a radio antenna in these pictures. Shorty asked. “ I ’ll Ik* ready any time you want I t ’s------” “Monkey W orts was doing the dirty me. Bill.” Longneckcr said. They shook “Why in bell didn’t you say so be- work until he talked too much,” Bill hands. Bill was about to say some­ said. “But Monkey was just the strong- thing about his flare-up of a few min­ arm guy. There is big money and power utes before, when Sandy drove all l>chind the thing. They had enough thought of it out of his head. He saw |K>wer to influence the police commis­ Red ami Shorty dive into their Snort­ sioner, or he wouldn’t have tried to ers as Sandy came running toward him hold me. The same methods have been I>ointing back and up over his shoulder. used in every other business by un­ He couldn’t hear what he was saying scrupulous operators.” because of the roar of his motors. But “All right. Bill,” Burt Longneckcr he didn’t have to hear. said. “W hat’s the next move?” He saw the flash of the sun on the “We’re going to locate that station silver, low-winged monoplanes that were first,”' Bill said. “Then we’re going to diving out of the heavens in a stepped-up find some way to get in there and take column formation. He saw the twenty- it apart. If we don’t there will be fivc-pound bombs that nestled in their more crashes and more lives sacrificed. racks underneath their bellies and the You’ve read the rumors in the aviation two fixed machine guns on their wings. magazines about the mysterious com­ He knew that within a few seconds they bine of companies that will span the would lay those eggs that nestled be­ The monoplanes were diving out of the continent and both the oceans?” neath them and rake the ground with a heavens in a stepped-up column for­ Burt Longnccker nodded his head. storm of machine-gun bullets that noth­ mation— short, squat projectiles hur­ “It may l>e the men behind that com­ ing could withstand. tling from their bellies------bine that are behind this thing. If they He saw Red and Shorty pour soup are, transatlantic and transpacific planes into their Snorters and blast them into will begin to disappear. That’s what the air as Sandy dived into the rear fore?” Bill roared at him and grabbed I’m afraid of. Once they start they’ll cockpit of the Lancer. He made a for the pictures. keep on until they complete their hor­ downward motion with his left hand to­ “You didn’t give me a chance,” Sandv rible scheme. They’ll form a powerful ward Burt Longneckcr. as lie released s a id . “ I ------” round-the-world chain of airways that his wheel brakes with his right. He saw “Shut up,” Bill said, “and show me!” will be built on the lives of innocent Ixmgnecker throw himself flat on the “My gosh,” Sandy said. “Look.” He men and women. They’ll strike again ground as the two great props on the pointed at a pair of radio masts that and again, until the airways are at a Laucer became shimmering disks. reared their heads high above the sur­ low ebb and people are afraid to travel His heart climbed up into his throat rounding trees. on them. Then they’ll gobble ’em up.” as the big ship seemed to inch forward “Look here, Burt.” Bill said, and his “I’m afraid you’re letting your im­ at a snail’s pace. He saw Shorty and voice was charged with excitement. “Is agination run away with you, Bill,” Red streak into the air, as the first of there a broadcasting station or radio Longneckcr said. that stepped-up column nosed up while beacon out in that wilderness?” He Bill glared at him, his face crimson. the gunner released a l>oml>. He saw the told Longneckcr ns closely as he could “That’s the trouble with you birds on short, squat projectile come hurtling to­ where Sandy had taken the pictures. the air lines.” he said. “You’re too well ward the Lancer for a direct hit. His “No,” Longneckcr said. “That is, T satisfied with yourselves. Instead of mouth l»ecnmc a savage slash across his didn’t know there was one there. But anticipating things you sit on your face as he wheeled around into the wind it’s clear enough in those pictures.” thumbs until things begin to go wrong. at terrific s|>eed, giving the rudder such “It’s the one I was going out to look Then you begin to cry.” a vicious kick it slapped against the stop for,” Bill said. “I’ll bet m y shirt on it. “ B u t. B ill------” Shorty began. as he poured juice into the engines to It’s the place that sent out the fake “But, nothing!” Bill growled. “Let’s blast the tail around. beam that sent M arty Dcwart and his snap out of it and get that fuel into the passengers to death!” I^anccr. We have something to do be­ The left wheel skidded on the inside “What do you mean. Bill?” Shorty sides twiddle our thumbs.” He stamjKrd turn as lie jammed the brake and the asked. “What’s on your mind? You angrily out of the house. Silver Lancer pivoted ami |H>intcd her sound a little goofy to me.” The others followed him silently. nose into the wind. He felt the Lan­ “All right,” Bill said, “I’m goofy. When the fuel had l>een transferred cer’s nose rise and then plunge sicken- Now listen. Some one caused those from the two Amalgamated transports ingly back toward the ground as that four crashes on the Amalgamated lines to the tanks of the Silver Lancer Bill first l>omb detonated. He pulled the because they wanted to run ’em out of kicked over the twin Diesels in the stick back and waited for the crash. But business or buy ’em out cheap. They nose and began to warm up the engines. the two powerful Diesels in the big ship established that beam, a bootleg beam “What about getting these two ships screamed their protest as the props dug built out in the wilderness, so that they back to your field?” Bill shouted at into the air. The landing wheels just could lead Amalgamated ships off their Longneckcr. kissed the ground and bounced into the course and cause them to stick their “I’ll take one of them back,” Long- a ir a g a in . nose into a mountain. They also tam­ necker said, “and send a couple of pi­ Bill poured in the soup, hung the pered with M arty’s altimeter and his lots over to get the other one, if you Lancer on the two props and took it into turn-and-bank indicator. need Sandv with you.” the air in an almost vertical climb as the 76 AIR TRAILS

ground became an inferno of exploding out of his flaming path. Bill’s fingers ing as he poured burst after burst at the bombs and chattering machine guns. were fastened down hard on his gun wheeling, circling monoplanes. It was He looked back and down and saw trips. He raked a silver monoplane with the maddest, wildest fight he had ever that the two Amalgamated transports a withering Jfire and saw the pilot lunge been in. His face was flushed and had been blown to bits. He saw no sign forward on the cowling as though he streaked with smoke and dirt and his of Burt Longneckcr. A blistering curse was going to dive over the side. eyes were gleaming wildly. Planes escaped his lips as he scanned the air He gunned his engines again and came whipped and rolled around him like for Red and Shorty. He saw them over in a normal loop on the tail of feathers in a hurricane. It was a des- thundering down on the eight low­ another ship. His line of tracer smoke l>eratc duel to the death with five against winged monoplanes as they zoomed up­ curled harmlessly above the head of the three. ward after dropping their cargo of de­ pilot until he corrected his aim. Then Shorty Hassfurther lost the man with struction. his bullets crashed into the fuselage and whom he had been fighting and singled “Swing out that swivel gun, kid!” he crept forward into the engine block. out another silver monoplane as Bill roared in the intercockpit phone to Little wisps of smoke rose along the flashed above him. In an instant they Sandy. “There is a gunner in every one engine housing. were locked in a terrific death grapple, of those planes and they don’t intend As he zoomed upward again he heard each feinting and stabbing for the ad­ to let us get away from here alive.” Sandy’s swivel gun chattering like an vantage that would mean survival. “O. K.. Bill,” Sandy said and the calm angry magpie. He glanced over his Then, Shorty got under the whirling steadiness of his voice quieted Bill’s shoulder. Sweat was running down the silver ship. He raked the belly of its screaming nerves. “Bounce the tail kid’s face. It was smeared with streaks fuselage with one long burst of lead. around each time as wc go by so I can of black. His eyes were gleaming as he The pilot writhed up anil over the cowl­ get a shot at them. Five of ’em are sighted along the smoking barrel of his ing as the rugged little fighter began its forming a V and are trying to climb up gun. ' death spin to the desolate wastes below. on our tail. Shorty and Red are teach­ Then the air seemed choked with Red Gleason darted after the silver ing the other three tricks.” slashing, flashing silver monoplanes. ship that tried to flee from the inevitable As Bill leveled the Lancer off lie saw They were like angry hornets as they death in his guns. He tore after it with Shorty come out of his steep dive and circled around and around, waiting for that reckless abandon that was charac­ level off in an inverted position. One a chance to dart in and write death teristic of him. His fingers clamped of the silver monoplanes was directly in across Bill’s name. They were every­ down on his gun trips as the plane came his path as he centered his controls and where, charging in and then retreating, under his sights for that fleeting instant clamped his finger down on his electric their guns vomiting lead. that is the difference between life and trigger. Fire and smoke gushed out of Bill took the Lancer through the sky death. White streamers and lead the nose of the Snorter’s powerful .50- with the speed and fury of a flaming pumped into the fleeing ship. It rolled caliber guns and drove into the tail of meteor, trying to escape that lead. He off on one wing: the nose dropped; the silver ship. saw his own bullets cut through the flames began to lick backward, fanned As the ship skidded off to the right enemy planes a half dozen times, as he by the gale that raced with it. The Shorty half rolled the Snorter upright. got them under his hair sights for a pilot shot out of the cockpit, turned The pilot of the low-winged monoplane single burst. His aim was deadly, in slowly over and over, as though he was looked back and up over his shoulder, spite of the terrific speed of his maneu­ waiting until he was away from the as Shorty got him under his telescopic vers. fight before he ripped his parachute. sights again. The strained whiteness of Now and again he could feel the But lie never used his parachute. His his face became a crimson mask of Lancer shudder in protest as enemy bul­ body plunged into the earth only a few blood as Shorty’s bullets tore into him. lets drove through it. But he fought feet away from his blazing ship. The silver ship nosed up until it seemed on, his lined face tense and terrible in its Red came over in a half snap roll and to 1m* dancing on its tail. Then the nose absolute concentration. He whipped the returned to the fight. A half minute dropped and it began a dizzy, swirling Lancer up and down, skidded and side­ later he brought his Snorter around in descent to earth. slipped, zoomed and dived, to avoid the a flashing Imniclmann, as two ships Sandy’s freckled face was dripping worst of the streams of lead that were charged toward him. He drew a pencil ith perspiration as he ran his .30-cali- aimed at him. His breath was coming in line along the fuselage of one of them as l>er gun across its track and tried to quick, agonized gasps now. His hand he half rolled his ship back to a level . take a sight on the five monoplanes was wrapped around the control column position. The silver ship wabbled artd spiraling upward. He heard the first like a band of steel. He used his guns yawed wildly, and Red followed it with tat-tat-tat of their machine guns and only when he had a ship dead under his grim tenacity as it spun toward the could feel their bullets lashing through sights. He was using all of his natural ground. the tail assembly l>chind him. Then lie ability and instinct to outguess and out- Sandy’s cry of warning was all that felt the nose of the Lancer come up, as maneuver the three ships who charged saved Bill Barnes’ life as the last of the Bill pulled the stick back into his stom­ at him so desperately. little silver bullets dived on him from ach and sent it skyward in a desperate Suddenly, he zoomed upward and re­ above, with its guns belching fire and zoom. versed his direction, while he probed the lead. Bill skidded the Lancer out of “All right, kid. Let’s take ’em!” Bill air around him to find Shorty and Red. the way as the monoplane roared over called back to him through clenched They were each engaged with a single him. As it came out of its dive he teeth. The five monoplanes had broken ship and had drifted far off to the left. pounced on it with all his fury. He their formation and were coming at him He saw that they were fighting for their saw the white, contorted face of the from every direction, tightening a circle very lives, against men who were more pilot as he looked back and up over his around him. than skilled air fighters. He fed juice shoulder. Then Bill’s powerful .50-cali- Bill stuck the nose of the Lancer to his engines to join them, as the three ber bullets pounded into the silver ship. down and gunned the engines to get out monoplanes crept up on his tail again. It quivered and lurched like a mortally of the vortex of their fire. Then he In another minute the skies above wounded animal and then plunged to chandellcd up and back and tore into that barren waste of mountains became its destruction. them with the wild fury and abandon a thundering, snarling madhouse of Bill knew that the speed and maneu­ of a man gone mad. The five ships flaming guns and roaring motors. Sandy verability of the Silver Lancer alone had skidded and slipped and zoomed to get had lost his calmness now and was shout­ saved them. As Shorty and Red flashed AIR TRAILS 77

