THE PIGSKIN BAG” — Excitement follows Bill Barnes into the air. EATURES BY: PANGBORN-LIGHT-BOOTON-WINTER-CARLSON-TINSLEY TALK-SING - PLAY ELECTRIC EYE 25c IRWIN PROJECTOR H a n d s Pistol thru your own radio PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL Up! Cigarette BROADCAST your voice on prugramn coming through your radio set—mako an­ -3$Sik. o o o n s “Jj Case nouncements from any part of house —inject wise crack.·», josh and myetify friends.*'W orld Mike” made especially for home use, attached in a jiffy. Not a Toy. Also put on own pro­ gramu ot home, parties, club ™ř/- . WÍN00W5 affairs. Barrels of funí Ln»y v “sGii to o p e ra te . BELLS It looltn like n SHUT - A HOYIHE PICTURE PROJECTOR deadly weapon, PRICE 25c POSTPAID. m o • U tiriq IHWIN Safety Film boc it in merely The Electric Eye—Photoccll-!* one of the latest sci­ n novel C i K n - Johnson Smith & Co. entific discoveries that haa many practical uneii. Λ A real Electric Movie Machine for only 50c! Shows rotte C*»*. Dept,584, Detroit.Mich.*'·'·'"·^ asHash of light opens a garage, window, door, turns IieUer than the lights on or off, atop» or starts a motor, etc. Used In real thing in nil television sets. Tho miracle with a million uneat No pictures aa long as you likel Uses 2 fin-h.ightccllsob­ many nn awk­ oxperimentor. no inventor (and who Isn't?) should he tainable anywhere. Bright red enameled steel case, ward encounter. G reat fun C R YS TA L RADIO 25c without this latest scientific novelty. Can also be used measuring 5x3x3 inch»*. Complete with bulb, ready "sticking up” y o u r friends. This Is n rad io in Itself, a* It I« pooniblo to amuse and delight people by creating weird ef­ to use. Take* 16 mm. film. Hatterien not Included. They squirm and protest. Poll to get reception with it alone within 25 fect*. Light* go off. door* bang, with allash of light. Price 50c postpnld. FILM, your rhoico of Felix tho th o trig g er and tho slide flleo milou of a station < or up to 100 milce Electric Eye, only 25c postpaid. Stipcrsensiiivo Cat, Wild Wcet, Mutt & Jeff, lorn Mix, etc., ISc each. open, dl.vloalng tho cigarettes. under good condition«). E lec tric E y e. b etter quality, 50 cent» postpaid. PRICE 25c cpd- Catalog 10c AH you need is an aerial & earphone. Completely __ esscmbledand wired, HT°ow T A P D A N C E w ith soperrenaltivo TELEGRAPH SET Why envy the caay rhythm DANCING crystal, utand, base, and fascinating grace of crystal cup, arm with A Private Electric Tele* Step'n Fetchit. Fred Astaire LATEST STEPS. Be popu­ cate whlsKcr, etc. 6raph Set for only 1 5 c! etc. Tap daneo In ONLY 8 lar. Good dancer »arc always Reception guurnn- 'so it aa a practice set HOURS by anew, simplified admired—al way a popular tccd. Only 25c ppd. or send men-tages to fruceta. Partner* welcome friend <:.-'ending and course by Prof. Wilson. No them eagerly. 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Electrician dancing is not only invigorating complete .... and entertaining but le also TELLS: How to develop poise W estern Unloi 10c - health-giving exerciao for mak­ and control, improve your dance blanks, code ing tho limbs supple and giving a etep s, a rt of holding, how to walk and In itruc- "epringy” feeling of fitness to the to music, how to lead, latest Fox LEARN TO VAMP tions, (with- | Mjgtdra i «η-·-- · \ t whole body. Promotes slimnern na­ Trot atepe. Natural and Reverse on t bat- •ritu s ture's way. without pill», drugs or Turn*, the Reverse Wave, the Play The Piano Without Lessons (or t e n ·· 1·04 ( « dieting. Readers say: **. .wonderful Quickstep, swaying to music. Would yon like to play the a l L'f o r to(3»k«b*U«rrf,.4r· benefit. Ttiank you for .adding tap W’altx. Backward ('nangee. the Plano or organ without _ι»no·. mete«». r , J·:«. 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M l·). Detroit.Mich. 1

YOU c A N RE P E A T ALMOST

EVERY EX P ER 1 E N C E 1 N LIFE

T oday is life. Tomorrow is a hope. Yesterday is a this: If you take care of today, tomorrow will lake care, dream. Nothing is so dead as a day that has passed. of itself. And one of the most important safeguards Only the trailing clouds of memory remain. you can lake is to he certain your training is modern One today upon another today how quickly a . . . that you arc adequately equipped to master the decade is built! Youth approaches manhood in high problems of 1937. Today, in almost every line of human heart, embraces maturity as the period of his conquest, endeavor, ambitious men arc modernizing their train­ then “remembers with a sigh the days that are no more.” ing by spare-time study of International Correspon­ So life goes — like that. NOW is the only oppor­ dence Schools Courses. Their action is a guide to you tunity. NOW is the moment of success. NOW men — and NOW is the time to act! Complete information decide — NOW men win or fail. on any subject in which you are interested will be sent Arc you one of the men who are wondering today without cost or obligation. The coupon is for your what will happen to them tomorrow? Then remember convenience. Return it today.

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCH

BOX 4928-B, SCRANTON, PENNA. Without cost or obligation, please send me a copy of your booklet, “W ho W ins and W hy,” pr and full particulars about the subject before which I have marked X :

TECHNICAL AND INDUSTRIAL COURSES □ Architect □ Wcldlnjc. Electric and Gas □ Bridge Engineer Π Mechanical Engineer 1 Architectural Draftsman □ Reading Shop Blueprints □ Bridge and Building Foreman O Mechanical Draitainau □ Building Estimating □ Machinist □ Toolmaker □ Highway Engineer □ Steam Engineer □ Contractor and Builder □ Patternmaker □ Foundry Practice □ Civil Engineer □ Steam Electric Engineer □ Structural Draftsman □ Sheet Metal Worker Π Boilermaker □ Surveying and Mapping □ Marine Engineer □ Structural Engineer O Plumbing □ Steam Fitting □ R. R. I-ocomotlven □ Chemistry □ Pharmacy □ Electrical Engineer □ Heating □ Ventilation □ R. R. Section Foreman □ Cotton Manufacturing Π Electric Lighting Π Wiring □ Pipefitter □ Tinsmith □ R. R. S ig n a lm e n □ Woolen Manufacturing □ Tdecnph Engineer O Air Conditioning □ Air Brakes □ Train Operation □ Agriculture 3 Telephone Work □ Radio C Automobile Mechanic G Diesel Engines □ Fruit Growing U Refrigeration □ Coni Miniug C Navigation u Aviation Engines □ Poultry Farming BUSINESS TRAINING COURSES Π Ittudnooj» M aaa««ufat □ Bookkeeping Π Buelnees Correspondence O High School Subjects □ In· inn trial M anagement □ Secretarial \\ «rk □ Stenography and Typing C College Preparatory Π Traffic Management O S p an ish □ F rench □ Civil Service G First Year College Subjects □ Accountancy □ Advertising C. Mall Carrier □ Illustrating □ Coat Accountant □ Salesmanship □ Railway Mai! Clerk C Cartooning □ G. P. Accountant O Complete Cottktm rcinl G Grade School Subjects D Lettering Show Cards □ Signs DOMESTIC SCIENCE COURSES □ Professional Dressmaking and Deigning Π Tea Room and Cafeteria Management. Catering Π Home Dressmaking □ Advanced Droosiuaklng Č Millinery Π Foods and Cookery

Name...... -...... ge...... A ddress ...... —— City...... M ate...... Present Position...... If you reside in Canada, send this coupon to the International Correspondence Schools Canadian, Limited, Montreal, Canada December 1936

------CONTENTS ------4 Stories: ^ 5 Articles: BILL BARNES AIR NOVEL: National Air Races . 16 Pictures anil summarized results of the annual THE PIGSKIN BAG 8 meet. The man was surely Harney Cochrane— and yet he'couldn't be! And at the heart o f Flying Fun for Grown-up Pilots the'mystery, death jealously guarded By Lieut. W. M. Wood 22 great wealth against pilots who Aren’t there any air thrills left? Plenty dared nameless danger! oj ’em! by George L. Eaton Russia Spreads Her Wings A Very Merry Christmas by Frank Tinsley 30 by Harold Mont any e 18 The story oj the plane on the cover. A story of flying—and moral courage. Electra, Junior by Albert J. Carlson 33 The Kiwi Clipper The new Lockheed 12 is smaller and faster. by Thomas Calvert McClary 26 It was the dizziest contraption ever flown! Landing Blind . by A. S. Gregory 37 Tail Spin . by Edward Churchill 34 I new system guides transports to the ground. There was only one way out----- 11 Model Building Items: 9 Features: The Model Workshop This Winged World .... 4 Conducted by Gordon S. Light 41 Notable photos picturing current air events. About Model Madness—a pleasant ailment. Air Progress ...... 7 The Contest Calendar . 41 News oj wliat’s happening in aviation. A schedule of competitive events. Bomber Development . . . .15 Arctic Flier . by Alan D. Booton 42 An easy lesson for the aviation studem. Plying scale model of the Russian A.N.T. 25. The Flier’s Dictionary b y C. B. C olby 21 E lectra, J u n i o r ...... 47 Maneuvers—the fifteenth lesson in technical Solid scale model oj the Lockheed 12. terminology. Split-second Action . . . .25 B ird W i n g ...... 50 Aerial adventures that come once in a lifetime. The Cull, an unusual original flying design. Pictorial History of Man in the Air . 29 The Discussion Corner 55 More episodes for your aeronautic scrapbook. Readers debate Height rules and contest Cross W inds ...... 32 procedure. Aviation definitions far puzzle-solvers. One Thousand Horses A ir T ra ils G a lle ry ...... 39 by William Winter 56 Pictures oj modern airplanes for the collector. Solid scale model of the Grumman XF3F-2. Gullible’s Travels . M ajor H u n t 40 The ? Mark ...... 58 A cash-prize contest with plenty of fun. Answers to questions; information for all. ------^ Indoor Props 2 Departments: by Lawrence N. Smithline 59 How to make the most important part oj u W hat’s Your Question? model. Conducted by Clyde Pangborn 36 A page of interesting, expert information. Taking to the Air . . . . . 60 Air Adventurers Club The. Dart, an easily built balsa glider. Conducted by Albert J. Carlson 38 Model M a t t e r s ...... 62 Take That Dare!—a message for future pilots. A Contest times, club notes, model activities. Single Copy, 15 Cents egygsaut Yearly Subscription, $1.50 The entire contents of this magazine are protected by copyright, ami must not be reprinted without the publishers’ permission. .Monthly publication issued by Street & Smith Publications. Inc.. 79-80 Seventh Avenue, New tork, N. Y. George Smith, Jr.. President: Ormond V. Could. Vice President and Treasurer; Artemas Holme*, Vice President and Secretary: Clarence C. Yt-rnam, Vire President. Copyright. PJ36, by Street Ar Smith Publica­ tions. Inc.. New York. Copyright. 11*36. by Street *V Smith Publications, Inc.. Great Britain, hntrrcd as Second-class .Matter. October 10. 1935. at the Post Office at New York. N. Y.. under Act ..f Congress of March 3. 1870. Subscriptions to Cuba. Dorn. iUpuDlic. Haiti, Spain. Central and South American Countries except The Guiana* and British Honduras, >1.75 per year. To nil other Foreign Countries. Including The Hulánu* and British Honduras. $2.25 per year. We do not accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts. To facilitate handling, the author should inclose n self-addressed envelope with the requisite postage attached. STREET & SMITH PUBLICATIONS, INC. 79 7th AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y. 3 Prepare Quickly at Home in Spare Time F O R A Good Pay Job IN T H E Fast-Growing

W A L T E R H IN T O N :tra il blazer, pioneer, ex­ plorer, author, instructor, AVIATOR, The first man to pilot :i piano across the Atlantic, tho AVIATION famous NC-4, and the first to fly from North to South America. The man who was a crack flying instructor for the Navy during the War; who today is training far-sighted men for Aviation. Hinton is ready to train you ut home In your spare time. Get his book. Listen to what lie has to say. He brings you real opportunity to get INDUSTRY Into Aviation and cash hi on its big future. My famous course trains you right in your own home—gets you ready for one of the good ground jobs -»or cuts many weeks and many dollars from flight instructions. Send for my big free book today.

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Aviation Is Growing Fast Get into Aviation now—when you cun still get In on FLIGHT INCLUDED the ground flour of a nnv industry—when you have a "Give her the gun!" chance tu forgo ahead without having to displace lots of You’re off! Yea alrce, soon as you cojuplott* my ( m ø l for big f r e e older men. Aviation Is n young industry, where young courao, I arrange a freo men cam real money. Most famous pilots are hi their flight for you ut un ac­ early thirties, or even younger. It iu a young man’s in­ credited air field. It dustry. which means tiiat there are plenty, of opportunities doesn’t cost you a penny ' i BOOK on AVIATION M to forge ahead. But Just because it is run by young men. extra. It is my gradua­ p | don't get tho Idea that Avlntion is a small business. tion present to you. Millions aro being npent ycnrly to devolop and improve Mr. Walter Hinton, President ASM Aviation Institute ol America. Inc. These Men Made Good With M y Training 1115 Connecticut Avenue, W ashington, D. C. I’liuiMi send li».· ft Fri'i· copy of your book, "Wings of Oppor­ tunity," tolling all about my opportunities in Aviation und Accepted for Royal Perfectly Satisfied how you will train me at homo for them.

Canadian Air Force With Course Name (Print clearly) "1 sent your letter with an application "I am perfectly satisfied tiiat the ro- for enlistment in tin’ Hoyul Canadian Air Milts obtained to dntc from your Course Address A ge. Force und I received n letter stating haw made its cost Insignificant. Mest as­ that my application is accepted and 1 sured tliut you have a life-long booster can enlist as soon as there 1« a vacancy." for Aviation Institute training." L. W. City. S t a t e .. JOSEPH J. BUIS IG, Melville. Sask.. AHCHKtt, I*. O. Box 58. Curacao, Canada. 1>. \V. I. 4

G A SO LIN E — 700 gallons of it— showers down on the bay near Floyd Bennett Airport, New York City, as Kurt Bjorkvall, Swedish flier, dumps his fuel after a full-load test rather than land his Bellanca Pacemaker with the heavy, inflammable cargo aboard. Later he tried an Atlantic hop— see Air Progress, page 7.

M O V IE star— recognize Reginald Denny?— is an ardent model-airplane fan and runs a Hollywood business of his own. He s shown talking with customers.

INSIDE looking out is this gunner in the nose of a Martin B-10B army bomber. By opening windows, he can fire in almost any direction. 5

RECORD BREAKING is the spe­ cialty of the Caudron C-460 type, a new development of which is shown below. Detroyat brought one to America and set new times at our national air races. Others have established several speed records in recent years, notably the 314 m.p.h. land-plane mark finally broken by Howard Hughes. Cowl­ ing removed from the plane shown, competing in the annual French classic, Coupe Deutsch de la G RO U N D -FLY IN G in Robert Kronfelďs Meurthe, displays a powerful-look­ machine enables the beginner to learn ing Renault 12-cylinder inverted handling of the controls without endanger­ V engine. ing life and limb of himself and an instruc­ tor. Driven by a pusher prop at 40 m.p.h., it provides safely many of the sensations, as well as the movements of flying.

1

GLIDER take-offs from the top of a moving automobile are being tried by Don Stevens, soaring ace and holder of the record for consecutive glider loops. But what have bathing beauties to do with serious aero­ nautics?

M A ZE of wires and connections in the nose demonstrates that Amelia Ear- hart's new special Electro fully de­ serves its name of "Flying Labora­ tory." Every instrument and gadget known to aviation is said to be in­ cluded in the equipment, intended to test and develop flying safeguards. 6 BILL BARNES

H U R R IC A N E season meant busy times for coast guard. Douglas Dolphin crew load a stretcher, life­ jackets, blankets, food, medicine, and a rubber life-boat which is gas-inflated in 5 seconds.

AIR-BIKE of young French inventor rep­ resents air progress that's claimed faster than wheel progress. It also cools the bicyclist with a nice breeze, we suppose.

FIRST GLIMPSE of "mystery" Douglas flying boat reveals hull with heavy forepart re­ sembling England's Short Em­ pire craft. Produced with aid of Pan American Airways, it will probably enter that line's ocean service.

SEA W A RD flies the Vultee V-1A of Dick Merrill and Harry Richman. The Wright Cyclone pow­ ered "Lady Peace," carrying a huge fuel load, made a take-off run of almost a mile at Floyd Bennett Field before it lifted, and then passed be­ tween hangars while spectators held their breath.

MITE and might side by side on a London airport! The Flea is a much cleaned-up and improved edition. Rear wing is cantilever and front wing is moved by a strong, rigid strut. The liner is a 39-passenger Short Scylla type. 7

AIR Progress

A tesf catapult launching of the "Zephir" at New York.

Transatlantic pilot and plane were rescued by a French fishing boat. A new world airplane altitude record of 49,967 feet, While other nations pushed ocean plans and individual or almost 9 / miles, has been offered for official F. A. I. British, American, and Swedish pilots made single hops, approval by Squadron Leader F. R. D. Swain, Royal Air Germany chalked up the first heavier-than-air North Force test pilot. Using an experimental all-wood low- Atlantic flights of an intended commercial nature with wing Bristol powered by a special Pegasus, be set his two Dornier Do. 18 mail-type boats, Aeolus and Zephir. record in a 3h 20m flight over London during which They were carried on board the catapult ship Schzvaben- insufficient oxygen supply in his air-tight suit almost laud to the Azores, where the Aeolus, after being forced brought suffocation until lie managed to slash open bis back once, was launched to Bermuda and thence took helmet and breathe the cockpit air. The previous unoffi­ oil for New York—hops of 2,063 and 700 miles in 24h cial record was 48,677 feet by Lt. Detra of the French 19m—and the Zephir launched to fly 2,390 miles to New York direct in 22h 10m of heavy weather. When the army, and the official mark 47,352 by Donati of Italy. mother ship caught up with them in New York, she launched the Aeolus toward Bermuda once more and Meets sailed after, leaving the Zephir to follow. They held a For National Air Races results, see page 17. reunion in Bermuda and kept another rendezvous at the The heralded England-South Africa air race for Azores, and then called it a successful test. The Ger­ $50,000, intended to show that "England and South man Lufthansa line hopes to start scheduled Berlin-New Africa are not 6,000 miles, but merely 36 hours apart,” York mail trips next year. strewed a scattered trail of cracked-up planes en route, As for passengers, the dirigible Ilindenburg booked brought death to two contestants, and a $20,000 first her 1,000th ocean traveler on her eighth trip here, in prize to the team of C. W. A. Scott and Giles Guthrie. which she braved a hurricane, and on her ninth trip Scott was co-winner of the famous 1934 England- dropped Dr. Eckener off to seek financial hacking to Australia race with T. Campbell-Black, in which Ameri­ establish the airship line permanently next year before can ships placed second and third. The present race he returned on the tenth and last trip, due Oct. 9th. was limited to British planes and pilots. Britain tested the Caledonia, second Short Empire pas­ The Scott-Guthrie team's time was 52h 56m; as this senger boat produced, for experimental Atlantic service is written, they seemed likely to be the only ones to fin­ next summer. The first, Canopus, will go on the Etig- ish out of a starting line-up of nine planes. The remain­ land-Australia run. ing $30,000 in prizes was to be given by the donor, I. W. Schlesinger, to the dependents of Max Findlay and A. FI. Flights and Performance Morgan, killed in a take-off crash near Lake Tanganyika. Three Atlantic hops were made during September, or maybe we should say 2 and 99/100. Mrs. Beryl Mark­ Transport ham, British mother. Hew her Percival Vega Gull Mes­ Three reporters representing New York newspapers senger from England to a nose-down landing in Nova were circling the earth from west to east in an attempt Scotia mud in 23h 15m. She won the distinction of be­ to set a new globe-girdling record for travelers by using ing the first woman to solo from east to west. Dick regular air lines. Their race was made possible by the Merrill and Harry Richnmn, after visiting in Paris, com­ Hindcnburg’s flights and the opening bf passenger traffic pleted their 12-day round trip by flying the Vultee V-1A on Pan American’s transpacific line, which was scheduled Lady Peace from England to some Newfoundland mud to start from Alameda, Calif., Oct. 7, and to make the in 17h 24m. The plane was pried out and they com­ first return trip from Manila Oct. 13. It was announced pleted their flight to New York a few days later. Sto­ that when Pan American eventually completes its last link ries of a quarrel over the Atlantic and unnecessary from Manila, the terminal will be Hongkong. dumping of gas were denied by both. Kurt Bjorkvall 1 V A announced drastic winter fare cuts, to become hopped off from New York in a Bellanca Pacemaker to effective Nov. 1, that will make air travel about as inex­ fly to Sweden, but was forced down near the Irish coast; pensive as railroad travel. Death stretched his airy fingers, weaving a fateful sky web for pilots who dared to fly into nameless danger!