planes. But avoid them he did. with his uncanny skill. As he locked his wheel brakes near what had been the hangar he saw some­ thing stir in the center of the debris. He climbed wearily over the side of the Lancer as the stir became a small volcano and Burt Longnccker came to view. His clothes were half torn from him and his face and hands were clot­ ted with dry blood. Bill rushed to his side and saw that he was still dazed. Bill shouted to Sandy, “Make con­ tact with Red and tell him to make a landing and take Burt back to Denver. He needs a doctor.” “I’m all right. Bill,” Longnccker said. “I tried to get inside the hangar and when I did it collapsed. I’m just scratched and bruised. You know too much. Bill. Some one is gunning for you again.” “Hell is going to pop, Burt.” Bill said. “I’ve got to get in the air and get in touch with that radio beacon. If I can’t pick up their messages I’ve got to get in there. They wanted me out of the way badly enough to send those planes after me. That means they are going to strike again. I’ve got to stop them!” “Here comes Red.” Burt said. “I hope he makes it.” “He’ll make it,” Bill answered. But his forehead was creased with worry as he watched Red bring his Snorter in. For one awful second he saw the port landing wheel on the Snorter sag into a hole. Then he saw the right wing drop ami both wheels were back on solid ground. He helped Longnccker into the rear cockpit of Red’s Snorter and gave him instructions. “We’ll be riding above you. I want you to join us after you drop Burt,” he said. “We’ll be cruis*^ ing some place east of Denver. Yo; can pick us up.” “O. K..” Red said. He took S n o r te r off th e g r o u n d in a Id) c lim b . Both Bill and Shorty worked over the calibrated dial of the master tuning con­ r trol of their radio receiving sets until The ship rolled off on one wing; the nose dropped; flames began to lick backward. The pilot shot out of the cockpit, their nerves were screaming from fa­ tigue. They tuned in and out with rolled over and over - their volume and wave-length controls until it seemed their task was a hope­ “That was the fastest fighting I ever above him lie threw the switch on his less one. radio panel and shouted into the micro­ saw. Who were they?” Finally. Bill said to Sandy, “I’ll take p h o n e . “You tell me, kid,” Bill said. “The the controls, kid. You work over the “Cruise around here for a bit,” he people who arc trying to grab Amalga­ radio. I’m getting jittery from trying said, “and see if any of those pilots or mated want us out of the way so they to tune the thing.” gunners are still alive. I’m going down can commit a few more murders. Hold to see what happened to Burt.” everything now. I’m going to land. Ό . K..” Sandy said, and lie began the The field is blown full of craters, but I nerve-racking job of turning the dials think I can make it.” an infinitesimal fraction of a second at X— A MESSAGE INTERCEPTED lie kicked the Lancer around into the a time to catch the faintest click that BILL BARNES ran a hand across wind and fishtailed it in to reduce his he might bring in with his volume con­ his flushed face while he spoke to young speed. It did not seem possible that tro l. Sandy. “You’re all right, kid?” he he could avoid all of the yawning holes Twenty minutes later he threw the a s k e d . that had been blown in the ground by radio tumbler and the intercockpit “Gosh, I’m dizzy. Bill.” Sandy said. the bombs of those eight silver mono­ phone switch and said, “I have a sta- 78 AIR TRAILS tion close-by that is speaking French, ten. and don’t ask me a lot of questions rose to a scream. W hite spume sprayed B ill.” when I get through, .fella. I’m going up from each side of the hull like the “Probably a Canadian station,” Bill to tell vou all I know. Get it?” dancing waters in a garden fountain. said, but he threw his radio switch and “Shoot it!” The great hull lifted slowly, until listened. “I want you to pour the soup into only the tail surfaces were in the water. Suddenly his whole body stiffened your Snorter and get back to Barnes The two fountains vanished and the big and he spun the dials and chanted Field as fast as you can and refuel. boat was in the air on its twenty-four- Shorty’s name into the microphone. On your way there get Tony and tell hundred-mile trip to Hawaii. When Shorty answered he said, “Quick, him to have Cy and Henderson on the The skipper took the ship upward in Shorty, tune your radio in on”—he gave apron with their Snorters ready to go an ever-widening circle. The city of him the frequency in fractions—“and when you get in. As soon as you re­ San Francisco faded away in the ground see if you can translate that conversa­ fuel all three of you get to Boston. haze that hung over it. The four pow­ tion in French.” There is a plane leaving the municipal erful motors sang as one, as the skip­ He spun his own dials back to the field there for Harbor Grace at seven per altered the pitch of the propellers same frequency and listened. Here and o’clock. It lavs overnight at Harbor and adjusted the throttles to cruising there, as he listened, he picked up a Grace and hops for London at dawn in sp e e d . word he understood that brought a new the morning. Point Bonita flashed under the wings, gleam to his tired eyes. “But if you don’t reach Boston by the last sight of land until the Hawaiian Then, the gleam turned to one of in­ the time it takes off there to-night it Islands were sighted. The rays of the credulous wonder as it dawned on him won’t reach Harbor Grace. Six of those setting sun broke through the wispy that he recognized the voice of the man silver monoplanes are going to attack it clouds and the big ship became a ball who was giving instructions from an and destroy it some place over the At­ of silver-and-orangc fire. Eastern short-wave station. At first'he lantic to-night. I want you three to Twelve thousand feet above the doubted his own ears, but as he studied ride above it and protect it. Don’t give sp e e d in g Manila Packet, and twenty the inflections and diction of the voice out any word about what is going to thousand feet above the Pacific, Bill he was certain. happen except to Cy and Henderson, Barnes and Shorty Hassfurther cut their His thoughts raced back, forming a after you all get in the air. But be throttles to keep pace with the giant chain in which the links fitted one after sure you protect that ship. The three transport. They had watched the take­ another. He was cursing softly to him­ of you ought to be able to handle those off from ten thousand feet. When the self when the two voices signed off and six monoplanes. Do you get it?” big flying boat had skimmed off the Shorty’s voice came back to him. “I get it. Bill.” Red said, and Bill water they hung their ships on their “You were right, Bill!” Shorty said, marveled at the steady tone of his props and went upstairs and turned on excitedly. “That was a conversation voice. “You want us to shoot their but­ the oxygen in their sealed cockpits. between a short-wave station some place to n s off!” They were probing the sky like two around New York and that station “I want that ship to go through from hawks in the gathering twilight. They Sandy got in his picture.” Boston to Harbor Grace untouched,” were in constant communication with “And what?” Bill asked. B ill sa id . one another over the radiophone. Sandy “We’ve got to move fast.” Shorty “What about you and that Monkey was asleep. said. “The voice from New York laid Worts thing, Bill?” Red asked. “Is “I forgot to tell you. Bill,” Shorty all the cards on the table. They are S h o r ty ------” said, “that during that conversation in sending six of those silver monoplanes “We’ve got a job to take care of out French the man at the station in Colo­ to intercept the transatlantic mail and here,” Bill cut in. “Give her the gun!” rado told New York that they had sent passenger plane that leaves Boston for “She’s doing three fifty now!” Red out planes to get you and they wouldn’t Harlwr Grace this evening. They are snapped. “I’ll be seein’ you.” have to worry about your interfering to shoot down the plane and make sure “Signing off!” Bill said. “Good with their plans.” all the evidence goes to the bottom lu c k !” “I’m afraid,” Bill said, dryly, “they’re /f the Atlantic!” going to be a little disappointed.” “You’re sure. Shorty?” Bill asked as The great ball of fire that was the XI— ATTACK mly-v^s he could. sun seemed to brighten |>erccptibly just ^n ,” Shorty said, “I may have THE twenty-five-ton flying boat, the l>cforc it plunged into the Pacific. The 1· ^ - / up my French in some strange Manila Packet. of the Transpacific Air­ world became a place of rich purples, places, but it works! And that isn’t ways. lay moored against the landing with little turrets of gold topping the a ll!” ramp at Alameda Airport. The orange spires of white clouds on the horizon. Bill listened incredulously while wings of the giant ship gleamed brightly Then, the purples turned to gun metal Shorty told him the rest of the conver­ in the rays of the late-afternoon sun. and black in the east and night was sation. His blood ran cold as he lis­ The hull was down to the black water u p o n th e m . tened to the diabolical scheme Shorty line with twenty passengers, a crew of “We’d better drop down about eight unfolded. Then his face became a thun­ seven and a heavy load of mail aboard. thousand feet,” Bill said, and his voice dercloud as he broke in on Shorty. The operations manager was giving last- was tense. “When they strike they’ll “W ait until I pick up Red.” he said. minute weather reports to the skipper come from nowhere.” He spun his dials and chanted Red’s on the bridge, as the big Packet m a d e “Navigating lights?” Shorty asked. call letters into the microphone. A few ready to loose her moorings. “No lights,” Bill said, sharply. “It seconds later Red answered. The outboard one thousand h. p. will be almost as light as day in a few “Where are you. Red?” Bill asked. motor on the port wing coughed itself minutes. That moon is almost full and to life. A moment later the outboard “I just left Denver, heading your the clouds are drifting away from it. I motor on the starboard wing spluttered way,” Red said. “Where do I pick w o n d e r------” he broke off abruptly. into action. A crash launch sped away y o u u p ? ” from the dock to the right of the course “Wonder what?” Shorty asked. He “You don’t pick us up,” Bill said. the fifty-thousand-pound ship would had detected a note of anxiety in Bill's “Do you have enough fuel to take you take. The two remaining motors came v o ice. back to Barnes Field?” to life in their nacelles in the high wings. “Nothing much,” Bill said. “It just “ P le n ty .” The big boat eased slowly away from occurred to me that perhaps we should “All right,” Bill snapped. “Now lis­ the ramp and the whine of her motors have warned the navy base at San Diego AIR TRAILS 79 to stand by. If we fail it’s going to be tion crept out ail over Bill Barnes’ body the air above him. He saw that Shorty too bad for the twenty-seven people as he saw those six Juggernauts of was tumbling through the air, engaged aboard the Packet.” death racing down on him. In that fleet­ with one of the enemy ships. Bill could “We don’t fail, fella,” Shorty said, in ing second he died a thousand deaths. hear the powerful tat-tat-tat of his a tone that brought a grin to Bill’s lips. It flashed through his mind that he .50-caliber guns. “Clouds arc closing in beneath us.” should not have taken the responsibil­ Then he saw flame racing out of the Below them the red-and-green flying ity for those twenty-seven lives in the exhaust pipes of the other four ships as lights gleamed on the tips of the big Manila Packet. He would die and they dived on him from four sides. The ship’s wings. And farther below a moon Shorty would die. and all of those noses of the four ships belched fire and bow, or luminous ring, encircled the twenty-seven would go to a watery lead as their machine guns converged shadow of the ship on the clouds. The grave with the pilots of the silver mono­ on the Lancer. moon seemed to be riding directly on planes that crashed into him. Bill’s face was twisted as he yanked the tail of the transport, and its rays The green-and-red lights on their wing the control stick of the Lancer back reflected back from the clouds gave the tips grew as large as the head of a into his stomach and opened the throt­ night a soft, silvery light. As a hole searchlight as they dived on him. It was tles. He knew that he would have to opened in the clouds for a moment the all hapi>cning so fast that his eyes coutø take less punishment if he went into the black waters of the Pacific gleamed far not keep up with it. face of their converged fire than he below. Then, his eye glued itself against the would diving away from it. He could “I think,” Bill said, “I’ll get through telescopic sight before him for a frac­ fee! the Lancer quiver and buck as bul­ to the navy. It’s too big a rcsponsibil- tion of a second, as his hand tightened lets drilled through its surface. Splin­ it., for us to take. If anything goes on the electric gun trip set in the han­ ters ripped his face as bullets drove into wrong it will be our fault. We’ll be dle of the control column. his instrument panel and thudded all blamed. We----- ” Six times the 37mm automatic en­ around him. “It’s too late now!” Shorty screamed gine cannon poured high-explosive shells He threw a quick glance over his into his microphone. “They’re coming! and orange flame through its barrel in shoulder as the planes flashed by him, I can see their lights! They're about the hollow crank shaft. Three of those •and he heard Sandy’s guns yammering two ]K)ints off the starl>oard bow of the deadly shells found their mark, as they again. The kid’s face was glued against Packet and five thousand feet up. drove into the ]>ower plant of the leader his guns as he poured round after round They’re diving!” of the diving planes. at the four diving ships. “Cut ’em off!” Bill roared and he A great cloud of black smoke welled As they came out of their dive and poured juice into the twin Diesels of up where the little monoplane had been. zoomed back to the attack, Bill brought the Lancer until they screamed in pro­ Then, great streaks of orange and saf­ the Lancer around in a steep bank and test. “Get in low, come up under ’em fron flame shot out of it as the gas stuck the nose on the leading mono­ and break their formation before they tanks exploded. Debris flew in every plane. His eyes picked the ship out have a chance to use their guns.” direction and the remaining five planes clearly through his infra-red ray tele­ The Silver Lancer left Shorty’s zoomed in five different directions to scope. Snorter almost sitting still in the air. as escape. The air churned with flame and smoke it raced alx>ve the big flying boat and Sandy, in the rear cockpit, swung his and bullets, as he dived the Lancer like Bill stuck the nose upward. He could swivel gun in an arc and poured ma­ a plunging gannet. Bullets drove up hear the screaming whine of the six chine-gun bullets after the zooming ships. through his wings and the folded am­ power plants in the noses of those six Bill spun the dials on his radio until phibian gear as he cinmi»ed down on £ diving ships. He snupi>ed on the run­ he had the call frequency of the Manila his guns. His bullets ripped into the ning lights on the tips of his own wings, Packet. nose of the oncoming plane and crept so that they would not drive through “Calling WOOM aboard Manila back to the windshield, to tear away the him on their way to jx>ur their lead into Packet. . . . Calling WOOM aboard face of the pilot behind it. The ship the transport. He shouted to Shorty to Manila Packet/” he chanted. “Hold zoomed upward as it went out of con­ do the same. your course; you are being attacked,” trol, and Bill dived beneath it, clean­ But the six diving ships did not pull he instructed. “Hold your course; there ing it by inches. up. They held their fonnation while is no danger. Will report after we have He heard the chatter of Shorty’s pc they screamed out of the night at four driven off attackers.” erful guns again and probed the niW hundred miles an hour. Cold perspira­ He threw the radio key and probed sky overhead. He saw Shorty follow*—

AIR TRAILS ANNOUNCES Another Championship Model IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE The STOUT TROPHY WINNER This is an OUTDOOR FUSELAGE ship you will want to build Articles and plans prepared in collaboration by ERVIN LESHNER and GORDON S. LIGHT

DONT MISS THIS* EXCLUSIVE SERIES OF CHAMPIONSHIP PLANS Be Sure to get the MAY issue of AIR TRAILS 80 AIR TRAILS