A Great Bill Barnes Novel

by George L Eaton

TRACTOR had just drawn the big twin-motored into their seats behind Reed and Hendricks. passenger plane out on the apron when David Hendricks noticed that Reed's face was strained and A Reed, the skipper, came down the ramp with his not a little white as he ran his eyes over the hundred- registered-mail pouch and climbed into the port seat in and-one dials and instruments before him. When Reed the pilot's compartment. spread out his weather reports on his map shelf, Hen­ Young Pat Hendricks, the co-pilot, had already dricks saw that his hands were trembling. He studied warmed up the engines. They were turning over idly the skipper's tense face for a moment with narrowed when Reed slumped into his seat. The flight engineer eyes. Then he said : and radio operator came into the big cockpit and slid “Whatsa matter, boy? Tell little Palsy.” 9

The PIGSKIN BAG

Reed glanced at him quickly. Obviously he was re­ “Listen, guy," Hendricks interrupted. "Cut it out. luctant to talk. But his habitual friendliness won out. Nothing's going to happen. What you need is a rest. “I'm worried and I don't know why. I have a hunch You ought to put in for a couple of weeks’ vacation that something is going wrong. I can feel it. Have from this galley. You sit nice and quiet and take it you ever had a premonition that something was going easy to-day, and I’ll take us from liere to there. The to crack wide open? That’s the way I feel. I’ve had trouble with you is you take life too seriously. You these hunches ever since I was a kid. The bottom of ought to go ride on a roller coaster once in a while.” my stomach feels as though it had fallen out. I can’t “Don’t try to kid me, Pat,” Reed said sharply. explain it, but------” Pat Hendricks didn’t like the way Reed’s voice rose ΊΟ BILL BARNES and cracked, lie knew that Reed didn’t drink, and he . . .” Receiving no acknowledgment, he switched to had always thought he didn't have a nerve in his body. another set and began his chant again. In a moment he “Iin not trying to kid you,” Hendricks said. “You touched David Reed on the shoulder and told him he ought to ask for a leave. You been pluggin’ pretty could not make contact with the ground. hard lately.” It was while he was talking to Reed that two explosions Reed swung around in his seat as the ramp gates sounded in the cabin behind them and the door to the opened. He watched the five passengers as they came bridge was suddenly thrown open. aboard. They were all men. He saw that two of them A number of things Hashed before David Reed's eyes seemed to be traveling together. One, a quiet, pale-faced before he was actually aware of the big man in the door­ man with an apologetic, or frightened, expression was way. He saw that two of the other passengers were on with a broad-shouldered man who looked as though he their feet and the stewardess was cowering in a corner might be a detective. at the end of the runway. The other three were The big man, who looked like evidently traveling sepa­ a detective, was slumped back- rately. The stewardess in his chair and there was blood showed them to their running from a bole in his left seats and signaled to temple. The little man with the Reed that everything was frightened face who had been clear. with him was standing up under Reed took over the the direction of one of the other controls and gave his passengers and he was taking motors the gun. Tie lis­ off his upper clothes with trem­ tened for a moment to bling fingers. their muted roar through “Your radiophones are out of the almost sound­ order, skipper," the big man in proof cabin. the doorway said. He held a The little man wicked-looking automatic in his with the frightened hand, and lie held it in a way expression gazed that made David Reed know he knew toward the pilot’s how to use it. cockpit. His eyes “Get your hands out in front seemed to be plead­ of you,” he went on, as he ing for help. Reed reached over and lifted idled the motors Reed’s automatic out of its down and waited holster. “You keep your for his take-off sig­ hands on the wheel and nal from the dispatch tower. A mo­ your eyes on your instru­ ment later he taxied out on the run­ ments,” be said to Pat way and took the big ship into the air Hendricks. He stuck in a long, low climb. Reed’s gun in bis pocket A few minutes later he read a dis­ and reached for Pat’s. patch the radio operator handed him, “What good will it do then he said, “Take her, Pat. Newark you to stick us up?” Pat is sending us a storm ahead.” asked him. “Do you think “That’d be something new,” Pat answered transport pilots have any money?” as lie took over the controls and followed Reed’s in­ “Keep your lip buttoned.” the big structions as he motioned upward with his thumb. man said, “and you won’t get hurt. All Thirty minutes later fog came rolling in toward them, y o u have to do is follow instructions. The little punk fog that immersed the ship completely. Pat Hendricks vondcr is carrying what we want.” checked his instruments while Reed took their bearings. David Reed let his eyes wander down the aisle again A wrench and a twist dropped the big ship with a shud­ and saw that two of the passengers had forced the little der. In a moment fog licked at the coated windows man to strip to the waist. When Reed saw the wide while rain began to spatter against them. Pat Hendricks belt with the chamois pouch fastened around the little grinned and made a noise with his lips at the weather. man’s bare skin, he knew what was happening. He He was feeling his way cautiously. A pocket slapped knew the little man was carrying something in that pouch them down five hundred feet while lie fought to regain that was worth killing a man to get. an even keel. “This,” lie said to himself, “is the thing that was The door to the bridge opened and the stewardess worrying me. They’re committing murder and robbery stuck her head in. “The little man in No. 6 is pretty on my ship. And there’s nothing we can do about it.” sick.” she said. Red rage suddenly overcame his common sense. It “Tell him to hold everything,” Pat answered. “He’ll was his ship, he screamed to himself, his responsibility. be sicker in a few minutes.” They had taken command like a gang of Chinese pirates. Hail beat on the windows as the fog and rain increased. He was scarcely aware that he lurched out of his The radio operator was repealing over and over, “Trip bucket seat and started a swing for the jaw of the big No. 8 calling station W EDD. . . . YVEDD. . . . man towering above him. The gun in the big man's Trip No. 8 calling station W EDD. . . . WEDD. hand meant nothing to him. Pat Hendricks’ startled AIR TRAILS 11 face was a white blur as Reed swung his list, all his “I’ll take it,” Pat said, in a moment. He saw that the weight behind it. It curled around the big· man’s neck storm had abated. The fog was beginning to drift away as he ducked his head forward. from them, lie looked down at the map and altered There were two detonations that sounded like the roar his course. of a small cannon in the soundproof cockpit. One of the The newspapers didn’t get the real story for over forty- bullets tore through Reed’s stomach, the other through eight hours. They first reported that a passenger liner his heart. H e pitched into a corner underneath the con­ of Transcontinental Airways had disappeared as though trols and lay still. some giant hand had plucked it out of the air. ground it The big man swung the automatic in a semicircle as to pulp and thrown the dust to the four winds. the flight engineer started to climb out of his seat. The Then flashes came through from a little town deep in radio operator didn't try to move. He couldn’t have the interior of the Cumberland Mountains. The public moved if lie had wanted to. He was glued to his seat read and gasped with amazement. It was the first time with fright. such a thing had happened in the air. The papers com­ Pat Hendricks felt the cold hand of fear creeping up pared it to the old days of stage-coach robbers and rail­ his spine as he brought the big ship level. lie fought way-express holdups. to keep control of himself as he saw the automatic leveled "Murder and Robbery in the Modern Manner” flew at his heart. The drone of the two powerful motors fil­ in large letters on the first page of a New York paper. tered through the soundproof construction of the cockpit. It went 011 to report that a messenger carrying a quarter Fog licked at the windowpanes. Pat shook his head and of a million dollars’ worth of.precious stones had been tried to convince himself that this thing was not hap­ robbed in the air. His guard and the pilot of the plane pening. had been killed when they resisted the robbers. The sound that came from the lips of the big man A confusing description of the robbers was given by convinced him that it was all true. It was a sound that the surviving members of the crew of the airplane and made Pat shiver. He forced his eyes away from the the messenger. Only one thing stood out in their de­ automatic and looked at the man’s face. It was livid and scriptions: That was the report of Tat Hendricks, co­ his lips were twisted into a snarl that bared his teeth. pilot of the plane. He reported in some detail that the “If you take orders,” lie man who led the robbers snarled, “maybe you’ll get had a curious crescent-shaped out of this alive.” He moved birthmark on the side of his over beside Pat and pushed neck below the collar line. the gun into his side. With The papers played that up, his other hand he traced a and the police searched their course on Pat’s map. files. But they had no rec­ “Right there,” he said, ord of a man with such a when his finger came to a mark on his neck. stop, “is where you sit this The third day after Pat baby down. That’s where Hendricks and the rest of the you and the rest of the crew crew arrived back in New­ start walkin’. It’ll take you ark, the newspapers shunted a day to get out of there on their accounts of the robbery foot.” back to the inside pages. In “Maybe we won’t get out,” a week the thing was forgot­ Pat said. “That’s wild coun­ ten by the public. try.” That is, it was forgotten “Maybe you won’t.” The by every one except the po­ big man sneered. “But you lice and one man. That man ean try.” began to comb the country “You’re taking the ship?” with a fine-tooth comb to find Pat said. the man with the curious, “We’re takin’ the ship. crescent-shaped birthmark on W e’re giving you a chance the side of his neck. for your life.” “Suppose,” Pat said, and Leeds II— BARNEY COCKRANE he was scared when he said BILL BARNES stretched it, “I stick the nose down right now. They'll shovel you his powerful arms high above his lean, bronzed face and and your gorillas out in little pieces.” glared at the two men and the hoy who were making it That was when Pat noticed the curious little birth­ impossible for him to read the half dozen letters lying on mark on the big man’s neck. He stuck his purple face his desk. within three inches of Pat’s and the little mark on his “Listen, you magpies,” he growled, “ I'm trying to get neck turned red. Pat’s eyes fastened on it and stayed a little work done.” there as he felt the gun jam hard into his ribs. He won­ “That’s all right, Bill." young “Sandy” Sanders, the dered if it would hurt when it went off. youngest member of his little squadron answered. “Listen, smart guy,” the big man snarled, “I can fly “You’re not bothering us. Tf you get too noisy we’ll this crate as well as you can. If you shove that wheel go some place else.” forward I’ll blow your insides out. I’m giving you a “Take him out of here and tape his mouth,” Bill said chance to live. You can take it or leave it.” to “Shorty” Hassfurthcr, his chief of staff. 12 BJLL BARNES

Shorty's blue eyes twinkled and his broad, Pennsyl- Unless something cracks before long, we’ll all be stand­ vania-Dutch face cracked into a wide grin. ITc winked ing in line asking for a cup of coffee.” at the carrot-topped “Red” Gleason. "I'll take tea,” Sandy said. “Tea with a little lemon.” “That wouldn’t stop him from talking,” Shorty said. The drone of a powerful motor drifted down from “If you taped his mouth, he’d begin to talk through his high overhead. Bill listened for a moment, his head ears. The only thing that would stop him would be a cocked to one side. Then he glared at young Sandy and good old-fashioned burial.” started toward the door. “Burial 1” Sandy said, scornfully. “Why, you poor Bill stood on the apron beside old “Scotty” Mac- old gray-haired cripple, I’ll be------” Closkev, major-domo and special technician at Barnes “Shut up!” Bill shouted, as one of the telephones on Field, and watched his friend, Barney Cockrane, bring his desk rang. “Private office! .It’s about as private as the big, low-winged, cantilever monoplane in with a the subway.” workmanlike landing. “Bill?” Tony Lamport’s voice came over the wire. And while Bill watched him bring in a ship that must “Barney Cockrane just phoned from the seaplane landing have cost him a cool fifty thousand dollars, a kaleidoscopic picture of Barney Cockrane’s life flashed through his mind, as Barney' had told it to him. He reflected that the United States was the only country' in the world where such a thing could happen as had happened to Barney'. When old Anthony' Cockrane, trustee of the

The young fellow started to run toward the end of the pier. The gun spoke, and he pitched forward on his face.

State Board of Orphanages, first found Barney, Barney on Thirty-first Street. He’s bringing his new amphibian had no name, except one given him by' the orphanage. over and wants you to run out to the Island with him Old Anthony Cockrane was a hard-boiled, crusty in­ and give it a try.” dividual who had fought his way up from the bottom, “How soon is he leaving?” Bill asked, an expression without any aid, to become the president and then the of annoyance on his face. chairman of the board of directors of one of the largest “Right away,” Tony, the chief radio operator on steel companies in the country. lie had never married. Barnes Field, answered. 1 le had no relatives. Like young Barney, he had been “O. K., Tony',” Bill said. “Let me know when he a foundling and public charge until he had run away comes in.” from an orphanage to shift for himself. Bill eased his big frame out of the swivel chair and It had been pretty tough going for young Barney for paced the length of the room and back. Suddenly, he those first few years after old Anthony Cockrane had whirled and pointed a finger at the three lounging pilots. legally adopted him. But it had been worth it. "Listen, you birds,” he said. “Somebody around here After a thorough education that ended at one of the had better dig us up a job. The bank roll is getting ivy-decorated universities, old Anthony ordered Barney smaller and smaller, and we don’t have a thing in sight. to begin at the beginning in one of his steel mills. AIR TRAILS 13 When Anthony Cockranc passed on to his great re­ Bill Barnes didn’t answer for the moment. Instead, ward, Barney, at the age of thirty-six, was already a he circled the ship, gazing at it like an artist inspecting power in the steel industry. He was a big man with a the work of an old master. He inspected the streamlined shock of brown hair and soft, brown eyes that could, on inonocoque fuselage and the tandem cockpits. He stud­ provocation, become as hard as a bar of the special steel ied the inverted engines inclosed in their streamlined he produced. nacelles and the two controllable-pitch propellers. With Anthony Cochrane's millions at his command, “How is she for speed?” Bill asked in a moment. Barney became known as the Robin Hood of the steel "That's what I want you to find out for me.” Barney industry. That is. he bought in all of the outstanding Cockrane grinned. “I’ve pushed her up to two twenty- stock of his various companies until he was the sole eight. But I think she’ll do better.” owner. He then raised the wages of all of his workers Bill pursed his lips and ran his eyes over the ship until the least of them was earning a comfortable living. again. In that way he believed his workers would have the “Now don’t begin to tell me you’re busy,” Barney money to buy the things they produced. After being Cockrane said. “I want you to run out to the end of the sure he had plenty of cash in reserve, he distributed a Island with me and try her out. And on the way back large share of his profits to charities. That is why the I want to stop in at Nick Stewart’s place for a moment. newspapers and the people in general loved him. He’s throwing a big garden party and it will do you And on top of that Barney Cockrane was a very dash­ ing young man. He was a fearless sportsman; his enthusiasm for and interest in avia­ tion were the things that first brought him in

good to mingle with the common people for a bit. You don’t have to change your clothes or anything like that. Nick and his guests will be overwhelmed by the mere presence of the one and only Bill Barnes.” “Nuts!” Bill said. “I’ll go because I want to see how this job handles. She’s built like a greyhound. I won­ der if she can lake it.” touch with Bill Barnes and his famous squadron of pilots. "I think she can,” Barney said. “Haul your carcass Bill, or Shorty Hassfurther, or Red Gleason had tested into the after cockpit and we’ll shove.” a dozen or more planes for Barney Cockrane. They had “I’ll be gone for a couple of hours,” Bill said to Scotty. also handled some of Cockrane’s bizarre gifts to charity. “Tony can pick me up if you need me.” Bill and Barney Cockrane spoke the same language. Bill climbed into the after cockpit and plugged in the They were friends. inter-cockpit telephone. He smiled when he saw that “Boy,” old Scotty MacCloskey said, as Barney brought it was the same type he used in his own Snorters and the ship to a lralt, "she is a beauty. She is one of the the Lancer. most beautiful jobs I have ever seen." “You take her, Bill,” Barney Cockrane said in his ear. “She’s a honey,” Bill said. Finished in gleaming red Bill gunned the engines a moment later and kicked the lacquer, with snow-white trim, her lines seemed to melt speedy ship around into the wind. At eighty miles an one into the other with an illusion of speed and grace hour the tail lifted and Bill took it off the ground with that made the ship seem, even on the ground, to be trav­ the skill and precision for which he was famous. eling along at tremendous speed. At five thousand feet, he leveled off and stuck the Barney Cockrane’s helmeted head appeared above the nose of the plane to the west. A few moments later the coaming of the forward cockpit as he slid back the trans­ Statue of Liberty waved her torch at them. The waters parent overhead hatch. There was a grin on his face of the East and Hudson rivers emptied themselves into that spread from ear to ear. the harbor below them. Barges and battleships, tugs “What do you think of my baby ?” he shouted as he and tramps, steamers and ferries made their way through killed the two special 250-horse-power Menasco motors. the heavy harbor traffic, their whistles shrieking. 14 BILL BARNES

Black smoke curled above the industrial towns of People were moving about the lawn under a thousand New Jersey as they hurtled above them. The Atlantic Chinese lanterns. Servants scurried about with little Ocean shimmered under the late afternoon sun. wagons loaded with food and drink. But down near the A solid mass of clouds came racing toward I hem as pier was the strangest sight of all. A man dressed in Bill brought the trim ship around in a steep bank and white linens was leading a chorus of perhaps thirty stuck the nose toward the end of Long Island. He people in song. They were singing as though their coaxed the throttles open as he climbed to eight thousand lives depended upon it. and most of them had glasses feet. The blue-green waters of the Sound Hashed be­ in their hands. Barney Cockrane began to laugh as neath their wings. The steady drone of the twin engines they climbed into the dinghy that had been sent out increased in volume as he continued to open the throttles. from shore to pick them up. The airspeed indicator climbed to “Don’t be surprised at anything two hundred and twenty-five, two you see around here,” he said to hundred and thirty, two hundred Bill. “The man leading the chorus and thirty-five. is Nick Stewart. When he has had “You want me to shoot the a certain amount to drink he likes works?’’ Bill said into the tele­ to sing. His grandfather must phone. have been a barber. He’ll sing with “Make her take it and like it.” any one. If he can’t get people to Barney chuckled. sing with him he goes off in a Bill pulled the stick back into corner to sulk.” his stomach and brought the ship “He sounds a little half-witted up in a terrific zoom. When the to me.’ Bill said. “Listen, Bar­ engines began to whine he spun ney! I don’t want to get mixed up the ship three limes in a corkscrew in a party. T don’t have the time turn, until the tail started to slide to------” off. Then he fought the controls “Forget it!" Barney said. “It'll until he could bring the nose down do you good. Nick will want to to streak away on an even keel. know if you can sing bass as soon He came down and up in a series as you meet him.” of outside loops; he chandelled around with a speed that They were met at the end of the dock by a tall, thin was dazzling. He came up in normal loops and half- man with practically no hair on his head. He held a rolled the sturdy ship level at the top with a speed that glass in his hand and raised it in greeting as they was breath-taking. He barrel-rolled, side-slipped, skidded joined him. the plane until it seemed it would never come out of it, “This is Bill Barnes, Nick,” Barney said, as Stewart did wing-overs and split S’s until he had Barney Cock- approached them. “He sings tenor.” rane hanging onto the cowling with frozen fingers. “I’m glad to know you. Barnes,” Nick Stewart said. To top it, he went through a series of flat and in­ “But I wish you were a bass. I’m always short of men verted spins and then into a tail spin that brought the who can sing bass.” hair up at the base of his own scalp. When it seemed “There’s a big shortage of bass singers all over the he could never pull out of it. he neutralized his controls, world,” Barney said, gravely. “It's because people shoot gave his motor all she would take and pulled out as he them out of season.” reversed the controls. “I don’t know what it is,” Stewart said solemnly. “But He was out over the end of Montauk Point when he the situation is becoming serious, Barnes. T want you to leveled off again and cut his throttles. lie smiled at the come up and meet all these people and let them tear you rigid figure in front of him and spoke into the telephone apart when they learn who you are. They’ve all heard of again. you, of course.” “She can take it,” he said. “Listen, Barney,” Bill said, casting a yearning glance “Yes.” Barney Cockrane said. “She can take it, but toward the amphibian riding the cove. “I think we’d 1 can't. Let's get back to Nick Stewart’s place. J need better go along.” something to fix my stomach. Do you think you can After twenty minutes of having people claw at him find it? I mean, do you know where it is?” and ask him foolish questions, Bill managed to escape “I know where it is,” Bill said. “But I can’t stay there from the crowd that surrounded him. When he got long, Barney. I’m expecting a couple of important phone away he cursed Barney Cockrane with a vehemence that calls. I’vc got to get back to my field.” would have surprised Barney had he heard it. He moved "We won’t stay long, Bill,” Barney answered. "I just back into the shadows and watched. want Nick to see this buggy. He’s been boasting about a And the longer he watched them the happier he was two-place job he bought recently. Besides, you may get that he was not one of them. 1 le hadn’t talked to a a laugh out of the antics of these nitwits at a Long man or a woman who seemed to have a vestige of com­ Island party.” mon sense, lie wondered, vaguely, what Barney Cock­ rane could see in a crowd of people like this. He knew Ill— A CRESCENT-SHAPED M A R K that Barney was not one of them. He didn’t think like IT W AS just dusk as Bill set the twin-motored them nor act like them. The more Bill thought about amphibian down on the cove and taxied toward a moor­ it. the more it puzzled him. ing. As he killed the motors the sound of singing came He began to laugh aloud as he saw Nick Stewart as­ to his ears. He gazed toward the wide sweep of lawn sembling another twentv-five or thirty people in a semi­ between the large Colonial mansion and the shore line. circle. Stewart had a glass and a short (Turn to page 64) 15 Bomber Development

1919 THE HANDLET-PAGE V-/SOO WITH ASPIED OF 1 0 3 Μ.PH COULD CAPRY A TOM OF BOMBS M/L£S AND CLIMB TO 10,000FT. IN 2 / M/NUTES.THIS WAS TH£ OUTSTANDING WAR BOMBER

1925THE NEXT BIG STEF IN DESIGN MAS THE CURTISS "CONDOR," CARRYING 3 OF BOMBSAT AND HAYING A 13,6-00 FOOT CEILING

1930NOWAPPEARSUCH DA Y BOMBERS AS THE BOULTON & PAUL "SIDESTRAHO //"W ITH A SPEED OF OYER ISO MPH, A CEILING OF 2I,500F T,A N D A CAPACITY OF 1,000LBS.OF BOMBS.