ing a ship toward the cloud hank be­ Alameda and your home office. Sign­ low, pouring round after round of bul­ ing off. Good luck.” lets into it. That was all. Far olf to the west he saw the giant Manila Packet silhouetted against the XII— REPORTS moon, as it sped away on its course. He knew the radio operator aboard her A HALF HOUR LATER Bill man­ had picked up his message. aged to make contact with Tony Lam- He poured juice into the Lancer and |>ort on B arnes Field, Long Island. He chandclled back to the attack, as two breathed a sigh of relief as he listened of the remaining planes tried to break to Tony’s report. away and start after the speeding “Had a report from Red, Cy and P a c k e t . The Lancer raced through the Henderson some time ago.” Tony said. night with its exhaust pipes glowing and “We were getting worried about you, spitting fire. As the two ships ahead of Bill.” him realized that they could not match “All right,” Bill said, “here I am! his speed they zoomed upward to get Bill banked the Lancer around, put it What did they report?” away from the deadly accuracy of his “Oh!” Tony said. “They escorted the back on its course and opened the guns. One of them swept off to the plane all the way from Boston to Har- right in a steep, climbing turn, the other throttles------i»or Grace. They sighted a formation to the left. of six planes. But the six planes didn’t Bill stayed on the tail of the one that saw S horty’s form follow' it, turning attack after they saw the three Snort­ cut to the left. Again his fingers clamped over and over as he fell. ers. They turned tail and disappeared.” down on his gun trips. He saw' his Bill’s hand froze around the control “Good.” Bill grunted. “Is Commis­ tracer smoke curl above the head of the column of the Lancer as he circled it sioner Barton still camping around pilot of the silver monoplane. He cor­ down. His throat was dry and con­ there?” rected his aim and knew that his bul­ tracted so that he could not breathe as “No,” Tony said, “but his men are. lets were tearing into the tail surfaces. he saw Shorty falling closer and closer The place is filled with them. There is As the plane came farther around he to the waters of the Pacific. one here beside me. He wants to ar­ again corrected his aim and drew a line Then, his breath came out of his body rest you by radio!” the length of the fuselage. in one great gasp as the pilot ’chute “Tell him to save his breath,” Bill The silver ship fell off on its right from Shorty’s scat pack streaked out answered. “Get in touch with Barton behind him, followed by his main ’chute. wing; the nose dropped and it began a and tell him the power behind the sickening spin toward the dark waters A little murmur, that might have been throne is responsible for the mueder of below'. Bill watched it until it disap- a prayer, escaped his lips as he guided Monkey Worts, those pilots and pas­ j>earcd through the cloud bank, then the Lancer to a landing as close to sengers. Tell him he’d better take him searched the night sky for the other Shorty as he could manage. into custody before he commits suicide. m onoplane. “Get out on the wing, kid.” Bill said. Tell him I can prove he’s guilty.” “He’s had enough. Bill.” Sandy said “Be ready to grab him. He’ll be all “Who’s guilty. Bill?” Tony asked. in his ear. “He has peeled off and is tangled up in his parachute.” “You haven’t told me who you’re talk­ going home to get his feet warm.” Then Sandy went out on the wing like a ing about.” Sandy’s voice rose to a high-pitched human fly. as the Lancer bumped along “Benjamin Shipman, chairman of the squeal. “But. Bill, while Shorty was over the huge swells. Bill kicked his board of directors of Amalgamated Air­ finishing off one ship another dived on rudder, cut his throttle and spun the ways and chairman of a lot of other him. Something’s wrong with him. Bill. Lancer around so that Sandy could things,” Bill said wearily. “He’s the He’s staggering. His ship is out of grab the end of Shorty’s floating ’chute. power behind the throne. Tell Barton 'ntrol! It’s on fire, Bill! He’s drop- He pulled him up to the wing, hand to slip up behind him and locate the g through the clouds!” over haml, and helped him struggle out short-wave station from which Shipman of his harness. With Sandy’s help he •U1 caught just a glimpse of Shorty’s has been broadcasting. Then he’ll have got one knee up on the wing, then his irter as it whirled into the clouds him cold. Tell Barton I heard him body. They squirmed back toward the wiio disappeared. He brought the Lancer broadcasting and recognized his voice. fuselage, while Bill held the big ship as around on a wing tip and dived for the Then all the links fitted the chain. He steady as he could. hole where Shorty had disappeared. was trying to grab Amalgamated, Trans­ “You’re not wounded. Shorty?” Bill When he came out below the cloud bank pacific and Atlantic Airways and form asked when they were both in the after the night was as dark as the inside of an around-the-world air chain. He’s cockpit. a dungeon, except for the light cast by one of the robber barons you’ve read “Who ever saw a wounded Hass- Shorty’s Snorter as it plunged toward about. Do you get it?” further?” Shorty wanted to know. “I the Pacific. “I get it. Bill.” Tony said. “It’s hard had just shot the warts off one pilot’s to believe.” Bill’s whole body was trembling and nose when another jum|>cd me. He got "Don’t try to believe it,” Bill said. he w'as bathed in cold perspiration as me plenty. My Snorter was out of con­ “Tell Barton I can prove it.” his lips mumbled incoherent curses at trol and he must have been loaded up “What are you going to do now, Bill?” the pilots of those silver monoplanes. with incendiary bullets. I couldn’t get Tony asked. “Has Shorty bailed out? Can you sec out of the cockpit because of the spin. “We’re going to drop off in Denver to him?” he shouted to Sandy. Centrifugal force held me in. I man­ sec if Burt Longneckcr is O. K.,” Bill “I think he’s still in his Snorter.” aged to get halfway out and shoot a answ ered. Sandy said ami there was anguish in his flare so you could see to pick me up.” “Then what?” Tony asked. voice. “No. Bill!” Sandy screamed. “That’s that,” Bill said. He flipped “We’re going to bed!” Sandy shouted “He’s climbing over the cowling now. his radio switch and tuned in on the into the microphone. He’s struggling to push himself up. frequency of the Manila Packet. “And, Tony,” Bill said, “order a flock There goes a flare.” “All clear. WOOM,” he said. “This of plates for Sandy’s new camera. Tell They saw a parachute flare shoot out is Bill Barnes speaking. Υ0 1 ΠΙ have no Barton to put ’em on his swindle sheet. of the spinning Snorter, and then they further trouble. I’ll make a report to Signing off!” AIR TRAILS 81 GETTING INTO AVIATION (Continued from pane 19) arc getting free flight training without physical examination (which is nothing tographer or aerographer in the aviation being required to have any college edu­ if you can pass a flight physical), a branch, or to be a radio man. Those cation at all. fairly easy intelligence test, and give a arc the ratings from which prospective For some time the navy has been list of former employers or teachers, or pilots are being chosen at present. sending enlisted men to Pensacola to be references from two res|x>nsiblc persons. Obviously, this takes time. Most men trained for the rating of “naval aviation If you are under twenty-one you must who arc selected for flight training have pilot.” (Officers and naval reserve avia­ secure written consent of parent or been in the navy two or more years, tion cadets arc given the rating of “na­ guardian. No specific educational re­ many of them as much as four. Of val aviator.”) Recently, the navy in­ quirement is stated, but there have been course, not all men who are otherwise creased the number of enlisted men l>c- so many applicants to pick from that the qualified can pass the flight physical ex­ ing trained to fly. On August 11, 1936. recruiting officers have been taking prac­ amination, and that gives a better the bureau of navigation sent out a call tically nobody except boys with high- chance to the ones who can. to “all ships and stations” directing com­ school education. With more civilian If you are one of the successful com- manding officers to recommend all men jobs opening up these days, however, petitors for an assignment as a student who met certain requirements. As a re­ that may change. pilot you are sent to Pensacola for a sult, fifty enlisted men per month are Application should l>e made to the one-year course. Before going you Ijcing sent to Pensacola the last four nearest navy recruiting station. If you would have to bind yourself to remain months of this fiscal year (which ends don’t know where one is, write for in the navy for at least four years after June 30th). It is most probable that a information to the Navy Department, you would be due to graduate. At Pen­ number of men will be sent every year. Washington. D. C. sacola you would do substantially the It was the private opinion of an officer The two hundred enlisted men being same flying as student officers and ca­ in the navy department at Washington trained at Pensacola this fiscal year were dets, but you would not take as many that the number would be considerably selected from among men with aviation theoretical courses. Like all the rest increased next year. Beyond that no- ratings, radio men, and seamen first class you would have to be in the best half of Inxly guesses. of pctty-officer caliber, who had been your class in order to get through the The chief trouble with this road to with aviation units for six months or flying course. If you succeeded you Pensacola is that it is a long one. with more and were capable of passing tests would be given your wings, and sent to m any chances of l>cing sidetracked. B ut for a radio or aviation rating. The piloting duty with the fleet. if you arc a young man above the aver­ thousands of men in other classifications While undergoing flight training you age in quick, practical intelligence, if didn't have a chance. would keep the same rating you had you have finished high school with a How can you be sure of getting the when you entered, and upon graduation pretty good record, and if you can pass kind of assignment that would make you you would not l>e given any promotion a flight physical examination, your eligible for selection? Well, you can’t be or increase in pay on account of the rat­ chances are not at all bad. A medical sure. All men are enlisted for “gen­ ing of naval aviation pilot. But while examiner for the bureau of aeronautics eral service” and do what they arc told. on flight duty, both in sehool and after­ of the department of commerce can tell They can ask for certain kinds of work. ward, you would receive “flying pay,” you if you arc likely to fail the physical A very large projx>rtion ask for as­ which is vour regular or “base” pay plus examination. signment to aviation schools and squad­ fifty per cent. Naturally, you would be All right. Suppose you decide you rons. but only those who show the most eligible for promotion on the same basis would like to be a naval aviation pilot. aptitude and make the best records at as all enlisted men, and. due to the su­ The first step would be to join the navy. the naval training stations during the perior ability which got you into the For first enlistment you must l>c a male, first twelve weeks arc assigned immedi­ school in the first place, you would prob­ unmarried citizen of the United States ately to the kind of work they request. ably advance faster than the average. between seventeen and twenty-five years If you arc good enough, and if there When you first enlisted in the navy old, at least sixty-three inches in height arc vacancies, you are selected for train­ you would get twenty-one dollars a if under eighteen, or sixty-four if over ing as a machinist’s mate, earjjcnter’s month, uniform, food, and lodging. eighteen. You must pass a fairly rigid mate, metalsmith, ordnance man, pho­ After the first twelve weeks you would

Part of the line-up at Parks Air College is indicative of the flying equipment available to the student. Leading air colleges maintain an assortment of planes to provide all phases of flight education. 82 AIR TRAILS

This navy Consolidated flying boat proves valuable in training for long overwater routes such as those flown by the transocean Clippers. Consolidated is building 176 of these patrol bombers for the navy.

get thirty-six dollars a month and then ferred after twenty years to the naval Academy, which accommodates alnuit increases as you got promotions on reserve on a smaller monthly income, two hundred cadets in training for offi­ merit. With an aviation rating on non­ with the privilege of going on the regu­ cers, is at New London, Conn. The flying duty you would get sixty dollars lar retired list with an increase in pay in school for training enlisted men for non­ a month to begin with. Promotion to ten more years. A chief petty officer piloting aviation ratings is at the Coast higher ratings in the aviation branch who retires after thirty years’ service re­ Guard Air Station. Cain.* May, X. J. would bring more pay. If you went to ceives one hundred and thirty-three dol­ Further information may be secured by Pensacola within three or four years lars and eighty-eight cents a month. writing the Commandant, U. S. Coast after your first enlistment you probably One who quits active service after Guard. Washington. I). C. wouldn’t have time to get beyond twenty years gets sixty-thrcc dollars a eighty-four dollars before being sent, month for the first ten years, and after COMMERCIAL AIR-LINE TRAINING though for various |K*riods you might that as long as lie lives receives one get fifty |»er cent extra for flying as a hundred and ten dollars and twenty-five The trim, blue-uniformed pilots, who p a s s e n g e r. cents a month. A man who enlists at day after day and night after night fly At Pensacola you would get, roughly, eighteen may thus have achieved |M;r- the great, sleek airliners of America from ninety dollars to one hundred and manent security by the time he is thirty- through good weather and bad. are per­ twenty-six dollars/ including flying pay. eight years old, and have the rest of his haps the best pilots in all the world. ' Afterward, you would get increases every life to do what he pleases and make as They have to be good to complete time you rcenlisted, and those, together much extra money as he can. It is ninety-five per cent of their trips and to with promotions, could put you up to a rather an attractive offer to a young fly on the average alxmt eight million high of alnnit two hundred and twenty man who does not Iiojhí some day to be miles per fatal accident. They arc ex­ dollars a month as a flying chief petty a great doctor, lawyer, editor, scientist, perts in a line of work that requires high officer by the time you had been in the engineer, university president, or big skill, knowledge, and judgment. And navy sixteen years. You would always business man. they are paid accordingly. The first have food ami lodging furnished or be But that is getting a little far ahead. pilots, or captains, get close to eight paid from one dollar and ninety-five Returning to the m atter of getting into dollars for every hour of actual flying cents to three dollars and seventy-five Pensacola, we will say little of the train­ and make from five hundred dollars to cents a day extra. You would buy your ing offered members of the marine corps seven hundred dollars a month. own uniforms—after the first one— but and coast guard. Not many are trained. What we told you last month about would get free medical and dental at­ Requirements for ap|M>intment as an miscellaneous commercial flying training tention. You might be promoted to aviation cadet of the marine corps re­ explains how some pilots of exceptional warrant officer, in which case you would serve arc about the same as for naval ability got the start that enabled them be paid from one thousand, eight hun­ reserve cadets. For further information eventually to land air-line flying jobs. dred and thirty-six dollars up to four about marine corps flying write to the And what we have told you about mili­ thousand, five hundred dollars a year, Major General Commandant. Head­ tary flying training explains how a large according to length of service, and with quarters Marine Corps. Washington. percentage of new pilots taken on by extra pay when on flying duty. D . C . the lines learned to fly. In our discus­ After thirty years service in the navy Both enlisted men and officers of the sion of preparation for air-line flying you could retire on a comfortable in­ coast guard are trained in small num­ there remains only to tell you something come for life. Or you m ig h t 1m* tr a n s ­ bers at Pensacola. The Coast Guard of the commercial flying schools of “pro- AIR TRAILS 83

fcssional” grade which specialize in train­ drafting and design, salesmanship, eco­ cial air-line pilot's course in instrument, ing pilots for the air lines. There aren’t nomics and accounting, psychology, and radio-beam and landing-beam flying, m any of them, and those offering courses o th e rs . seventy hours in all, plus a number of • which really prepare a man for an air­ Two full years arc required to com­ air-transport ground courses. It takes line career arc few indeed. plete such a course, and graduates arc six months and costs two thousand eight The air-line pilot and operations qualified to take the department-of- hundred dollars, no board included. courses of professional caliber at the best commercc tests for the transport pilot’s The best schools have been able to commercial schools in America are suited license, the nonscheduled instrum ent rat­ place a good percentage of their gradu­ to the needs of certain air-line aspirants ing, the airplane and engine mechanic’s ates in aviation jobs, but they do not for special reasons. For instance, they licenses, and the Federal Communica­ say that all flying graduates can get arc open to citizens of any country, tions Commission test for the radio-tele­ air-line flying jobs. M any do, of course, whereas army and navy training are phone third-class license. and the chances for such jolxs are said open only to citizens of the United to be quite good, for those who have The total cost for the two years is States. They arc open, also, to persons had extensive courses. However, pilots from about five thousand to six thousand with no more than a high-school educa­ who have had as much as two years of five hundred dollars, which includes tion, whereas the securing of militafy college engineering find it helpful in room and board. A student is so busy flying training by such persons, as de­ competing for the new jobs as they be­ that he doesn’t have any time for out­ scribed, above, is partially a m atter of come available. side work. The only chance we know luck and generally involves around eight How many new air-line jobs arc go­ about of attending one of these schools years of enlisted service in the navy. ing to be opening up? What arc the without paying the stated price for the Also, the professional air-line courses in­ chances for getting a job once you arc courses taken is to be awarded one of clude much study which would l>e of prepared? Ami what does the future the scholarships whereby a few men se­ special value in air-line flying, as well as hold for young men entering air trans­ lected from among college and university other preparation which would be of port as pilots? students are enabled to attend the Hew­ great aid in holding down a ground job Those are questions which cannot be ing School of Aeronautics at Oakland, in air transportation or aircraft manu­ answered exactly and with the author­ Calif. Information should be secured facturing, in case you were unable to ity of prophecy, for true prophets are by writing the school. get a flying job or were forced to quit scarce these days. Hut there is certain It is obvious that these specialized flying by failing the physical examina­ information which throws considerable courses are more specific preparation for tio n . light on the subject. That information air-line work than the military courses, The best grade professional flying is more exciting just at present than which naturally spend more time on mili­ courses involve about two hundred and ever before in the history of aviation. tary subjects. On the other hand, a fifty hours of flying, including cross­ Next month we will tell you what wc man with two years’ military experi­ country, night, instrument, and radio­ can about it. And wc will also tell you ence has had more actual flying expe­ beam flying. The training is especially something al>out ground jobs, of which rience, and a great many people would adapted to meet air-line conditions, and .there are in air-line operations almost say more exacting flying training. The advanced work in multiengined craft, ten times as many as there are flying best commercial schools graduate only using all the standard air-line equip­ jobs. And then, too, there arc the students of superior aptitude, but gen­ ment and procedure, is included. Spe­ much more numerous jobs in aircraft cial emphasis is placed on instrument erally they are more patient with slow manufacturing, which is expanding so flying, ami at least one school goes so pupils than the army and navy. But rapidly at present that sufficient quali­ then the army and navy admittedly far as to give training in blind landings fied workers cannot be found. by radio landing beam. wash out some potentially fine pilots. A great many people think that avia­ The ground-school instruction involves A pilot who has had military or ordi­ tion is on the verge of becoming a really from two thousand five hundred to three nary commercial flight training may se­ great industry. We hope they are right thousand two hundred and fifty hours cure special ground courses in air-line —and that great things in aviation of classroom, shop and laboratory work, work. A two-year course such as has await many capable and industrious in subjects which may include theory of been described, but with the flying left young men, rather than just a few of flight, general science, metallurgy, air­ off, costs about one thousand two hun­ very su|x*rior ability as in the past. But craft materials, aircraft engines, aircraft dred dollars, not including board, in one no matter how big aviation becomes, instruments, mechanics, metal and wood school. A similar course at another the rewards will go to those who pre­ fabrication, airplane assembly and repair, school, but with lx>ard and room for pare themselves best to deliver the radio code and theory, airways communi­ two years ami twenty hours of flying goods. Next month wc will tell you cation systems, aerial surveying, air law, thrown in, costs two thousand one hun­ more about how to get started. meteorography, meteorology, avigation, dred dollars. One school gives pilots air transportation, mechanical drawing. with four hundred or more hours a spe­ TO BE CONTINUED.