1936THE BOEING Υ β -IT THE r ^ \ WORLDS FASTESTAND LONGEST RANGED BOMBER, NEIGHS /,? TONS AND HAS A SPEED OF NEARLY250 MPH. Speed aces and stunt champs put on a thrilling show at the------National Air Races

PEED and the ladies proved to be the two outstanding fea­ tures of the 1936 National Air Races that drew many S thousands of air-minded folks to Los Angeles from Sep­ tember 4th to 7th for America's annual air spree. Well, there was a third outstanding feature, too—the easy capture of the big speed events, for the first time, by a foreign flier and his foreign plane—but that’s a rather delicate subject, and one that’s best mentioned cautiously among American fliers still smarting from defeat. The ladies, three of them among seven starters, flew their first Bendix Trophy transcontinental race—routed this year Capf. Papana stunts his Biicker Jungmeister. from Floyd Bennett Field, New York, some 2,600 miles to the Los Angeles municipal airport—and took first, second and fifth prizes. Louise Thaden won in a little less than 15 hours in a stock-model C17R Beechcraft powered with a 450 h.p. Wright Whirlwind. Laura Ingalls, in her Wasp-powered Lockheed Orion, nosed out William Gulick, piloting a Vultce V-1A, by such a slim margin for second place that her male rival en­ tered a protest, claiming that confusion on the field resulting from a parachute accident had caused the timers to err. Despite the valiant race of Mrs. Thaden, the Bendix results Mrs. Thaden's Bendix-winning Beochcraft. might have been different had not Benny Howard and Mrs. Howard, far in the lead and piloting Mr. Mulligan ahead of Roscoe Turner’s 11 h 30m east-west record, crashed almost fa­ tally in the New Mexico mountains. Michel Detroyat 'brought the famous French Caudron 460 racer to America and showed the local boys a thing or two. He topped 273 m.p.h. in a 5-mile qualifying dash, and later walked away with the Greve and Thompson trophies at 247 and 264 m.p.h. respectively, setting new records for both. Fortunately for the others, he stayed out of the Shell Cup event. The ease with which Detroyat won, however, did not indi- _ cate lack of quality in the American entries. All of them fin­ Grooming Harry Crosby's 15-foot Special. ished faster than the winner of last year’s race; in fact, only six Thompson racers up to now have flown faster than the slowest man in this year’s event. Foremost among notable new ships this year was the Folk- erts Special, designed and built by Clayton Folkerts of Water­ loo, la., and flown by Harold Neumann. It took two firsts, two seconds, and a fourth place, earning a total of $8,S00. It is a mid-wing monoplane with somewhat long fuselage, full cantilever surfaces and retractable wheels. Relatively low power is supplied by a 4-cylinder 185 h.p. Menasco Pirate, driving a short wooden prop of high pitch. Two new Keith Riders of closely similar design appeared, one of them built by David Elmendorf. The diminutive Crosby Special bad the distinction of being the smallest plane and the only all-metal one at the races. Successful this year, on the whole, in “improving the breed” (4 fast airplanes, the National Air Races next year should see even greater advances. Detroyat promises to return with a speedier ship, and American designers and builders are already A spectator's view; pylon in background. at work in an attempt to go him one better. 17 SUMMARIES Bendix Trophy (Transcontinental ran·, Stir. York-Los Angeles, 2,600 mi., open to all) Louise Thaden Heeclicruft C17R Wright Whirlwind 14 :55 ;01 $7.000 Laura Ingalls Loeklieed Orion P&W Wasj* 15 :30 2.500 William Gulick Vulteo V-1A W right (Cyclone 1 5 :4 5 :5 2 1.500 George Pomeryo D ouglas D<’-2 Wright Cyclones 10:10:51 1.000 Amelia Burlmrt Lockheed Electra Twin Wasp Jrs 10:34:53 500 Ben Howard H ow ard ‘•.Mulligan” P&W W asp (crashed in New Mcx.) .loe Jacobson Northrop Gamma W right (hailed out over Ivans.)· (Form er women’* rant-incut record: Laura Ingalls, 1R:.10) Ruth Chatterton Trophy (Clcvcland-San Diego cross-count rg tour, 2,.)60 mi., 6 dag*, ATF planes) Frank Sprcckels Luseombe Phantom W arner — — — — Jeannette Lempke D avis Wa rn er — — — — Jerry Fairbanks Stinson P&W Wasp Jr. — — — — George Armistead Stinson Lycoming — — — — George A rents F airchild W arner — — — Amelia Earhart Trophy ( Women pilots only, A TO planes 175 m.p.h. limit: 25 mi.. 5 laps: handicap) Betty Browning < 'essna C-34 W arner 15 :58.62 675 Gladys O’Donnell Ryan ST Menasco Id :10.01 375 Genevieve .Savage Ryan ST Menasco H i:27.25 225 Jeannette Lempke I »avis W arner 16 :30.fl 1 150 Nancy Love Beecheraft Jacobs 10 :44.<)6 75 Shell Trophy, 375 cu. in. (100 mi., 20 laps) Harold Neumann Foikerts Spec. Menasco 223.201 3.000 Art Chester < ‘hosier Spec. Menasco 222.235 1.250 Lee Miles Miles & Atwood M enasco 202.848 Ten Joe Jacobson Howard “Pete” Wright Gipsy 147.424 450 Shell Award , 375 cu. in. (50 m i., 10 laps) Harold Neumann Foikerts Spec. Menasco 231.844 1.250 Art Chester poses with his "Jeep." Art Chester Chester Spec. Menasco 230.470 750 Joe Jacobson Howard “Pete*’ Wrigiit Gipsy 147.505 150 Lee Miles Miles & Atwood Menasco {out in :iril la p ) Greve Trophy, 550 cu. in. (100 mi.. 20 laps) Michel Detroyat Caudron C-460 R enault 247.300 4.000 Harold Neumann Foikerts Spec. Menasco 225.858 2,125 Art Chester Chester Spec. Menasco 224.682 1,100 R. Λ. K ling Kling-Itider Menasco 215.331 765 Joe Jacobson Howard “Mike" Menasco 214.426 505 Roger Don Rae Rider Men a sco 212.825 425 Shell Cup, 550 cu. in. (60 mi., Í0 lap*) Koger Don Kao Rider Met in seo 225.544 1.350 S. .1. W itt man Foikerts Spec. Menasco 223.501 750 Marion MeKoen Hrown 152 Menasco 218.80S 450 Lee Miles Miles & Atwood Menasco 206.188 300 David Elmendorf KInicndorf-Kider Menasco 150 Art Chester Chester Spec. Menasco (o u t in hid lap) Thompson Trophy, unlimited (150 mi., 15 laps) Michel Detroyat Caudron C-4C0 R enault 264.201 0.500 Karl Ortman R ider P&W Wasp Jr. 248.042 4.375 Roger Don Kao Rider Menasco 286.550 2,450 Harold Neumann Foikerts Spec. Menasco 233.074 1,575 Marion McKeen Brown 112 M enasco 230.405 1,225 Harry Crosby Crosby Spec Menasco 220.075 875 David Elmendorf Klmendorf-Kidor Menasco (out in 141th lap) Lee Miles Gee Bee "Q.K.l).'' (out in Util lap) Art Chester < ‘heater Spec. Menasco (our in 5th lap) Roger Don Rae hits the bull's-eye. S. J. W ittm an Miles & Atwood Menasco (failed in take-oil )

These shining faces being tanned by the California sun represent as all-star a cast as you're likely to find in any flying show anywhere. In the back row, left to right: Franklin Wolcott, Bill Ong, Harold Neumann, Milo Burcham, Leon Atwood, Dick Ranier, J. H. Cordner, Alex Papana, Michel Detroyat, Earl Ortman. Front row: Rudy Kling, S. J. Wittman, Harry Crosby, Art Chester, Marion McKeen, David El­ mendorf, Don Stevens. 18 A Very Me Christm as

Flying had robbed Dean of all happiness— could it give him manhood again ?

H ERE W A SN ’T any doubt that Dean Braid was “What you need is some quinine, lad,” he said. in bad shape when he stepped up to the little bar of “I asked for whisky,” Braid snarled. His eyes dropped T the Hotel Pax. His hands were shaking; his eves in a moment, as he tried to meet the steady, fearless blue sparkled too brilliantly; his face was flushed. He threw eyes behind the bar. a half crown on the bar and asked for a whisky with “Why don’t you come out of it, Braid?” old Howell, water. the barkeep, asked. “You still have something to live for The white-haired man with the jabbering parrot on his if you’ll brace up. You’re still a young man.” shoulder, behind the bar, took his pipe from his mouth Dean Braid wet his dry lips and pointed at a bottle of and lifted the parrot to a perch on the edge of a shelf. whisky. What was the use in.arguing with this old fool? 19

cession of thoughts and pictures. He by remembered the gay Christmas par­ ties at home before the War. He Harold Montanye could see candy canes and oranges Howell put the and a tree agteam with lights and bottle, a glass and a decorations. He could see the ruddy glass of water before him. He mixed a little face of his father, toasting the world. He could see the water with each of the two drinks he threw down his quiet, gentle face of his mother. He could even feel the throat, and went out into the street. touch of her hand when she tucked him in bed on those The blazing tropical sun half blinded him as be turned Christmas eves when he was only a child. lie could down a cobblestoned street toward the water front. Bare­ see his two older brothers, both later killed at Mons, turn­ footed. half-naked blacks scurried out of his way as he ing the place into a madhouse. plodded along, head down, looking neither to right nor Then his thoughts flashed to those two terrible years in left. Beggars sitting in the shade of doorways chanted France. He had been only sixteen years old when he their litany at hint. He pushed his pith helmet back off managed to get by the examinations and was sent to a his perspiring forehead and cursed at them. ground school of the Royal Flying Corps. At the old stone customs house on the water front he Christmas of 1916 he remembered only too well. There turned left and made his way past the rugged buildings was no camaraderie on that Christmas day. He had that had withstood a score of hurricanes. shot down his first German plane. And he had been In the windows of those dusty old shops were signs very sick after it happened. He saw the pilot jump out and decorations that sent waves of nostalgia through his of his flaming ship before it crashed into the ground. numbed brain. One or two of the windows had artificial lie remembered the Christmas of 191S only faintly. Christmas trees with gay little baubles and yards of glis­ 1 fe was a captain then, but be had already lived all of his tening tinsel, and perhaps a star at the top. life. He had gone back to civilian life to find that every­ All of the windows had posters decorated with holly in thing was an empty shell. For five long years he studied green and red. They spoke of sales in plum puddings, to become a barrister. Five long years of mental and cheeses, and other things that go with Christmas. physical hell. 20 BILL BARNES

When his mother died, and then his father, he had a He knew there was beauty there, but he couldn’t see little money, a small income. Something broke inside it. He could see only his trembling hand and the thing him when his father went. The horrible strain of war he had become. He watched native fishermen unloading on the mind of a boy of sixteen and seventeen and fish that were every color of the rainbow. But he could eighteen took its toll. He could not adjust himself. not see their beauty. For eight years he wandered from one place to another, He cupped his hands and shouted at the man who was while he slowly disintegrated physically aiid mentally. working in the cabin of the little black amphibian riding He had tried his hand at a dozen things. No one of its sea anchor in the roads. His voice sounded hoarse them offered him any solace from his thoughts. and raspy to his own ears. He saw the figure in white Two years before he had landed on the little island of overalls lean out to acknowledge his call. Torrigua, one of a series of outposts of the British Em­ “Be with you in a bit,” the man in the cabin bellowed pire in the Caribbean Sea. There he rented an aban­ at him. doned lime and orange estate high up in the monies. He waited there in the broiling sun, whisky oozing out The administrator of the island and a half dozen other of his soft body. He decided while he waited there that white men told him he would go crazy stuck back in the he would tell Pete Manders when he came in what he jungle with only a couple of apelike natives to keep him was going to do. He knew that Manders was the only company. He laughed at them and told them that was real friend he had left in the world. Manders and Gwen what he wanted. Not to go mad, but to be alone. Huntley. At first he seldom left the place. He basked in the Gwen woidd be heartbroken, he knew. But time would warm sun, fished the hundreds of roaring streams, rode heal that. After the first shock had gone she would the narrow trails until his bod}' ached. probably marry old Manders. That would be best for Then the first rains came in the winter. He could see both of them. He told himself that he had no right to the distant monies covering themselves with a mantle of jeopardize the happiness of either of them. Manders white. Then a far-away wind sighed down the valley, would help Gwen stand the shock. He was true blue. followed by columns of rain. Rain that came harder and He would straighten out his. Braid’s, affairs. And that harder until it pounded on the roof of his little red house would be the end of it. like the patter of machine-gun bullets. FTe knew exactly how he was going to do it. He Those columns of rain became like the columns of smiled as he glanced toward the sheer, high cliffs up men he had seen marching endlessly toward destruction along the shore. He thought of the legends telling how during the War. He tried to hide from them by going the warlike Caribs had driven their enemies off those back to the little town on the coast. He took a room at same cliffs to their deaths. Something was about to drive the Hotel Paz and spent most of his time in the café, him off them to his death. Something that was as deadly drinking whisky and soda. He was still invited to the as the savage Caribs. homes of the planters on the island. “What ho! What h o!” Pete Manders called, his voice And then he fell in love. The whole world became a cheery, as he rowed his little dinghy alongside the jetty. place worth while. She was the daughter of the official Braid started, violently, then scowled down at the port doctor. She had red hair and blue eyes and bronzed, blue-eyed man beneath him. freckles on her nose. For a year Dean Braid lived in “Want to try out the old baby? Give her a spin?” heaven. Manders asked, throwing a hand toward the lloating He managed to get a position in the chain bank that amphibian whose black fuselage gleamed brightly in the had a small branch on the island. He managed that glare of the sun. through friends back in England. It looked as though “Not now, or any other time,” Braid said. "Let's get he had at last found his salvation. out of this heat. Let’s have a spot of something over at Then he began to slip again. He could not explain it the Three Widows.” He wished Manders would stop to Gwen Huntley, nor could he explain it to himself. ragging him about flying his ship. He knew that Man­ The world became a place of torture. ders knew he hadn’t taken any kind of a plane into the Gwen begged him to leave the place, to take her back air since the day he was released from active duty in the to England with him. But he stayed on, drinking a bit Royal Flying Corps. He never wanted to see another more each day, falling deeper and deeper into de­ plane at that time and he still felt the same way about it. spondency. He was afraid of himself. He was afraid “You look,” Manders said, as he joined him, “as to risk her happiness when she told him she would marry though you’d been trying to drink the Widows out of wet him if he took her back to England. He was afraid that goods. It's a foolish ambition. You'll never succeed. going back to England wouldn’t make any difference, Just as soon as you get one barrel empty they'll have that he would only make her life a thing of terror and another one ready for you.” Manders’ keen eyes were regret. going over Braid the way air officer’s eyes go over a re­ Dean Braid cursed the intangible tear that possessed cruit's rifle at inspection. him as he plodded along the water front. Fie walked to “In fact,” he went on, “I once knew a fellow who even the end of the jetty and gazed back at the red-tiled roofs stopped eating so he would have more room for his of the houses set on the sides of the towering monies. liquor. What do you think happened to him about the He wished that he could dive to eternity in the soft, time he got used to it?” fleecy clouds that caressed their peaks. His eyes drank “All right,” Braid growled, “what happened to him?” in the glorious blue-green shore, tinted with emerald and “lie died,” Manders said. “F lo! H o ! The blighter aquamarine. He saw great groves of cocoanut palms, died!” sheer cliffs that rose hundreds of feet straight up from “Funny!” Braid half snarled. “That’s what I want to the Caribbean, little native villages constructed of bamboo talk to you about. About death. I’m fed up, Pete. I and plantain leaves. can't make a go of it any longer.” (Turn to page 89) 21

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N an article in the September issue nf A ir T r a il s , I Aren 7 there any thrills left for I pointed out that tiie causes of a great many avoidable and they' re the fin- accidents originate in the mind of the' pilot, that the “dare-devil complex” is a natural reaction to the extraor­ dinary stimulation of flying and one to be forewarned be helped quickly against and fought constantly, upon pain of death. I gave through this malady by Lieutenant a few figures and cited instances to show that what often or kept from having seems to a pilot merely a little exciting fun leads fre­ it altogether? quently to a ghastly crash. The answer, obviously, is education. Forewarn them: In trying to discover why the airplane, more than any help them to realize that their feeling of safety is often other fast vehicle, makes people do utterly crazy and false: teach them to resist temptations to seek excitement. dangerous things, I stated the opinion that it was largely But most important of all, help them to learn quickly because flying, even in a fast plane, at a safe altitude of that safe flying is not necessarily boring. Help them to 2,000 feet or more is, especially to a young pilot, a achieve a “grown-up” outlook that will reveal to them monotonous, slow-seeming business, with none of the immediately what the mature pilot of the past has had to thrills that hedge-hopping gives. The resultant boredom, learn by himself, after wasting much time and enduring combined with a sense of great power (and hence of a lot of mental stress. invulnerability), makes many a man, with a throttle and Before examining this “grown-up” outlook, let's glance stick in his hands, deliberately seek the excitement of for­ at the old attitude that has caused so many pilots to be bidden maneuvers. Largely as a result of this, the De­ bored when safe and to miss the best joys of flying. Get­ partment of Commerce figures show that about three out ting to the bottom of this warped mental condition involves of every four accidents in “pleasure flying” are avoidable. going back into the psychological history of aviation. Now L suspect that the idea that it is possible for an airplane to be what I called it, the most borcsome of all vehicles, sounded a bit strange to a good many people who are sure flying is—or would be, if they could only fly— the most exciting of activities. “Do you mean to say,” they might ask me, “that these ‘grown-up’ safe pilots just sit in their planes, thousands of feet up, and yawn with boredom until they get where they’re going or until a certain time is up? If so, why are they as crazy about flying as they ever were? Why is it they can hardly bear to stay out of a plane three days at a time if they expect nothing but boredom? And do you mean to say that the thousands of people who look forward to flying in the future can hope for noth­ ing within the limits of safety but monotony? Will the airplane, flown safely, be for us merely some- φ thing to be endured for the sake of· getting there quickly? And is it necessary-to flirt with death in order to escape this boredom you talk about?” The answer emphatically is NO. Safe flying is The grown-up attitude must be spread by education. An army the best of all—if you are dry under your ear-pads. pilot chats with Kelly Field students. When I spoke of the boredom that makes pilots do foolish things, I had in mind the particular kind of Flying, for many years, was considered by most people pilot the article was about—the young pilot in the “danger (and still is by many) as something extraordinary, spec­ period” between 200 and 500 hours and the rare experi­ tacular, sensational and, above all. dangerous. Before the enced pilot who hasn't grown up, yet miraculously sur­ War. pilots were brave but foolish—like the man who vives to lead others to their deaths by his bad example. went over Niagara in a barrel. The War changed all that. Few young pilots escape the peculiar mental condition Pilots became brave and heroic, knights of the air who that lays them open to the dare-devil complex. In the faced peril with a smile. past hundreds have not been able to get through it alive. During the past few years that viewpoint has been Others have gotten through, because they had mild cases changing. The engineers have been taking the danger out and recovered quickly or because the deaths of friends of sane flying—and the pilots miss it ! The less danger, the came in time to shock them back to normal. less glory. The greatest danger, it has turned out. is the The problem is this: How can young pilots (of all ages) danger of being considered just an ordinary mortal with 23 Grown-Up Pilots