Follow this important series of articles in next month’s AIR TRAILS. Clyde Pangborn and Lieutenant Wood have made an exhaustive study of conditions. If you read every article in the series carefully, you will know where oppor­ tunity lies in the next few years. The articles will cover every phase of aviation; ground, air, commercial, industrial, military, naval. Don’t miss the May issue of AIR TRAILS 84 AIR TRAILS THE FLAMING FINISH (Continued from page 22) Gcrro shrugged. “I have fixed it. I noon, and realizing in u mounting agi­ But Dan was in a tough spot, too, know you wish to live, and I think you tation what would happen if he did. and he wasn’t going to let Dan down. understand that we are not—what do Finally Gwen said with a faint ex­ Dan Gibbs had taught him to fly, and you call it?—kidding you. So I know asperation, “I don’t think it’s any use, he’d been with the troupe ten years— you will not win.” Johnny. You have the grace of a two- since Gwen was wearing pigtails. He ‘‘The hell with it!” But even as he ton truck. What on earth’s come over couldn’t quite believe, remembering, spoke and* shoved the draft away, you?” that it had been so long. Johnny saw Gcrro turn a quick glance He said, “I guess this is an off night, Through those years they’d made a toward the door. Before he could more sugar. Let’s blow.” lot of money, and they’d gone from a than half rise, two men came through “Blow where?” Gwen said. “We just one-ship, hand-to-mouth outfit to the the door and reached his side. The si­ came.” biggest flying circus in the business. lent, watchful imperturbability of their “Home,” he said. “I want to sec They had tri-motored transports and faces was sinisterly fascinating. your dad.” sleek, lean racers that would outrun “Walgrcn.” Gerro said, “these men She gave him a quick, beseeching nearly anything—a lot of modern, beau­ will do exactly what I tell them. If smile. “Johnny, is it something you tiful, expensive planes. Dan Gibbs and you fly that race, you do not win it— couldn’t possibly tell me?” Bert Russell and he owned it. And, of you understand? I will accept your He said bluntly, “It isn’t anything course, Gwen—Gwen, a little eager- word.” you’d care to hear,” and took her arm. eyed girl visiting her father through the The swift thought crossed Johnny’s summer interludes from boarding school, mind that there probably was no police and then, suddenly, Gwen—grown. assistance within half a dozen miles. He With a sudden resolution, Johnny sat could expect no help from the waiters up in bed. lie had been attacking his or the management. The place was problem from the wrong side. He knew crowded, busy, noisy, oblivious to what Dan well enough to know it wasn’t any was happening. Gerro’s thugs, at one use that way. Maybe Dan did not re­ word, as easily as not could take him member making the bet, but even if lie for a ride. did, he was too stubborn to call the “flow do I know I’ll be able to col­ wager off. So it wasn’t any use to look lect this?” he asked slowly, through lips for Dan. It was up to Johnny Wal­ that had turned stiff, and he picked gren to win the race. He didn’t know up the draft again. He didn’t know what was going to hapjien, if he won what he was going to do. But it was it. but he knew he wasn’t going to throw useless to resist, and he decided to ac­ the race away. No matter what Gerro cept the draft and appear to acquiesce. threatened and no matter what Gerro “You can trust me,” Gerro said. did, Johnny knew in his heart that he “Both for the money and to have my couldn’t throw the race. He crushed men on the field close to you all day it was reassuring to know that Gwen out his cigarette bitterly. This might to-morrow—nor very far from you at would be waiting— when he landed. be a tough way to go at things, but it any time to-night. And if you should was the only way. Somehow, lie had win the race it will lx*—what is the They walked back to their table. He to win----- term?—too bad.” saw that Gerro and the other two had It surprised him to discover that now Johnny left them, crossed the floor gone. it was almost dawn. Through the east ,i til and sat once more with Gwen. The “You But even at this late hour, Dan Gibbs window, sunrise was brushing a vivid orchestra was still playing, the trumpets was not at his apartment. Johnny went ruddv-red into the wind-torn clouds. doo-tcahing against the smooth-sliding to two places where Dan occasionally harmony of the reeds. Colored flood­ Coming to a decision soothed his nerves played poker, but Dan hadn’t bcei> remarkably. He burrowed his head in lights sprayed shafts of brilliance on the dancers. But now Johnny Walgren there. He went home ami spent a long the pillow and finally got to sleep. scarcely saw or heard. time telephoning. At three o’clock he When lie woke up it was almost ten finally gave up and went to bed. He Gwen waited through that fox trot o’clock. patiently, and then asked, “What’s the hail to get some rest. Driving to the field, Johnny saw that matter, Johnny?” He lay there in bed, mind working this was going to be a tough day for at high speed; and he couldn’t rest. The He met her eyes, and looked quickly the race. A puffy east wind had sprung race was going to start at two o’clock away. He couldn’t tell her. “Noth­ up and was getting stronger by the ing,” he said. “Just thinking.” this afternoon, and it would last per­ hour. He’d have to watch the first haps twenty-four or twenty-five minutes. pylon, where the downwind turn would “Well, don’t,” she said. “You look It was for a hundred miles. exactly as you did that time a wing lie. Through his mind passed, method­ Johnny flew that race a dozen times, ically, all the things which he would spar cracked and you lost an aileron. lying there in bed, smoking one ciga­ What-----” have to watch. rette after another, getting wider awake Already, at this time of the morning, “Let’s dance,” said Johnny almost as daylight neared. The more he flew roughly, and got up. the field was overrun by the hordes of it, the more he knew he was in a tough tourists and curious spectators. Cars Gwen gave him a straight, wondering spot. If he won—well, lie knew that lined the road; cars surrounded the field look, and followed. The physical activ­ Gerro meant just what he said. If he ity of dancing cleared his brain some­ lost the race, although he made every solidly. The blatant screeching of con­ what. But he couldn’t keep his mind honest attempt to win. he still would be cessionaires was like the shrilling of sea away from Gerro. He couldn’t help in a spot. Sooner or later somebody gulls fighting over flotsam. Johnny took visualizing, what would happen if he would find out about that draft, even it all in absently, crowding through with didn’t throw the race to-morrow after­ though he never cashed it. an occasional blare of horn to draw at- AIR TRAILS 85 tendon to the authority of his wind­ Through her words Johnny heard the now. Bumps chopped at him. The en­ shield sign: ‘Official.** smashing thunder of the other engines gine revved snarling to two thousand In the hangar, with minutely critical as they responded to the starter’s dip­ and then still upward, laboring into a patience, Ιις went over his little maroon ping flag. deep-toned reverberating howl. The air racing plane again. He checked every "Get back!” he yelled to her. speed quivered at two twenty and then •gas and oil line: he checked controls; lie Dust and the reek of engine fumes two thirty and then two forty, where checked everything that could possibly were in her nostrils. Already the other it hung. be checked. It surprised him, suddenly, planes were under way. But he couldn’t The pylon leaped back from the hori­ to discover that it was already past one gun his engine until Gwen got clear of zon. Johnny judged his speed and dis­ o’clock. After a late breakfast, he the tail. tance tautly. He took in a deep breath didn’t want lunch. He wished Gwen “Get back!” he shouted, and saw her and held it tight against his belt. He and Dan would come, so he could have lips move and saw her stagger out of banked up swiftly vertical around the a quiet moment with them before the danger as he slammed his throttle wide. tower. race began. It made Johnny feel a lit­ In the blinding wake of the other Blood sang and pounded in his ears, tle queer, not having Gwen send him planes, lie took off without seeing any­ draining his eyes of sight. He had no off upon a race. It was an ill omen. thing but sand and dust. The field consciousness' of fear. His brain was He shrugged it aside. Superstition was rough and his wheels bounced in tightly concentrated on the grim neces­ never bothered him. But he felt it, just and out of sink holes. He almost sity for holding on and never varying the same. crashed before he ever got into the air. the turn. He couldn’t sec at all, now. At one thirty he helped roll the lit­ He hit a ridge and the plane leaped If he varied, if he let the nose get tle eroek outside the hangar. He started high. down, the hurtling little craft would the engine and warmed it carefully. In a breathless stall, while the turbu­ crash and strew him and its wreckage Then lie taxied slowly to the starting lence of other pro]) blasts tossed him in the palmettos. He held on and then, line and took position between the lit­ like a leaf, he didn’t know for a mo­ in relief, eased the turn off. His vision tle white monoplane of Dennison Car­ ment whether the plane was going to fly cleared. Ahead, there, were the thin ter and the black one of Duke Hardc. or spin. If the motor had as much as spans of those other wings again, and The engine whispered to a stop when lie sputtered once, he would have crashed he could not sec that he had gained on cased the altitude control full on. in on a wing. But the motor didn’t them at all. Johnny sat there, checking his gas sputter, and he slowly eased the nose They were stringing out, now. Duke valves and engine instruments, reviewing down and fought frantically for speed. Harde’s little black crate was streaking once again the campaign he had laid It was incredible how much the oth­ past the grand stand on the beginning out for flying this hard-contested race. ers had already gained in the dozen sec­ of the second lap, far in the lead. All along the line, in the nine planes, onds of delay. Duke Harde was already Johnny hit the second turn with smooth other pilots were adjusting themselves well ahead, and Johnny knew that this precision and came thundering down and getting ready for the starter’s flag. was a handicap which only skill and upon the grand stand at a hundred feet. As usual, this was going to be a race­ desperate piloting would ever overcome. Going into the turn, he got a quick horse start, and the advantage gained at Two miles separated him from the glimpse of a sea of upturned faces, and the first pylon might decide the rearmost of the other planes. Johnny something of the frenzy of the crowd struggle. could sec the thin spans of wings at­ was transferred to him as he realized he Duke Harde, twenty yards away, tached to fuselages. He saw them grow was slowly,. surely, gaining on Duke looked across, grinned and flaunted fin­ into a clot and bunch dangerously and Harde. gers at his nose. Johnny waved his turn together at the bunting tower, But he should be gaining—he was hand. It was surprising how his rigid, sweeping back upon the straightaway. staking his life on every turn, taking fatalistic disregard for what might hap- He fixed his eyes upon the pylon; lie it closer, lower, faster than the last. |κ·η had taken on almost a narcotic was trembling with a harsh excitement Knowing that if the race lasted long quality. He wasn’t at all nervous. But just the same, he wished Gwen had come; he wondered what had happened to her. Down the line, an engine barked out, and the prop flashed silver. One by one, the motors took life noisily. Johnny pressed his starter button and listened critically to the hearty eagerness of his rumbling exhaust. The green flag of the starter poised there. Even above the mutter of the engines, the roaring of the crowd came dimly in an undulating wave of sound. Johnny started to pull his goggles down upon his eyes. Just then, from the spill of his vision, lie caught sight of a figure hurrying along behind the planes, and saw that it was Gwen. She was alone. She was running, high-heeled slippers wrenching her ankles cruelly. She reached the cockpit. Her face was pale and the pro]) blast took her breath. “Johnny!” she gasped. “I just found out—Cuban revolutionists are trying to get the circus. They tried to buy-----**

/ 86 AIR TRAILS in a race, for doing so would burn your engine up. But if he could get five minutes at a higher sj>eed, before the engine went----- And as he watched, he saw the tach­ ometer needle waver upward—forty, fifty, sixty—almost a hundred revvs! The air speed climbed. The little plane gained ten miles an hour before it reached the next pylon. Johnny could almost see the distance between the two planes narrow, now. They took the east pylon a half mile apart. His cylinder-head temperatures were climbing, and he prayed the pis­ tons wouldn’t melt. The plane was screaming at the wind, the engine moan­ ing in its labor. The bumps were live enough lie would have a chance to nose beginning of the turn before the stands. things, incredibly vicious. All the heart Duke out, he settled to the grim routine He took his eye from Monahan, watch­ that was in man and plane was strain­ of holding on. ing the pylon. When he looked again ing to the utmost. Thinking of Gwen, lie recalled what at the golden plane, be saw that it was she had said. What was it—that Cuban ludching a long spume of heavy smoke. They were close, as they slashed revolutionists were trying to get Dan’s His concentration on that pylon al­ around the final pylon. Eight miles of planes? He didn’t doubt that. The most killed him. He didn’t sec, until a straightaway lay. ahead—and then the angle on the Englishman who had made split second before the two planes were finish line. Johnny was above Duke the bet with Dan was mystifying, but going to come together, that the Comet Harde, and two hundred yards behind. it was obvious that Gerro was a Cuban. was slowing fast ami he was overrun­ Brown earth smeared past below at Cuba was overrun by rebel bands, and ning it. He couldn’t turn: he couldn’t reckless speed. The gap between the a rebel leader could not strike effec­ dive, because both planes had less than two ships closed. They were flying tively without an air force—nor could a hundred feet already. Monahan’s big wing-to-wiug. In the stands a hundred he purchase modern military aircraft engine had gone dead, and Monahan, thousand people were going mad with equipment openly. In the whole United intent only on getting clear of that frenzy. Johnny moved up. If that en­ States there was no group of private thundering herd behind him, suddenly gine stood up. nothing could stop him. planes so adaptable to military use as pulled up. Duke Harde looked across that space: those which Dan Gibbs owned. If And Johnny, doing the only thing he his face was tense and worried. Gerro could obtain them, arm them and could do, pulled up, too! And then Johnny Walgren got a whiff fly them to some obscure Cuban field, He snatched the throttle shut. It of something in the cockpit. His scalp the next revolution might be a really seemed to him that there was nothing went stiff with fright. He scarcely no­ potent thing. in the world as big as that gilt-colored ticed when he passed Duke, for he was His mind came sharply back to racing, plane before his eyes. He felt his own sniffing at that smell. Paint and oil. as lie whipped out of the second lap prop knife shuddering into Monahan’s But there was something else—some­ into the third. He had gained almost a rudder. It made him cringe to think where there was flame. Goose flesh mile, but lie was not gaining nearly that Monahan would I k * left in the air broke out along his neck. rapidly enough. There were seven laps without control, too low to jump. And He could see the smoke, now. It in all, and two of them were finished; then, in a fraction of a second, the came back into the cockpit through the he still had more than a mile to gain golden plane had dropped below and out floor, spewing up and whipping back on Duke—before the hair-raising task of sight ami Johnny Walgren could hear across his shoulders. It was in his face, of passing Duke was reached. You nothing but the pounding of his heart. and it stirred subconscious fears which never passed Duke without a battle, A moment later, as he swung trem­ he didn’t know he had and which he JjA-ausc Duke never failed to call a bluff. bling around the turn, he saw Mona­ couldn’t overcome. He sucked in a But there are breaks in racing, and han glide safely to earth in an adjoin­ lungful of that hot. stinking air, and it Johnny fought his way past plane after ing field. stirred his nerves almost to panic. With plane, gaining steadily, and prayed and He realized numbly that the race was the greatest difficulty he fought to hold waited for a break. lost, although by that time his throttle bis lead on Duke, and tried to disregard Always, now, he sliavcd the pylons was wide open and he was once more what lie knew was happening up there. closer, swinging past them in shorten­ in desj>eratc pursuit. Instead of help­ Then he couldn’t disregard it any ing, breath-taking arcs, his lower wing ing him, the break that he had waited longer. A violent knocking started in almost clipping grass. Speed—speed— for had ruined everything; a carburetor the engine. There was a sharp, metal­ speed! It sang in his blood. It drugged float had stuck, maybe, on the Comet lic, clanking sound, and then a sudden, his brain, a powerful stimulant. Bluff­ job. shivering explosion. And with the ex­ ing the pilot of a little blue crate on a Suddenly, thinking of that carburetor, plosion. the engine quit, and open flame turn, he. moved up into fourth jx>si- Johnny leaned down and moved his burst back along the fuselage. tion, finally, with less than twenty-five altitude control ahead, watching the Johnny acted with a mechanical re- miles to go. He moved grimly into tachometer. Of course, he’d known all .spouse, now that he knew there wasn’t third position, taking his life in his the time that air-cooled racing engines any doubt about the fire. He never hands. were set at extremely rich mixtures, be­ changed his course. He reached down And then lie almost lost it in one cause at wide-open throttle the surplus and pulled the engine fire extinguisher, propeller beat. gasoline acted as a cooling agent. And knowing that it could only delay the Monahan’s golden twin-row Comet he’d known that even at sea level, open­ flames and couldn’t put them out. He job was just ahead. Johnny was mov­ ing the altitude control would lean the turned off the gas. to keep the fire from ing up. streaking up. doing two fifty mixture and would give more engine the tanks. Over his shoulder, in a and holding his breath and timing the revvs. You never leaned the mixture, frightened glance, he saw that Duke was AIR TRAILS 87 crowding close behind him; Duke was bog, at least three miles from any road and slapped him in the jug. When they going to pass him in a moment now. or highway. get around to it, they’ll deport him. Then, in a vast gratitude, he saw the Five hours later, under the brilliant Kid, you should have told Gwen, so we grand stand flash underneath his wing, stars, he met the searching party, com­ could have started to help you sooner. and knew that he hffd won the race. ing after him. For a moment of alarm, One thing you want to learn is that a But he had no time to think of that. he thought it was Gerro. and he shrank woman’s going to find out everything Flame was eating back along the fuse­ back into the darkness and swamp grass. about you, anyhow, so you’ll save a lot lage, and it was getting hot inside the Then he recognized Dan Gibbs’ boom- of trouble if you just tell her everything cockpit. Johnny zoomed breathlessly, ing voice, and reemerging, showed him­ in the beginning.” without power, riding out his speed. self. Dan, it developed, had brought In the starlight ahead Johnny could There was no lift left in the shattered two policemen with him. see the vague outlines of automobiles engine. To get away from the snarling “You hiding from that Cuban?” Dan against the sky. It was reassuring to planes behind him. lie turned toward the asked. know that Gwen was waiting for him west. It was downwind, and swamp “That was the general intention,” there. “I guess maybe you’re right,” he said land lay in that direction; but he Johnny said, relieved. couldn’t turn east because the airport to Dan. “Forget him.” Dan said, puffing from was crowded with pedestrians. “Sure, I’m right,” Dan said. “Well, exertion. “He made the mistake of tell­ To get out of this alive he had to kid, I got sucked in for rebel bait be­ ing an Englishman that he was going to zoom high enough, on speed alone, with­ cause I got down off the wagon, so I bump you off to make sure of that crazy out power, to be able to use his para­ guess I’ll get back on again. This time chute. He wasn’t sure he could. He bet of mine. Courtney was a white I really mean it!” man, and that was just too much for wasn’t even sure he would be able to Johnny grinned. He had known Dan get out. him. He was Gerro’s front, trying to Gibbs for ten years. “Sure,” he said. Smoke was choking him now. Flame buy the circus. I don’t remember the This burst of temperance might last a scorched his face and hands, until he details, but they say I wouldn’t sell the month, six months or even a year. But couldn’t/“Stand it. Even if he died, he circus but I bet on your taking the Ben­ sooner or later Dan would climb down had to get out. He clawed his way over son Trophy go. Why didn’t you tell again, “to try his legs.” the cockpit rim, blinded by smoke, and me about this Gerro’s threat, kid?” When that happened, he might try kicked away. The plane was gone in­ “I tried to tell you,” Johnny said, to buy the White House, or decide he stantly. He pulled his rip cord and the “but I couldn’t find you.” Relieved of was a Cuban general himself. But it parachute boomed open dully. The fear and worry, Johnny was suddenly was all right—doing it, lie would pro­ sweet air was caressing to his lungs, and uncndurably exhausted. vide excitement. Dan never did the he didn’t notice until he was almost to “I spent the night with Courtney same thing twice, at any rate. Around the ground that he was going to land looking for Gerro—and all the next Dan, you needn’t ever worry about in the exact center of a tremendous morning,” Dan said. “We found him monotony, or about being bored! THE FOKKER C 1 (Continued from page 48)

Cover the bifuselagcs first. One, as thinned half the original consistency, and ends. The model must balance along example: cover top, then bottom be­ must be lacquer, instead of dope. Dopes the main spar. tween Bl and B3; top, then bottom be­ will ruin the sheet covering. One light Make the first glide and power tests tween B3 and Bi, ami all around be­ coat sprayed on should suffice, whereas, in a field of tall grass. If tall grass is tween Bl and B.5. Make paper patterns by brushing, two heavy coats might not available, make the tests r.o.g.. grad­ of each section before cutting Vo/’ show streaks. ually increasing the number of motor sheet. The patterns can then be used Remove the masking and brush on the turns until perfect adjustments have on the other frame. “imaginary insignia” of red and white been m ade. The cabin is simple to cover to the bands, "where indicated. Now cement bottom of the wing, but make paper the celluloid parts on, the tail wheel, MATERIAL LIST (full length) patterns first. The bot­ aluminium tube guns. Paint tires and 1 cabin nose block l% xl% x2" tom should be covered with full-length motor fronts black. 2 fuselage form blocks % xl% xl% " “barrel stave” shaped strips of 1/ 32// G propeller blocks %xlx2% PROPELLERS sheet, about 3/ s" wide, starting at the 8 7 ιο χ1/8Χΐ8" strips center of the bottom. Note on Drawing 1 the provision made 18 Vie^sq.xie" strips Cement the landing gear in place. to increase the endurance of the flying 2 0 1/ 6 4 x 2 x 18" sheets Cement the cowls and forms to the model, by adding special nosings to the 2 1/ 3 2 x2 x 1 8 " sheets bifusclagc and the nosing to the cabin. motor fronts, so 3/ s" longer props can 2 V,ex2xl8" sheets l)e used. 1 5/&x2x5" sheet COLORING AND DETAIL Make C propeller blanks; cement 3 1 oz. tube model cement Spray the whole model with clear together to make the two three-blade 12 ft. Λ/% ' flat rubber lacquer thinned to */2 and 1/2. Lot it blanks. Carve one left-handed propel­ 18" #14 music wire dry and then sand all over with fine ler and one right. When cementing the 6" #12 music wire paper. Mark the spaces for the insignia profiler shafts on, bend winding loops 4" #8 music wire colors and mask over them with mask­ on the front. 2 SxG" celluloid sheets ing tape or in a similar manner. Cement 2 oz. blue lacquer FLYING THE MODEL on all detail except cannons and cellu­ 1 oz. clear lacquer loid parts. If cut-out observer’s win­ The original model weighs 2 oz., ready 3 oz. thinner dows are preferred, cut them now. to fly, with each propeller powered by 2 dram each red, white, black lacquer The whole model is now sprayed with G strands of flat lubricated rubber. 6" 7 |β" alum tube a hand spray (or professional gun. if After installing the rubber, lightly ce­ 2" 8/ 32" alum tube available). The color is “U. S. blue,” ment the tail assembly to the bifuselage 6 friction washers . : - .·

88 AIR TRAILS / / \ \ DEAR HARRY- (Continued from page 28) Anil allow me to say that I am going wouldn’t donate a $10 prize for noth- warmed up. No. 7 is the only one left • 99 to win that race.” mg- to make its appearance. With which words I stroll away, fol­ “He can’t have,” Crosby, himself, as­ “Where’s your ship?” Crosby de­ lowed for some distance by Bronx serts. “You know as well as I do that m ands. cheers. No. 7 couldn't win a race with a turtle. “It’s not quite ready,” I answer. “But Crosby ami Crosby’s gang arc not And according to the rules lie’s got to I’ll get away on the scheduled time, or through yet. Next day they seek con­ fly No. 7 anti no other ship.” close to it.” versation with me again. Just then somebody rushes into the According to the rules, the planes “Sterling,” Crosby says with a smirk, hangar. are to hop off at intervals. The win­ “we’ve been thinking things over and “Hey, I’ve got some dojH* on Ster­ ner will be the pilot who makes the best have conic to the conclusion that there ling!” he yells. time over the course. Crosby is to take ought to lie ri prize for the winner of All attention is turned to the new­ off first. I am to take off last. the air race. Seeing as you’ll be flying comer. Crosby gets away. Down the field he the fastest ship”—chuckles break out at “What is it? What’vc you found goes and lifts his ship into the air. this point—“and will have the best out?” Crosby snaps. Shortly after the second plane leaves chance of winning, why don’t you put “I’ve found out,” comes the answer, the earth, then the third, fourth, fifth up a prize?” “that the mechanics arc working on —and sixth. But the sixth does not get G eneral haw -haw s fill th e air. No. 7. They’ve got the crate in an far. Too eager to get going, Crosbyite I wait till some measure of silence emptv hangar and arc keeping the doors Benton takes off with a very short run. has fallen and deliver myself of speech. locked.” The ship sinks and Benton tries to rem­ “The idea is entirely agreeable to me. Silence reigns for a second. edy his error with a good bounce off the I’ll see Norwood and give him $10, “So,” Crosby sneers. “Well, that’ll ground. The plane bounces all right, which he can hand to the winner of do Sterling a fat lot of good. The me­ but also blows a tire, ground loops and the race.” chanics can work on that ship till it bends a wheel. That sobers the Crosbyites. They falls apart, but it’ll never be any bet­ Benton, plenty peeved at being out of stare in a very surprised fashion and can ter than it is now.” the race, stalks up to me. think of nothing to say. I depart for The meeting breaks up. “Well, anyway. I m i g h t have won the Norwood's office and put up the $10— race.” he growls. “You can’t possibly Time speeds by. The mechs continue every last cent I have in the world, by win. Where’s your plane?” working on No. 7 behind bolted doors. the way. At that moment old No. 7 is pushed Every so often I insjicct the crate to Some time later I am walking by a out of the hangar and trundled up to see what progress is being made. hangar when I hear voices inside. It is the line. The motor bursts into a Crosby and his henchmen, arguing heat­ Comes—the day of the race! healthy roar. At the sound. Benton edly. There are to lie 7 planes in the con­ stares hard. “Sterling must have something up his test. As the hour of the take-off ap­ “Hey—what—is that a new motor?” sleeve.” one of them is saying. “He proaches. arc rolled to the line and he blurts. “It is,” I yell over my shoulder as I sprint for the ship. And so the secret comes out. Not only has a new motor l>ecn installed in No. 7, but the new m otor is m o r e powerful than the old. You see Norwood had obtained a new and heavier motor for No. 7 some time !>efore. H earing of it I had persuaded my friends, the mechanics, with Nor­ wood’s permission, to install the kicker at once and secretly. “Hey, this isn’t fair,” Benton hollers at the side of the cockpit. “Nothing in the rules that says it isn’t,” I holler back, and open the throttle. The motor talks out loud and the backwash blows Benton away. Down the field I tear, and into the sky I climb. Boy! What power there is in old No. 7 now! I level off and let ’er go. The needle of the air-speed meter walks across the dial to an all-time high. It isn’t long before the first plane comes in sight. Apparently the pilot is having trouble, for he is making a low number of m.p.h.’s. He looks up sourly as I breeze by, evidently not noticing the item of my brand-new motor. The second ship heaves in view. I bear down on it and fly wing to wing for a few seconds. This pilot looks at me in astonishment, and instantly ob- AIR TRAILS 89 serves the strange power plant in No. 7’s surely be a revenge attempt directed at big plane, but my hand falls, while my nose. He gasped, and that is all I can m y head. mouth drops o|>cn at the same time. record of his actions, as just then I crack My hunch is correct, but, even so, I The transport is gone! In its place on the gun and leave him in the distance. am caught off guard. is a light plane, a ship with a motor­ After this victory I retard the throt­ To go back a bit, one day upon land­ cycle engine, |>assengcr-carrying capacity tle and look at my watch. There is to ing in a near-by town I made the ac­ of one, and speed of maybe 60 miles an be a grand finale to this race and it quaintance of the members of an avia­ hour. Am I embarrassed! must be timed right. tion club. The members of this club I become aware that some one is After a while I open up again and range in age from I t to 44, but they speaking to me. It is the president of hit top speed. Three planes remain are all flying fans and listen with great the club. ahead. I spot one, pass it nonchalantly, interest to my stories of air-school expe­ “Mr. Sterling,” he says in a north- spot a second and pass it with a wave. riences when I address them at their pole voice fairly dripping icicles, “it Now only Crosby is left to be van- meetings (didn’t know I was a lecturer, seems that you have brought us here cpiishcd. I lean forward in the cockpit did y o u ?). simply for the purpose of playing a as I search for his ship. When an 800-horse-powcr superspeed joke, and a childish joke, I might add. T here it is! transport plane comes into the Skyways On the part of the members and my­ Yes, there it is, but my timing is field I immediately think of the avia­ self I wish to say that we will dispense faulty. The Hartiand Airport is in tion club. Would they like to sec this hereafter with your visits to our club­ sight and Crosby is gliding down for a transport! Right away I contact Nor­ house.” landing. He must not' get there first! wood to sec if I can borrow the plane. And despite my attempted explana­ I am up fairly high. Forward with Norwood’s verdict is O. K. and he dele­ tions they all leave the field. the stick and into a steep dive with the gates Kinley to fly it for me. I have I stand there a moment after their motor thundering full out. The whistle not as yet reached the point where I departure and suddenly hear gleeful of the wires rises sharply. can fly transports. Over we go, after laughter. Crosby is 1,000 feet ahead—500—100. I have telephoned and found that the It is Crosby and his followers! I sweep past him with a roar and go club is in session. In a flash I see it all. Getting wind down to a landing. All I can see in Arrived at the field, Kinley departs of my trip and its purpose, they fol­ the instant of passing is Crosby’s up- for the hangars and I depart for the lowed ami attended to the replacing of flung head and amazed face. clubhouse. There I give the assembled the transport with the light plane. That night all the students gather to members a description of the high-pow­ Sweet revenge for my winning of the see the awarding of the prize. Crosby ered ship, tell of its tremendous speed, air race. and his henchmen talk themselves into huge motor and large cabin; generally With the sound of their cackles in my exhaustion trying to convince Norwood whet their appetites for an inspection of ears. I go hastily away from there. that the race was not fair because of the plane. Then I lead the whole bunch Well, eventually I make up with the No. 7’s more powerful motor. Norwood back to the field. aviation club. Kinley vouches for my listens attentively and then speaks. As we arc about to round the corner good intentions and we bring the trans- “It is my judgment,” he says, trying of the hangar and bring the transport |M>rt over again for their inspection. But hard not to smile, “that no rule of the into view, I am talking thus: “This my ears still burn when I think of the race was broken by Sterling. There­ ship is outstanding among the commer­ triek Crosby and his henchmen played fore, I present the prbse money to him.” cial aircraft of the world. With its on inc. And that is that. But, oh my!— superpowerful motor, exceptional passen­ Oh, well—maybe—just maybe—I will the grating of teeth from the Crosby- ger-carrying capacity and high speed itl in the future find a chance to pull some­ ites can be heard all over the room. I is unequalcd-----” thing on the Crosbyites which will make make a mental note to be on the alert We round the corner. their ears burn. And so—till my next after this, for I feel that there will I throw out my hand to point to the letter, Yours, Steve. TAKE IT A R O U N D (Continued from page 26) ability on my “three-flag” record run having to land at Mexicali. To make ing altitude. At seven thousand feet from Canada to Mexico in eleven hours, Mexico City before dark, I would have I leveled off. swung to a southerly one minute. She had been groomed for to take off for Ilermosillo at midnight course and settled down for the night. a tough grind. and fly all night without beacons or The moon seemed my only friend, for Other equipment besides the ordinary check points. There is no night flying as the minutes passed so did California engine instruments, magnetic compass, at present in Mexico, even by the trans­ and our last check mark—the lx*acon altimeter and air-speed indicator was a port companies, because there are no on the Fan American field at Mexicali. parachute, pistol flares for night flying, facilities. The long night lay ahead. Nothing navigation accessories, some seventy- At eleven the weather started to close but the moon and instruments showed, odd maps, and a Jones Brothers’ aviga- in. I was more than anxious to leave and even the moon scheduled to set in tor, probably the most important aid to ljecause the take-off had already l>een another hour. All I could do was sit navigation (excluding maps) I had, for delayed almost two weeks. The com­ and hope. Everything depended so I carried no radio. manding officer cleared me (an army much on this first leg—whether or not I had spent many nights checking regulation where civilian aircraft is con­ I could hit that little town of Ilermosillo and rechecking maps of the route. With cerned) and gave me a final weather just a few minutes after dawn. hardly any auxiliary fields and plenty of report. At regular intervals I’d check the fuel “graveyard” country, I felt that this The blocks were pulled and I pushed gauges with my flashlights and wabble particular phase of the preparations the throttle forward at exactly eleven gas from the reserve tank in the fuselage could stand plenty of overtime thought. thirty-four. The Mcnasco growled into up to the main tanks in the wings. The Los Angeles Junior Chamber of the night air as the ship began to roll I made another course change, this Commerce sponsored my flight and ar­ along, gathering speed gradually. time eleven degrees, to allow for the ranged for me to clear customs and im­ In just ten minutes fog closed the twenty-two-mile-an-hour westerly out of migrations at Mexico City, instead of field in tight, while I was slowly gain­ Guavmas. Slowly the eastern sky