the safe, sensible flier? Plenty— man Arrowplanc, and the “go everywhere” roadable autogiro— who could doubt that everybody’s airplane est thrills of all! is here? If these small airplanes really go into mass production an interesting (but soon, as we all hope they will, it is certain that people W. M. Wood not heroic) job, or everywhere before long will be considering pilots as mere sport, or way of get­ humans. The trouble will be in getting the hundreds and ting around. thousands of new pilots themselves to remember that they Now it seems that the trouble with most of our rashly are merely ordinary people in 1937 or '38 or ’39, and not daring youngsters among the pilots is that they are sadly daring, devilish fellows of a dead romantic day. behind the times. They have been unable to change men­ This difference in the way other people look at pilots tally as fast as aviation has been changing. They still and the way they look at themselves has been causing think they have to be heroes, and that flying must be serious trouble, and the matter has been gone into thor­ exciting and sensational and, at least to the groundlings oughly by Captain Harry G. Armstrong, a flight surgeon or to the friend in the passenger seat, dangerous, liven of Wright Field. He discovered that in a group of 163 when they don’t have passengers or spectators whom they pilots 11.04 per cent suffered from a nervous disorder feel obliged to thrill, they feel the necessity of dramatizing which he calls “aeroneurosis.” Writing recently in the themselves to themselves as daring aviators. Their atti­ Journal of the American Medical Association, and refer­ tude is so cluttered with childish notions and feelings that ring to aviation’s change in the public eye from romantic they are blind to the best joys of flying, and so get bored adventure to an everyday business, Captain Armstrong at 2,000 feet. They realize vaguely that they are missing says: fun and, not having the right mental habits, not knowing "This slow but definite change has deflated the pilot's where to look, they go diving down for a cheap roller­ ego and thereby created further emotional stress. There coaster thrill—and break their necks. is a constant attempt to regain face, to reclaim and hold The whole attitude of such behind-the-times people a fading dream.” must be changed. The time has really come for private He lists other things that help cause “aeroneurosis” and pleasure fliers to take off those knickerbockers and and defines it as “a chronic functional nervous disorder boots and to put on long pants. The time almost came characterized by gastric distress, nervous irritability, in 192S and '29. The air (if it wasn't exactly full of fatigue of the higher voluntary mental centers, insomnia, ships) was full of talk about “airplanes for everybody.” emotional instability and increased motor activity.” Ob­ The depression put it off a few years, but now the busi­ viously a pilot so afflicted is in pretty bad shape, and ness index says 100 again and Mr. Vidal of the Bureau Captain Armstrong says that victims should be grounded of Air Commerce says the “airplane for everybody” is because it is dangerous for them to fly. just about bere. Looking at Mr. Vidal’s recent exhibit Although I am not a specialist in psychiatry, it docs in Washington of the Hammond Y, the Curtiss-Wright not take a trained observer to sec that the dare-devil Coupé, the Arrow F (with auto engine), the Weiek W -l complex, even where the more pronounced symptoms are (with its amazing glide-steepening device), the Water­ not apparent, is really a mild case of aeroneurosis. Treatment of pronounced cases of aero- neurosis must obviously be left to the medical specialist, but the real solution of the problem for young pilots of the pres­ ent and for the thousands of pilots of the future must be prevention of the ailment by a change in the general mental attitude, a change in the reasons why new recruits to the ranks of the air-minded want to fly. a change in their expectations from flying, and a change in what they look for after they start flying. It’s an old saying that you can’t make but one mistake in para­ chute jumping, it’s almost as true of flying- in general. Pilots, in order to be safe, must be born without knickerbockers. Or the swanky riding pants must be yanked off quickly and plain, unromantic trousers substituted. I believe it’s possible. Thrill-seekers seldom realize that you can see more fascinating views at The Private Fliers Association, under 2,000 feet than you can at 20! the direction of its president, William W. 24 BILL BARNES

Brinckerhoff, has recently inaugurated a national cam­ of how the ability to fly, through all of ancient myth and paign for making private flying safer. Shocked by fatali­ legend, was a miraculous power which identified its pos­ ties resulting from pure carelessness and foolhardiness in sessors as gods, angels, and the sons of gods. violation of regulations, this organization has formed a Sure, think of yourself as a “winged god," but do it "Death Holiday Committee,” which seeks to have stricter right. Marvel and be grateful because you live in an State laws passed where needed and stricter enforcement age when millions of men can be just that; don't go try­ of regulations carried out by State and local officials and ing to show off and draw attention to yourself like a agencies. The Private Fliers Association also wants child of two with a new rattle. more Bureau of Air Commerce inspectors to enforce Ask an old pilot what is to him the finest thing, after Federal regulations, and it urges the permanent ground­ all, about flying, the one thing that possesses in the high­ ing of all planes with obsolete engines and all planes not est degree its distinctive pleasurable quality. The chances Federally licensed. are he’ll say he doesn't know, he just likes to fly. Pin These aims arc admirable and if carried out should do him down, and you're likely to lind that the greatest joy a great deal of good. But enforcement efforts alone will of all is that indescribable feeling of freedom, of exaltation be inadequate in the face of wrong conditions in the that comes when the wheels lift, with a final light touch, minds of the people who fly and of those who look on. from the earth—the moment the miracle of flying be­ There is a certain thrill in violating a regulation, and the comes real. Is it strange to you that there should be stricter the enforcement the greater the thrill. The idea more fun in a normal take-off than in a loop off the that it is smart to "get by” with something, which grew ground ? If so, you need reeducation in the joys of flying. so strong during prohibition, is unfortunately still with Pin your veteran pilot down further in an effort to us. But get it into the heads of youngsters (of all ages) discover why he is still crazy about flying, even though that it is definitely not smart to be reckless; let them he hasn’t done a "thrilling” thing in years, and it is understand once and for all that they will not be admired entirely probable that you will find out little. The gentle for their trumped-up daring: feed them contempt instead joys of flying often have a personal nature and it’s hard of awe and pleadings and threats, and it will make a vast for the typical old pilot to put such things into words. difference. Sometimes he hardly knows himself just why he remains The first factor, then, in the grown-up attitude toward devoted to flying. And if lie knows he might not tell flying, which must be spread as a preventive of the dare­ you. After all, it’s not in the flying tradition for a devil complex, is the idea that everyday pilots are not wind-burned veteran to go around the hangars talking heroes any longer, do not need to be daring, and merely about his private relations with clouds. Yet, if you watch make themselves ridiculous when they try to make arti­ him take off on a pleasure hop, alone, on a morning when ficial heroes of themselves, when they try to reclaim and the tlumderheads arc piled white and splendid on the hold their “fading dream.” They must let all these foolish horizon, the chances arc you may see a speck of a plane self-delusions go, and welcome flying as an exhilarating, a few minutes later spiralling upward around a towering thoroughly enjoyable, commonplace function of the mod­ castle of spotless foam. Did you ever stop and think how ern man or woman, no more nor less heroic (and actu­ marvelous it is to be able to stand on the earth and to ally less dangerous if done right) than driving an auto­ look up at a vast cloud formation, and then actually to mobile. (jo to it, and to explore its other side, its hidden crev­ And right there is the clue to the secret of not being- asses, its canyons and lofty battlements? Try thinking bored at 2,000 feet. You don't go driving on a sunny about that sometime. Try doing it. There will be surprises. afternoon in order to see how near you can come to run­ But that is only one phase of the genuine and gentle­ ning off a cliff without actually doing it, nor to drive at manly joys of flying. Did you ever stop to consider that 70 along a mountain road just to get a sensation of vio­ the airplane is one of the finest instruments in the world lent movement and perilous speed. At least, it is hoped for the expression of skill in graceful movement? Per­ you don’t. Unfortunately there are fools among motor­ haps you know the joy of dancing rhythmically and well, ists (as there will always be a few among pilots). No. or of getting over a forehand drive just right in tennis, You go driving generally to see the mountains, to enjoy or of driving a golf ball 200 yards, or of being able to do the sunshine, to feel the fresh air on your face. a perfect swan dive. Nothing dangerously thrilling about We can’t carry the comparison too far, for the airplane, those pleasures, is there ? And they arc genuine pleasures, used safely, is vastly superior to the automobile as a fine ones. Well, as the source of essentially the same kind means of enjoying civilized pleasures—for those "who of pleasure, the airplane, in my opinion, is supreme. have gotten over the need for roller-coaster thrills and The secret of success and of a large part of the pleasure mock heroics. in dancing, playing tennis, and so on, is balance. The First of all. you have the third dimension. You are more perfect the balance and the truer the rhythm, the free, almost completely free in space, superior to the better the performance and the more fun it is. At the confining pull of gravity. The fundamental joy of flying very heart of good flying is development of the sense of is, of course, the actuality of the miracle of flight. That balance. You have to have it to a certain extent even sounds very obvious, but that’s the trouble with it. It’s before you solo. You must be able not to skid or slip too so obvious the average flier misses the quiet wonder of much. As time goes on the sense of balance is developed actually flying. Too often he feels only the intoxicating to a very fine point, so that a good pilot constantly works “sensc-of-power” element, gets himself dog-drunk on his controls keeping the ship in trim, correcting minute that and goes for a wild spree of dangerous pranking. slips and skids when they are so little that the legend Next time you go flying, sit very calmly in your plane, arose that a pilot stops them before they actually start and look far down at the earth. Observe that there is at all. actually nothing visible holding you up, and think how There is no more pleasant sport than what might be many thousands of years people dreamed vainly of flying, called “sky dancing.” I mean by that (Turn to page QL) 25 SPLIT-SECOND ACTION - H a v -breadth escapes, hair-trigger decisions, dangerous moments that come once in a lifetime.------

FIRE SWEPT BACK FROM THE ENGINE. THE CANADIAN ROCKIES W E R E NO PLACE TO LAND. CAPTAIN STREETT TURNED THE CONTROLS O V E R TO HIS MECHANIC AND CLIMBED ONTO THE WING WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AS HE WAS ABOUT TO PULL HIMSELF ONTO THE HOOD. THE MECHANIC SIDE-SLIPPED THE PLANE CTO PROTECT STREETT FROM THE FLAMES). STREETT FELL. CAUGHT A W IRE BRACE. SWUNG BY HIS FINGERS. PUT THE EXTINGUISHER IN HIS JACKET. C L IM B E D BACK. STRADDLED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE FIRE.