• 90 AIR TRAILS grayed. Dawn at last! I craned for a direction. In Africa it's bright beads Gulf for New Orleans, with nothing but possible glimpse of the railroad which that attract the native eye, while in water and a long afternoon to anticipate. runs into the little town at a thirty- Mexico it’s flashlights. I found them to The light-green water along the coast degree angle. Smoke appeared off in be a source of wonderment to these al­ changed to a deep blue, and now we were the distance. I felt thrilled, for it must most wild Indians, when I took the well on our way over the “drink.” be a train. As the smoke came closer a flashlights out to look over the ship for During the afternoon I pulled up as village appeared like a mirage and Her- possible damage. By morning the lights high as ten thousand feet and back mosillo rolled directly under the nose. had all been given away, along with down again to within a few feet of the I couldn’t make myself believe it until I many other articles, as the price of get­ water. sighted Pan American’s field and saw ting a runway built. At times I had a more secure feeling the attendants run out to refuel us. It would be a dangerous take-off; when we were flying high above the With this first hazardous leg over I felt there was no escaping that! The im­ clouds and the water was not visible certain of making Mexico City. provised runway was too short and it below. Everything was going smoothly. After a fast refueling I was in the air woidd l)c necessary to strip the plane of I was afraid to speak now for fear of again and headed for Mazatlán. Every­ every extra ounce of weight. More than breaking the charm that had kept the thing was as smooth as glass as I two hundred pounds of gasoline was motor running so smoothly. skimmed over the mountain pusses, and drained, baggage and extra oil unloaded Suddenly I glanced up to discover my I soon became drowsy. Before I knew and many parts dismantled and taken compass had taken time out. and over it I had fallen asleep and awakened in off the ship, including the pants. Every­ the Gulf of all places! Another hour time to catch the ship in a slow right thing was placed on burros then, and passed—now we were almost five hours spiral, headed for a mountain peak. I started over a rough trail for Maravatio. out. rolled the stabilizer back so that if I a village on the Slid Pacific Railroad, Point Tigre was to have been the first went to sleep again the ship would auto­ where I shipped the things to Mexico land fall at four and a half hours. It matically assume a climbing angle. City and sent word there that I was was almost dark as I began changing to About five hours had passed when I O. K. anti would soon proceed to the a northerly course by fifteen-degree in­ sighted the sub-tropical city of Mazat­ capital. tervals. lán. A quick army one-hundred-and- I landed at Valbucna Field in Mexico Although I felt certain of my ]>osition, cighty-degree and we were on the field. City just sixteen hours, eleven minutes I wanted to sight land before dark. I lost valuable time refueling, because flying time out of Los Angeles. The situation was becoming tense. I their hose wouldn’t fit the tanks and Here I was received by the President picked up the lights of a ship, the only drums had to 1)C rolled from the stock of Mexico at the national palace. Com­ one sighted during the crossing, and room. When we took off, the hour’s mander Fierro and the officers of the took a bearing from its wake, setting a safety factor I had allowed myself to get Mexican air cor]>s gave me a luncheon new course for New Orleans. into Mexico City before dark was now at Chnpultepec and made my stay a With the gasoline supply fading rap­ gone. very enjoyable one. idly, we reached the coast line and I chose a direct course between Mazat­ Between weather which prevented headed in over the alligator-infested lán and Mexico City with Guadalajara flying, and hospitality which prevented swamps. It was a good hour’s flight the first check mark, three hours away. leaving, I stayed two weeks instead of to New Orleans if I were steering the It was as bad a country as any one the two days I had originally planned. right course, and I only had an hour’s could choose to fly over and was without But on a Sunday night a promising supply of gas left. I hated the thought check marks or emergency fields. Soon weather re]>ort was radioed through from of leaving Yankee Boy, but there I was over the famous barrancos, moun­ Brownsville, allowing me strong tail seemed no other way. tain cuts. It was graveyard country winds all the way to New York. A forced landing in these swamps in and in case of motor failure one would Early morning had been chosen for the the day time would be hazardous at have to trust to his parachute. take-off, for at this time the air is best, but at night it would be practi­ cooler and heavier. It is a difficult task cally an impossibility, even with the aid Guadalajara was logged as we passed to take a plane, heavily loaded, off the M to the north. The last leg was of flares. Still no sight of New Orleans! ground at sea level, but at this altitude I was waiting for the gas to run out if over. The sun was dropping it requires extreme caution and careful .. ,t was just about dark when we and was going to trust to my para­ judgment. Another final check of con­ chute. It would l>c a sad finish after we passed over a small cornfield an hour trols, instruments, motor and magnetos, later. The Mexico City beacon had had come so far together. If I could and when the engine reached its maxi­ only pick up some lights in any direc­ lx*en turned on for us. It was located mum r.p.m., I released the brakes and about fifteen miles west of the city, and tion. I would still have a chance to get we started to roll. Yankee Boy down. in good weather it might possibly be It was afternoon when we left Cor­ sighted as far as seventy miles out. I pus Christi and started out over the Lights! continued in the hope of catching a There was no mistaking them—just glimpse of it. Ten minutes farther and ten degrees starboard and lots of them. still no beacon, so I turned around and They just hail to be those of New Or­ headed for the cornfield while I could leans. With the motor throttled back, yet see. my plane slid in over the queen city of It was well-plowed and filled with the Southland. Never did anything burros. A bit of “cowboy flying” fixed look so good as the green-and-red lights the burro part of it and I was ready to of Shushan Airport that night. try the landing, figuring for nothing less At the airport I was informed by the than a nosc-up if I were lucky. Yankee mechanics that I had just three gallons Boy, with a decidedly indifferent atti­ of fuel left in the tanks, a bare few tude toward it all. stuck his nose in the minutes in the air. As I checked over air and sat down without even wrin­ the ship, prior to taking off. I found kling his pants. the patched inner tube I had carried A few minutes after landing, the ship ns a life preserver lying flat behind the was surrounded by Indian peons,'who tanks. had come out of the hills from every My next stop, Atlanta, furnished a AIR TRAILS 91 surprise, also. When the flood lights By this time Yankee Boy's motor a low spot where, with the tail into the were turned on as I circled the field, had been thoroughly gone over and I wind, I anchored it by lashing the para­ I noticed a large crowd of people gath­ took off for Washington and the White chute under the tail wheel. ered at the administration building. House, where I delivered the letter of I remained with the ship all night, Upon landing, the crowd surrounded good will from President Cardenas. in the cold weather. In the morning I the ship and three men introduced them­ Then I stuck the nose out ever the wandered off toward the east and picked selves as customs officials and informed Alleghenies and headed west, choosing a stream which I followed down to a me I had entered the country illegally. the northern route to the coast by way ranch house. Lack of facilities there I was certain everything had been of Cleveland, Chanutc Field, Rantoul, prevented my communication with any taken care of by the Camara de Cqmcr- Omaha and Cheyenne. oneN so, with two ranchers, I returned cia in Mexico City. They were deter­ Thirty miles out of Cheyenne, what and got the motor started. mined to end my flight for the night had been a normal head wind turned To get off, it was necessary to strip when some one in the crowd asked if suddenly into a strong down draft the ship of flares, baggage, oil, a few I didn’t know any one in Atlanta. Yes, whipped by a seventy-five-milc-an-hour parts and instruments. Besides all that, of course, I knew Louisa Roberts, daugh­ wind. This section of the Rockies is more than four hundred and fifty pounds ter of I^aurence L. Roberts, assistant famous for its down drafts, caused by of gasoline had to be «lumped before I secretary of the treasury, and in just a winds blowing over the “hogbacks.” tried to get in the air. The heavy load and the high altitude few minutes they had called her to the My first attempt resulted in being phone. Ten minutes after she had made it impossible to get more than forced back down by the same down talked with the officials, I was again two hundred feet of altitude at any drafts, and one of the ranchers re­ riding the beacons. time. Time and again the ship “dropped marked, “You sure looked like you had After hours of rain, which sometimes out” and only the “ground cushion” your feathers plucked that time, son.” almost forced me to the ground, I averted a crack-up. sighted the lower bay and Manhattan At times I was turning down ravines The second attempt proved more suc­ out of the dense haze. Before me lay to keep from hitting the ground. To cessful, for I was able to get enough big and l)cautiful Floyd Bennett Field turn back with this strong wind and altitude to turn out of the hogbacks. and, with a quick circle and a slip, I heavy load would be hazardous, and to I continued on to Cheyenne. landed, twenty-two hours, four minutes continue was impossible. So, there was As Yankee Boy headed in over South ­ flying time from Mexico City. but one solution—to land. ern California. I sighted March Field. I was the guest of the city of Newark My field proved to be the side of a The Lake Norconian Club appeared during my stay and was received by mountain, and as soon as I cut the over the left wing tip and shortly later Mayor Ellenstein at the Newark City throttle the ship would start to roll the Los Angeles City Hall appeared to Hall. I was given a medal by the mayor back. I stopped the engine and jumped the right. Then cume the University and a cup by the Junior Chamber of out to hold on to a wing in the hope of Southern California campus, and in Commerce. From there I went to the that the ship wouldn’t blow away. By another few minutes we were crossing New York City Hall and met Mayor jockeying the wing into the wind, I was Municipal Airport. LaGuardia. himself a former flier. able to get the plane down the hill to Home again! THE REAPER (Continued from page 31) characteristics of these guns are as fol­ The G-l may be adapted to a variety dable, but also relieves the pilot of much lows: of uses. As a pursuit plane, equipped of the wireless and instrument work that with the above-mentioned armament distracts the single-seater pilot from his Total length 6 ft. 9 in. plus eight hundred and eight pounds of real job of fighting. “ weight 114.4 lbs. bombs, it hits a maximum speed of There’s no doubt of the military effi­ Rate of fire 400 rounds per min. ‘291.87 m.p.li., has a range of 869.4 miles. ciency of the Reaper, despite its unusual Weight of cartridge 340 gr. With the same equipment, the ship features. “ “ link 35 gr. makes a formidable ground-attack plane. Specifications and Performance “ “ projectile 173 gr. For reconnoissancc use, the two cannons D im e n s io n s : “ ** explosive charge 17 gr. in the nose may be removed, thereby Span 5 4 ' IV * ·" Length 3 3 ' O 'Y a " materially inereasing the fuel load. Height 1 1 ' »A * Area (lifting surface) 384.274 »<]. ft. The projectile is equip|>ed with an ex­ Provision is made for installing photo­ E n g in e s : tremely sensitive contact cap and is set graphic apparatus in the rear cockpit. Hest altitude 11,480 ft. Maximum power to explode automatically after ten sec­ The great speed of the G-l, plus this (2.400 r.p.m.) 2X750 h.p. Cruising power onds, in case of a miss. increased range (993.6 miles) permits (1,900 r.p.m.) 2X375 h.p. The rear section of the fuselage con­ strategic reconnoissance over an ex­ Speed : Maximum (11.480 ft.) 291.87 m.p.h. sists of a gunner’s poet completely in­ tended territory and lessens the ship’s Cruising (11.480 " ) 2 1 7 .3 5 ...... closed in a streamlined transparent tur­ vulnerability to antiaircraft guns and C l im ii : 8,280 ft. (1,000 m .) 1.0 min. ret tapering to a point. This turret hostile planes. Used as a light bomber, 0,500 " (2.000 " ) 3.25 '* contains a 7.9mm. machine gun and is the ship will take a fuel overload of 9.840 “ (3 .(KM) ·* ) 4.8 13,120 ·· (4.000 " ) 6.3 so mounted that it can be rotated in four hundred and forty pounds. This 10.400 ·* (5.000 ·· ) 8.05 “ 19.080 ·· (0.000 · · ) 10.3 “ any direction within 'he field of fire. increases its range (with 880 lbs. of 22.900 “ (7.000 ·· ) 13.4 The tail arrangement of the G-l per­ bombs) to 931.5 miles. 20,240 *' (8.000 " ) 18.1 Absolute ceiling 30.504 ft. mits the gunner to fire downward to the Tony Fokkcr’s new baby is no child Service " 29.520 " rear, thus eliminating the blind spot to fool around with. It can match Absolute “ (1 engine) 10.728 “ W e ig h t s : usually so fatal to conventional two- ninety per cent of the newest single- Empty weight 0.613.8 lbs. seaters. Well sheltered from the wind seaters when it comes to speed and Useful load 3.056.4 " Wins loading 25.102 lbs./sq. ft. stream in his glass inclosure, the gun­ maneuverability and is more heavily Power loading 0.5 Ibs./h.p. ner is able to swing his weapon with the armed than any small plane I know of. R a n g e : Pursuit 809.4 miles greatest ease and to fire with the great­ The addition of a rear gunner not only Light bomber 931.5 ** Reconnaissance est accuracy. makes the ship that much more formi­ (m axim um ) 993.0 “ 92 AIR TRAILS THE 1936 MULVIHILL WINNER (Continued from page 44)

boom to the stick at the indicated angle, height at the hub is about V s " · T he ex­ this article. He took it out for a few the elevator will have the correct set­ cess wood at the hub is cut away after test flights, to make sure he hadn’t lost ting. Cement it to the boom after it the blades have been cut to the desired his touch. And lie hadn’t—it flew out has been covered. If you want to thickness. The type of freewheeling is of sight on one of its test flights. But check this setting, the leading edge of a spring-and-catch type. However, your he had neglected to take photos, so he the elevator should be about 8/ l0" be­ favorite variety can be easily substi­ built^ another ship. Wisely, he took low the trailing edge. This setting is tuted. Three or four 3/ 10" washers arc photos before making any test flights. taken with the top of the motor stick used between the propeller and the But when I asked him for a detailed as the reference line. The rudder is thrust bearing. Washers are cemented list of weights for the article, he wrote cemented atop the elevator. The part to the hub of the profiler to protect it despondently that a short time after he of the rudder directly above the eleva­ against wear. The propeller is given 2 took the photos, he took the ship out tor is left uncovered. The sheet-balsa degrees negative and 2 degrees right for a few flights and—you know the rest part of the rudder is cemented to the thrust. Merely adjust the thrust hanger of his story. He lost it high in the l»ottom of the tail boom. to get the required angles. clouds. It was Luckett’s skill in building and PROPELLER FLYING flying which won the trophy. Yet he Luckett used a hard balsa propeller. The model is powered with 16 strands graciously acknowledges that he drew If this is your first large propeller, you of V s " A«!, brown rubber. About 5 from the common storehouse of knowl­ better substitute a medium-hard balsa inches of shack are used. The rubber edge which accumulated from the ex­ block. Being easier to carve, it will give will take about 720 turns. The model periments conducted by his fellow club you experience before you tackle the climbs in tight right circles and after the members. We’d like some of the ma­ more difficult hard-balsa propeller. The power cuts out. eases into a wide right terial in this storehouse of model knowl­ edge. With it, success in contests should block is shaped as shown in the draw­ circle. An estimate of the model’s climb is 225 feet under power, in calm, current- be easy. Last year the TuLsa boys ing. And then the blades arc cut. About free air. The propeller run is about 55 proved they had developed a formula Vs" camber is put into the rear face of to 65 seconds. for winning contests. The complete as­ each blade. The maximum blade thick­ Bruce lost his original model out of sortment of trophies and prizes they ness is abóut Vs"· The hub of the fin­ sight at 41m and 41s. But he made a took home from every meet is the evř' ished propeller is about V\" thick. The duplicate for the purpose of illustrating dcnce. MODERN MOTORS (Continued from page 34) The whole valve gear (marked No. be left to allow the full angular move­ piston positions must lie made. The 25) is in the nose section and all mov­ ment of the subsidiary rods at all piston pistons must all come to the proper top ing parts are inclosed. Tulip-tvpe inlet ]x;sitions. Thus the piston skirt must center at the proper angular interval valves are used and the exhaust valves be designed to meet all these conditions. passed through by the crank pin: the are hollow-stem sodium-cooled. There The same must be said for the lower stroke of each piston must be the same; are two springs to each valve. walls of the cylinder itself. and for production and other reasons The crank shaft is made up in 2 Secondly, in designing the connecting- the length of each link rod should be the pieces and is known as the clamp type. rod the engineer has to decide whether same. In order to obtain this, in spite It is made from chrome-nickel molyb­ he will use a divided big end with a of the peculiar motion of the rod, it is denum steel forgings. Somewhat simi­ one-piece crank shaft or use a solid big necessary to locate the knuckle pins at lar to the master rod in the rotary en­ end with a two-piece crank shaft. In slightly different radial distances from gine is the master rod used on radial the former, a one-piece crank case can the center of the master rod bearing engines. This is mounted on the crank be used, thus avoiding a joint in the with the angular spacing equal. This shaft in the same manner, and the link center, whereas, in the latter a split case variation in distance may not l>e greater rods are connected to the big end ring is a necessity, excepting in rare cases. than eight hundredths of an inch, but by nitrided-stocl knuckle pins. Some divided cranks suffer from oil it bears an extreme importance on the This master-rod and link-rod arrange­ leakage and often provide faulty noil- smoothness of the engine. ment in radial engines is probably the interchangeable fittings. However, manu­ So we see that while the radial engine most difficult feature, for in designing facturers like Bristol, Pratt & Whitney, to-day has many fine qualities, it is still the radial the engineer must consider and Wright, seem to have little trouble a most complicated mechanism. The the fact that he is first trying to place with divided cranks in which the single, crank-shaft, master-rod and the link-rod 7 or 9 cylinders in as compact a circle overhung crank can be made sufficiently systems demand the finest in mechanical as possible. He must also consider the strong enough for the duty involved design, care in assembling and the selec­ required number of cubic inches of dis­ and at the same time provide a second tion of materials. However, at the pres­ placement necessary to develop the re­ forward bearing for the propeller sup­ ent, the radial is probably the most quired h.p. He then has to find some port. efficient power plant for aircraft duty. suitable ratio between stroke and bore Once the designer has decided on the The radial is undergoing many changes. to give him a cylinder of such a size and type of master rod construction, he is We cannot foresee what lies ahead. The length that will fit all these points. then faced with the problem of locating designers arc attempting many things Then he must design a crank shaft, mas­ his link pins. While the crank shaft is with the radial design. We have seen ter rod and link rods to fit this maze of revolving, the master rod follows a nor­ what can be done with the so-called two- steel and aluminium. mal, connecting-rod path, but the sub­ row engine and what enormous power First, it is obvious that there is a sidiary rods have a peculiar motion and can be obtained by the use of super­ certain piston limitation, for room must a careful study of their positions at all chargers and high-compression systems. AIR TRAILS 93

Abroad they arc still trying out the cylinder or sleeve is timed to move up of all external valve gear add to the sleeve-valve radial. The Bristol ami down and register its exhaust and quietness of operation. “Aquila” and “Perseus” radials have intake ports with those in the side of Besides the sleeve-valve idea the radial been tried out under service conditions the main cylinder wall. This eliminates is also being considered as a basic design by the Imperial Airways, 4 of them all outer valve equipment, and, in an for the compression ignition, or Diesel being placed in use for a total of 1.505 aviation engine, naturally presents a par­ type. Bristol, the Czechoslovakian engine hours, during which no main­ ticularly clean outer api>earancc. Zod-2G0, the French Clcrget and the tenance of any sort was necessary. In operation the condition of the American Guiberson firms arc all work­ The sleeve valve is not particularly sleeves improves with use and the oil ing on radial-type Diesels. The Guibcr- pu/./.ling, for it has been in use, off and consumption becomes less, which is an son Engine Co., in Dallas, Texas, is on, in the automobile industry, for many im|H)rtant point in commercial aviation. working under government orders and in years. In general, it comprises a cylin­ The fuel consumption is substantially strict secrecy, developing a Diesel for lower than for corresponding engines em­ service work. Charles L. Lawrence is der having the intake and exhaust ports ploying the ordinary valve system. Cool­ likewise experimenting on Diesel for air­ near its head, a piston-inclosing cylinder ing and cowling problems are consider­ craft. movably fitting within the main cylin­ ably simplified by the clean and uncom­ Next month we will offer details and der, which acts as a valve and which is plicated external design. Low exhaust full information on the modern Diesel fitted with exhaust and inlet ports. In temperatures, which seem to be a fea­ engines which are being designe’d for ordinary motion, the inner, movable ture of sleeve valves, and the absence aircraft work. DESIGNING TO MEET NEW WAKEFIELD RULES (Continued from page 60) length and in this way increase the dura­ first place on the English (cam. I saw would be more efficient for gliding con­ tion. With such a set-up, it would be his ship in flight at Detroit. It flew like ditions. But experiments seem to indi­ necessary to use a slack rublx*r device a large airplane. It climbed nicely after cate that such a flap is of doubtful such as Judge used in his 1986 Wake­ a short take-off run. The usual zoom value. And, too. its installation would field winner. This slack rubber device and vertical climb that accompanies a involve a method of lowering. Its con­ prevents the motor from unwinding fully wound model was missing. The tribution to reduced sinking speed completely—keeping a few turns in the flight was steady and at the climb was hardly justifies using it. motor and preventing the slack rubber uniform and continued throughout most The only other approach toward the from moving backward or forward to of the flight. The fixed pitch propeller problem of a lower sinking speed is to change the balance of the model. dot's provide a tremendous rate of climb clean up the imxicl by using a folding The weight of the model could be under full power, but it docs this at the propeller and a retractable landing gear. kept as low as 8 ounces, with careful expense of efficiency. This decrease in resistance would flatten construction. This gives a rubber al­ But efficiency is not the only consider­ the glide. And since the velocity in the lowance of 5 ounces. Using 20 strands ation. An 8-ouncc model is not as glide would remain the same the sink­ of 1/4" flat rubber the motor length could maneuverable as a light-weight model. ing speed would Ixmefit. With a slower be made 55 inches. The average rub­ For that reason the most efficient flight sinking speed the model would be more ber length on 4-ounce models is about will be the one in which the plane never sensitive to thermals. And despite the 30 inches. Thus, with an 8-ounce model gets into any bad attitudes. The re­ increase in weight ruling, thermal cur­ the rubber length could be practically covery from the climb must be accom­ rents will still exert considerable influ­ doubled and still keep within the weight. plished without any stall or loss of alti­ ence on contest results. This increase in rubber length means tude. Any violent maneuver during the From calculations and experiments the numlxr of turns can be increased. beginning of a flight will result in either we’ve concluded that a single motor The additional length will more than a crash or a short flight. It’s unlikely without gearing is the ideal set-up. Its compensate for the JA decrease in the if the model can recover from a stall duration is good; it is simple to hand’ number of turns which can l>c stored in and still have enough power and alti­ in contests; and it can lx· relied on a unit length of a 20-strand motor. tude remaining to give a good perform­ turn in consistent flights. Gears l An adjustable pitch propeller would ance. The variable pitch propeller considerably to the weight of the model, be an attractive addition to this type should help smooth out this initial burst which necessitates reduction in the model. 20 strands of *4" rubber de­ of power and give the model a steadier amount of rubber or imposing a handi­ livers such a variation in torque that the and more efficient climb. cap on your model by building above propeller should lx? of variable pitch to And now for the attack on the prob­ the 8-ouncc minimum requirement. make the most of the power. An ad­ lem of reducing the sinking speed. One Then, t

covered in one piece. However, if this is MILES M OHAW K not possible, the center section may be (Continued from page 58) covered first anti the tips afterward. The lower surface may then be covered Mount the small tail wheel either free ship, is done with the aid of masking easily. The clips arc of the double type, to turn or permanently attached by a tape if best results are expected. in order to distribute the stress. This is pin. necessary, as the spars to which they PAINTING THE MODEL BILL OF MATERIAL arc attached are so small. They should Give the entire ship a coat of hite 1 Gxlx%" balsa block be cemented into place after the film shellac or clear varnish, to fill the pores 1 2x%xl0" sheet or block balsa has been trimmed. The wing is then and sand, after due allowance has been 1 3/ 82χ 2 χ 6 " sheet balsa completely finished. made for drying. Repeat the process 1 scrap of Y\" sheet As a chief object of the wing is to as many times as thought proper for the 1 pair Vo" wheels test its efficiency, it would lie ideal to finish. Paint the fuselage and landing 1 V& oz. bottle cement fly it on some suitable model you now legs black and the wings and tail sur­ 1 small can clear varnish or white shellac have, in order that its jierformancc faces orange, using one or more coats 1 Ys" dowel might be compared. However, if no ns desired. Striping, orange on the real Pins and paints as required model is available, the tail, motor stick, and propeller, which will be described, will Ik * suitable. You may draw your conclusions from general performance of THE MODEL WORKSHOP models of this size. Or you might build (Continued from page 41) a conventional wing to fit the model and thought it would l>e interesting to in­ is completed it is put on the scales. make your comparison on that basis. crease the wing area of the model after Nervously, the modeler moves the MOTOR STICK AND BOOM the propeller stopped. You’ll probably weight out along the beam. If the beam dismiss this idea. But just mention it balances a few thousandths of an ounce The motor stick is built in the con­ to a gadget expert. After a few min­ less than he planned, lie’s successful. ventional way. A blank 1" tapered to utes’ serious thinking, lie’ll sketch a But it’s a disgruntled modeler who %xl4" of 1/32" balsa is bent around a method for increasing wing area. It walks back to the workbench with a former, bound with tape, and dried over will probably l>c a maze of triggers, part that is a few thousandths over­ a radiator or in an oven. After remov- , springs, and automatic levers. But to weight. ing the bandage, and tlic fonned blank the gadget expert it represents the real But this quest for reduced weight has. from the former, cement the seam and thrill in modeling. sand the stick lightly. Cement the brought remarkable progress. Likewise, thrust bearing, rear hook, and can in The indoor builder is probably the all of the other types of builders are re­ most peculiar of all types. He quickly place and let dry. sponsible for equally important develop­ develops a weight mania. All his mod­ T he lx>om is m ade of balsa blank eling hours arc haunted by the specter ments. With different technique and %" ta|>ered to %" and 10" long. It is of the scales. Its cold-blooded accuracy varied objective, each strives toward his made in exactly the same way as the determines the success of his model. As goal, adding his portion to the general motor stick anti is cemented to it so that soon as each part of a new indoor ship fund of knowledge. the rear edge is V s " above the front. TAIL AND RUDDER The tail and rudder are single-sur­ DOUBLE-SURFACED TRACTOR faced, as we are testing the efficiency of (Continued from page 54) the wing and. therefore, it is only fair that they lx? single-surfaced so that the .‘1 preceding wings: namely, the ten- main spar of the center section in place results of the test might be compared *ency to floppincss, and the poorer wing (seam on bottom). The main sj>ar is fairly. tion of the original monospar. matle by bending a blank of %xl2" The tail is made in two halves. Make 4-i>ounri balsa */w" sanded, around a a cardboard template of the rudder and WING form er Υ ^ χ Υ ^ χ 12" edges rounded. Ce­ half the tail. Bend strips of soft balsa -'''The swept-forward elliptical wing ment the dihedral in the tip sections VsoxVw" around these formers, one for consists of a main spar and a light lead­ and add main spars of 1/·* ο " sq· to the each half of the tail and one for the ing and trailing edge. The wing is con­ tips section. Cement the lower ribs in rudder. Pin the outlines down to a structed as follows: Pin the l/.,0" sq. the places designated on the drawing by full-size drawing and cement the ribs leading and trailing edges on a full-size dotted lines. The wing is now ready into place. Cover the tail and rudder drawing. Cement the upper ribs in for covering. and then cement them to the Ικκηη, place. When this is dry cement the The top is covered first. It should lie making sure that the tail and rudder are perixmdicular to each other and that the tail is parallel to the center section of the wing. PROPELLER Any projxdler 15 inches in diameter and between 24" and 30" pitch would be suitable. If you do not have one, or cannot beg. borrow, or steal one, you might carve one from a scmicarved blank 15 inches in diameter and the pitch diameter ratio of l.G. If you wish to carve a block, one—of the dimensions of 15x1x1%"—should do the trick. A shape similar to that of the full-size AIR TRAILS 95

drawing should be used. Fit the pro­ cent chord point of the wing at the cen­ tests should begin. Comparative tests peller with a wire shaft .01G" in diame­ ter of gravity and glide the plane. The on rate of climb, ceiling, and power re­ ter and with a brass washer. It is im­ model should glide well. If it has a quired, and whether or not the speed portant that this propeller be balanced tendency to stall, move the wing back­ of the model seems to increase should be and that it track. Any tendency to ward; if it has a tendency to dive, move noted. Remember, however, that the erratic flight uses energy and makes the the wing forward. Wind the model test of one wing is by no means con­ test unfair. about 500 turns and release it. If it clusive, as there are many facts which has a tendency to stall slightly at the have some bearing on the results but start, bend the thrust bearing down­ have not been considered, such as the ASSEMBLY AND FLYING ward. Increase the winds to a 1,000 difference in the weights of the doublc- Insert the propeller shaft into the and repeat the treatment if necessary. thrust bearing, and as the total weight Wind the model to almost full capacity and single-surfaced wings. of the model is about .0G0 ounces put a and release it. If it now has a tendency I should be glad to exchange ideas £0" loop of 3/ 32// rubber on. the rear to dive, bend the thrust bearing up and to hear of your results and opinions hook and shaft and balance the model somewhat to correct this. of your models of this type and other­ without the wing. Place the 40 per After the model is correctly set the wise. AIR PROGRESS (Continued from page 7) to know that the New Zealand air force Atlantic record of 13 hours 15 minutes MISCELLANEOUS is to be thoroughly reorganized under was broken recently by Mile. Maryše T he H erbert SchifT M em orial T rophy the direction of Wing Commander R. A. Bastic, a young Frenchwoman who cov­ was won this year by VN Squadron Cochrane/ The process will take about ered the distance in 12 hours 5 minutes. 8D5, which is attached to the U. S. 2 years. Mile. Bastic used a Caudron S i m o t tn , Naval Academy. The trophy was pre­ U. S. army air force airmen have been which was loaned to her by M. Cot, the sented to Lieut. Comdr. A. C. McFall, bombing Hawaii—with bombs contain­ French Air Minister. ing tree seeds. the squadron commander, by President Howard Hughes, who broke the air Roosevelt, at the White House, on Janu­ The 27th and the 94th Pursuit Squad­ record for flight between Los Angeles ary 14th. The express purpose of the rons of the First Pursuit Group are hav­ and Newark, averaged better than 5% donor was to stimulate interest in naval ing their Curtiss and Hoeing fighters re­ miles per minute. His plane is not the flying and at the same time to reduce placed by the new Consolidated PB-2a, same a§ the one he used for the former which, in their present form, arc two- speed flights, for it has had a new set of aviation accidents. seaters. A single-seater version of this wings fitted, which gave more lift and VN Squadron 8l)5 is maintained for same ship has also been built and is un­ better streamlining. the training and indoctrination of mid­ der test. This is one of the first moves David Llewellyn, the British- air racer, shipmen in connection with the general toward making two-seater fighter squad­ plans to fly from London to Capetown subject of aeronautics and is composed rons out of single-seater outfits. and return in 4 days. of the patrol ami seaplane types. To RACING AND RECORDS The latest model Wright Cyclone win the SchifT trophy the squadron flew It has been reported that Miss Jean G-100 motor is rated at 1,100 h.p. and a total of 4,154 hours and was in com­ Batten spent $11,000 on her flight from has actually turned out 1,205 h.p. from petition with 82 other naval aviation England to New Zealand. Her South 9 cylinders. activities. TRAGIC MEMORIAL (Continued from page 38) Verne. One spot on the lot is dedicated the result of crash or wreck. There arc pile of seats, of which the history was \ to the dream of an impractical inventor obsolete types and equipment in fairly known, the seats occupied by men were . who managed to raise $60,000 to build a good condition purchased by the proprie­ bent backward and those occupied by helicopter. At first glance it resembles tor for their historical value. Two of the women were bent forward. an oil derrick, with a train of huge steel motors which Balboni prizes are those Balboni’s customers come from every gears. This weighty structure was pow­ used by Glenn Martin in the first air walk of life and from every field of en­ ered with a 100 h.p. engine with which it meet in 1910. Another is the motor of deavor, but naturally the greater number was expected that the entire mass could Captain Charles Nungesser of the French are pilots and embryo aeronautical en­ be lifted vertically into the air. On the Army, an ace who was later lost in an gineers. He furnishes equipment for test flight the engine failed even to move attempt to fly the Atlantic. This motor groups constructing gliders, planes, and the structure and the backers practically powered a plane which Nungesser used so forth; museums and collectors are made a gift of it to Bnlboni. in shooting down eight enemy aircraft. continually poking around his plots and In his collection of propellers may be. It is only natural that the man who buildings looking for valuable additions found a hand-carved propeller used by has dissected more wrecks than any to their collections. Glenn Curtiss in his early experiments. other man in the world should evolve In his effort to maintain the atmos­ This one was carved from a single piece certain theories regarding crashes. His phere of his business, he has constructed of wood and was driven by a motorcycle most interesting theory seems to be sub­ the main building on his property from engine; the engine also is in the engine stantiated by the little evidence that is an old Clover Field hangar. On top of shed. World War pilots get a thrill in known. Balboni’s theory is that in the this building he has constructed a pent­ rambling among the wrecks, for they find event of a crash men invariably lean house where he and Anna live in peace old war-time Spads, Jennies, Thomas backward, while women do just the re­ and quiet, surrounded by the ghosts and Morse Scouts, Nicuports, and I)Hs. verse. Men will brace their feet, while shadows of gallant men and the skele­ Not all of the equipment, however, is women do not. In looking over a large tons of ships. 96 AIR TRAILS THE DISCUSSION CORNER (Continued from payc 56) I believe that the best possible color well in photographs and snapshots.----- seems to me that colored tissue is strong combination for an all-weather outdoor Eklend Anderson. Duluth. Minn. enough if the grain runs spanwisc. Be­ model is red and yellow—a red fuselage sides the advantage of visibility, models covered with colored tissue present a and tail assembly and a yellow wing. The use of “every color of the rain­ Yellow is a light color, therefore a very bow” is the best color combination on neat appearance.-----P eter Slap, Far good reflector, especially when doped. an all-weather outdoor model, for great­ Rockaway, N. Y. Red is a color that very seldom blends est visibility. Many models have been In my opinion, the best colors to keep with the sky, hence it tends to be con­ lost from the timer’s sight during flying a model within sight for the greatest spicuous. At a great distance, a red- contests because the colors of the model time arc as follows: the lower part of and-ycllow model can l>e kept in sight resemble their background so greatly the wing should be red. which makes for more easily because of these two factors. that they are not distinguishable. As a model of these colors circles in the good visibility on a clear day, when a To overcome this, I have found that model is banked against clouds or sky: distance, it will appear as a minute black it is best to divide the wing into four the tail should l>e white, which is more speck and then, just when you think you parts and cover every other part with a easily seen on a dull day; a bright yellow must have mistaken your model for a dark color and the remaining parts of bird, it will come around into the light is a good fuselage color, since it is easily the wing with a light color. The fuse­ visible and aids appearance: the top of and can be easily identified by a brilliant lage and the rest of the wing surfaces reflection. Due to the fact that I have the wing should lx* white with a red may be covered in similar manner.----- strijx* or chevron. This enables the been using red and yellow on my models Walter Caracciolo. Jackson Heights. model to be more easily located after for quite some time now and in all types Long Island. ______of weather. I have found that these col­ landing.------E dgar Francis. New Castle, ors wifi hold good.-----P aul J ohnson, In my opinion the best color scheme Pa. ______Tulsa. Oklahoma. for an all-weather outdoor model would 1 have discovered that red is the most be a dark blue or black for fuselage with visible color to the normal eye. but this Most builders favor colors such as bright yellow, orange or red for the color alone would not always suffice, black, red or blue, but I would say that wings and tail assembly. since a model does not only require a silver or aluminium would give the best It is rapidly becoming a hazard to color that is most visible, but in some results. Al>ovc altitudes of 800' these compete in a model meet (gas model> instances requires a color that is least rich colors lose their individuality and especially) for fear of losing sight of fatiguing to the eye. and that color T appear only as black. This is due to your model, just because the colors were have found is green. For gray skies, their inability to reflect sufficient light too light.----- M a l c o l m S m i t h . Minne­ such as appear during twilight, blue beyond such heights. apolis. Minn. ______would Ik? most easily visible. Aluminium has the greatest reflecting I have obtained satisfactory results Therefore, the best and most logical power of any practical model dope and from the pse of colored tissue on out­ color combination would be red ami would flash and sparkle at heights up to door models. The combination of red. green, and blue, if necessary. Red for several miles. We all know that a highly white and yellow can be seen in any its excellent visibility to the eye; green polished prop is readily seen while free­ weather. Models covered with colored localise of its restful effect on the eyes: wheeling at 1,000'. tissue are visible because the sun shines and blue, if necessary. l>ecausc of its ex­ Silver is the only color that does not through the paper. The color combina­ cellent visibility against a gray sky.----- appear in any kind of foliage and thus, tion that I use is a red wing and rudder, CiiESTER KiEWLAK, Shenandoah. Pa. models lost in the woods could be easily a white fuselage and a yellow stabilizer. distinguished among green or orange As to the strength of colored tissue: it Out of several color combinations I bushes, leaves and trees.------.Joe Bloom, have chosen those that I believe would Roxbury, Mass. I k? the best for all-weather visibility. December Contest One combination has its foundation in The best color scheme on an all- T h e following readers were winners in everyday life. Most signs, highway tlio I>ecenjbcr "(Jullible’» Travels” con­ warnings, center-line markings, ami leather outdoor model is a dark-blue test with the indicated number of al­ fuselage and bright-red or yellow wing low« Ide errors: others are either black or bright orange. First prize, $."*— Iternie Musur. Arjto. and tail surfaces. Models with this color Illinois, loo. To combine these. I would cover the Five prizes of $3--James Conway. fuselage black, with orange wings and scheme are very attractive and arc very Waterbury. Connecticut. DO: Kay L. easily seen. The dark-blue fuselage Meyer. Louisville. Kentucky, i»3: Har­ with a streamline trimming along the vey Hayes, Houston. Texas. !*3: Fran­ shows up against light-colored back­ cis Watyka. Johnstown, Pennsylvania. fuselage in orange tissue. Another com­ grounds and the bright red or yellow PI : Allan Down. Flaxcombe. Saskatche­ bination would Ik? to cover the fuselage wan. Canada, 00. against a dark-colored background. In Five prizes of $1— Mike Pykelny. with yellow tissue and with red wings. Cleveland, Ohio. 87: Edwin H. Hunt. winter both colors show up with striking Brooklyn. New York. 83: Donald White. I would also trim the profiler, landing Oakluml, California. 81 : John Weinset*. gear, and the other fittings in silver and contrast to the white snow. This color Chienijo. Illinois, 70: Orville Smith. scheme is very effective for gas models. Wenonah. New Jersey. 78. black.----- Lloyd Cooper. Collinsville; These colors also show up remarkably Illinois.

N Items for Secretaries, Contributors, Modelers, Correspondents, Readers. MODEL DISCUSSIONS, MODEL MAHERS, CONTEST CALENDAR, AIR ADVENTURERS DEPARMENT. 0 Due to the increasing number of entries mailed to the various departments, it has been necessary T for us to set a definite date os o dividing line between issues. This date is the 15th of each month. 1 Try to get your notices and announcements to this office before the middle of each month. For Example: All items received by March 15th will be in time for the June issue of AIR TRAILS, c on the newsstands May 12th. All items received between March 16th and April 15th will be avail­ E able for the July issue, on the stands June 9th. j Please bear the date in mind. We want to cooperate with you. Try to cooperate with us. — The Editor