A BALLOON, BREAKING AWAY FR O M THE G R O U N D - CREW, SHOT SKYWARD, CARRYING ON THE LOAD RING, SHADE, THE CREW CHIEF. HE PULLED THE RIP CORD. DOWN DROPPED THE BAG SPINNING OVER ANDOVER. IT BORE OUT OVER THE WATER. S H A D E COULD NOT SW IM. WHEN THE BAG HIT, SHADE W A S ON TOP AND STEPPED INTO THE RESCUE LAUNCH, WITHOUT GETTING, EVEN HIS FEET, WET.

SCREECHING ALONG. IO O FEET UP. 235 MILES PER HOUR. THE WINGS BEGIN TO TE"AR SIX OTHERS HAD TRIED WITHOUT SUCCESS. E. HAMILTON OFF. THE SHIP NOSES UP. AT 300 FEET LEE FLEW THROUGH THE WORST SORT OF WEATHER THE PILOT "BAILS OUT". THE WINGS GO- AND DROPPED FOOD FROM A MAIL PLANE. TO ICE­ IT’S A CLOSE CALL FOR JIM M Y D O O L IT T L E / BOUND LUMBERJACKS ON A LAKE MICHIGAN ISLAND. 26

PSTAIRS, the gleaming Colborn “mystery" test nearing presence. Some even murmured that Ace should plane bucked, flipped, rolled, looped in dizzy gyra­ be there to help. Nobody meant that seriously, but Ace U tions. For half an hour red-headed "Ace” Tighe was safely not there, and it made pretty "Lassie” Foote had tried to hoot her, had throttled and stalled and happy to hear them. slipped and gone into spins that would have wrecked There was a serious problem at hand. Old man another ship. Foote fixed the town meeting with that intent expression He zoomed around on an outside loop, panted into immemorably reserved for presidential debates and the the seventh arc. Throttling down, he felt the ship stag hallowed subject of trout. ger, hang suspended a brief instant, then sit back and “Pine Notch,” he declared gravely through a quid of shriek off in a fast spin. tobacco, "has got to have that airport! If them clanged Releasing controls, he waited. Tu three hundred feet Elkton varmints get it, they get the county seat.” the ship pulled out, stabilized, in control. Not all Pine Notch citizens were quite sure what an On the apron beneath. Colonel Colborn puffed proudly airport was, but it was something to be built on Federal at binoculared aeronautical engineers and flagged the money, and Pine Notch had long lived off the profits ship down. of being county seat. "If my son were here------” declared General Tighe, forgetting he had bought his son a new ship only two months before to stay away. “Well, how we going to get it?" snapped pessimist Wortles. Old man Foote conceived one of the brilliant an­ swers which had kept him in political power for The Kiwi thirty years. “That, fellow citizens, is a question we must answer!” "Guidance,” rasped the Reverend "Spigget" Mac- Bean in sepulchral tones, “will come from above.” He fixed his eyes upon the bottom of the .bell tower. A whine answered him from that direction. Clipper The tower vanished before his gaze. A red mon­ ster roared and pushed through the opening. It charged into the hall, stuck, spit, snorted, and It was the dizziest flying coughed up a figure. The figure hurtled through space and came down spinning on a snapped rafter. contraption ever flown , and The Reverend MacBean prayed intently. It was not the devil. But it might as well have been. It Pine Notch folks echoed, was Ace Tighe. Worse, he was alive and kicking. At least a good 44 Only A ce Tighe could do it! ’ ’ funeral would have distracted public suspicion of witchcraft from the Reverend Mr. MacBean. General Tighe poked martial whiskers through a by Thomas Calverf McClary heap of plaster and gasped stoutly that you couldn’t kill a Tighe. Heads nodded sad agreement. It was, unfortunately, true. “She’s foolproof with those gyroscopes!” he. boomed. Then the disrupted meeting became very frightened. “A child could land her on a pocket handkerchief at Incoherent orders and shrieks rang through clouds of thirty.” plaster dust. The general was trying to forestall law­ “If Ace Tighe can't boot her," said “Tex” Kane of suits by declaring his son’s arrival an act of Provi­ Tal Oil, “she’d fly bottom up in a hurricane! We’ll take dence. twenty—one for each of Ace’s crack-ups.” Ace blinked open pained eyes to find himself on the Colonel Colborn expansively drew out a contract form village common, his head pillowed in Lassie Foote's lap. as the ship leveled off and came in at thirty-five. “Note He noted the concern in her long-lashed eyes and that safe landing speed,” he boasted. grinned. She stiffened and looked suddenly resentful. Rut Colonel Colborn had not counted on Ace Tighe. "1 think I’m hurt,” Ace groaned quickly. Ace came in with tail high and wiggling his flippers “You aren’t, but the town is dying of shock," she said wildly. There was no response from the ship at that crisply. speed. The gyros held the tail on a dead level, “This common is a punk landing field,” Ace com­ With almost practiced ease, Ace nosed oveV and plained. “That bell tower was smack in the sun.” crashed. Lassie regarded him accusingly. “The wind’s out of "Only Ace -Tighe could do it.” said local papers. What the east and the sun setting,” she snapped. “Ace, you’re the colonel said was unprintable. just a—a kiwi with a prop on your beak! Showing off Ace pocketed the headlines with a sublime lack of isn't good flying!” conscience, eight dollars, and hopped his red Boeing She threw his head off her lap and arose abruptly. over the roofs of terrified villages toward Pine Notch. Ace sat up slowly. Hangar talk! She must be running It was time, he considered, to give the home folks a with Tom Deval from Elkton. hand. Also, he must eat. There was a drone over the mountain. A Corsair Home folks were in happy ignorance of Ace Tighe’s slipped into sight, dropped and came in on a perfect 27 three-point landing. Lassie colored and watched Tom ing. It had just cost him a pretty penny to settle with Dčval alight. the town council. "Well,” Tom said cheerfully, regarding the wrecked Ace gulped. There wasn’t a clodhopper in the coun­ Boeing and building, “only Ace could have done it !” try who would loan him a ship. He had just eight dol­ Ace darkened beneath, his tan and glared at the smug lars in the world toward a new one. And with a nod satisfaction on Deval’s face. But Deval could talk. He of his head he had bet his rights to the girl he loved was a really good flier. Not daring, hut winning the with his rival. respect of any field he squatted on. “Happy landings!” Deval chuckled. “Maybe you can “Are you the world’s best-known flier?" Ace gritted. rig up an electric fan on a chicken crate.” “No, that can be your honor— when you’re a legend.” “I reckon I better take you home before you get in Deval smirked. “T want to he its oldest pilot, myself." more trouble,” old man Foote drawled in Ace’s ear. "I’ll leave you in the clouds at the Elkton army test Ace wedged himself into the springless seat of the races!” Ace snapped. springless 1916 Foote motor chariot with thoughts dark “Like to make a bet?” Deval asked, llis eyes went and distant. General Tighe was hotly arguing with Seth meaningly to the quick-breathing figure of Lassie stand­ dressing over the disappearance of some dressing false

ing between them. Ace Tighe's eyes followed, swerved tcetli. Seth had lost his teeth while fishing six years back to Deval's. His face was sober and much‘older before, hut he swore he had just lost them in the sham­ as he nodded sharply. bles of the meeting house. For a second Ace thought of his own reputation. He “Reminds me.” old man Foote said, “you owe me kept the best motors at any field. He could make two five dollars for a new stovepipe; 1‘iece of plaster near horse power do whirlwind tricks. But when it came scalped me.” to good flying, the careful flying of the modern com­ “Uh-uh. Two dollars,” Ace corrected distantly. mercial times, he was just Kiwi No. 1, the wild redhead Foote gave him a look of freshening respect. “Guess who had lived on borrowed time so long his luck was you ain't forgot all you used to know.” bankrupt. “Guess I'm in a tailspin with Lassie,"’ Ace mourned. A brittle chuckle from Deval brought the swagger “Pretty bad, coming home like that right now, Ace. hack to Ace. “Well, folks, put your nickels on the local Some folks around here kind of got the notion your repu­ eagle at the races!” he sang out. “I'll he doing loops tation might help get the airport for Pine Notch. But through Deval’s prop!” it looks like the most help you could be now was to sav "Not on my money you won’t!” roared General Tighe. you’re from Elkton.” He shook a trembling finger at the wreckage of the Boe- Ace groaned. 28 BILL BARNES

“Yep. Trouble is, you’re plumb reckless,” Foote said. While Ace was washing up, the general peeked cau­ He hit down the pike at thirty, which speed he knew by tiously into his son’s basket. He gulped and gasped. the particularly annoying knock of the engine. Going Eighteen inches of beautiful speckled body lay' before around a curve he snapped his wheel in two complete him. And Seth Dressing's had just made fourteen and a circles. “Straightens out that old kink in the steering quarter—a bare minnow by comparison! gear,” he explained. “Uh—pretty good,” the general gulped weakly. Ace watched them avoid plunging over a cliff by the “Not so bad. Couple must measure nine or ten,” sheer force of some secret power shared only by old Ace shouted back. man Foote and his chariot. “What?” the general bellowed. “You got to be safe, careful, reliable for a woman,” Ace repeated. There could be no mistake. Ace didn’t Foote was saying. “Take Lassie’s ma and me------’’ Tic know what luck he had had. paused while he suspended one side of the car over the The general hesitated. All his life he had been an brink of a chasm. bonest man. But he was a fisherman. And he thought “Yep. Nice and safe like you,” Ace said, and wiped darkly of Crossing's false teeth. Furthermore, this was cold sweat from his brow. practically his own fish. He knew the very deep pool “Well, you got just two months to think on it,” Foote from which it had come. went on. With a stealthy air, the general “On what?” flashed the fish from one basket to “What do you think I been talk­ the other. In spite of it being a ing about ? On getting back Lassie’s family fish, so to speak, he had a and the town’s respect. 1 calculate sense of guilt. Ace came out look­ you got to find a plane and win that ing dreamily distant. race and think out a way to get the “Ahem, Junior,” the general said airport over here to do those things.” gruffly. “I have been thinking. I’ve “Just how would you think out a decided to give you nine hundred way?” Ace asked tartly. toward a new ship.” “Me?” Foote nudged aside a tree The general left the check in the which had managed to get in their hands of his stunned son and hur­ road. “Why, I’d go fishing.” He ried villageward with his purloined left Ace without further comment. trout. By the time he reached the I turn of the road he was sure he had GENERAL TIGIIE glowered at caught it himself. breakfast. He might have to buy All that night Ace figured franti­ Seth Cressing a new set of false cally with pencil and paper. Nine teeth. Seth had gotten public opin­ hundred was not enough for a new ion behind him. ship to compete with Deval’s Cor­ It was not the false teeth which worried the general. sair. But it was enough for a lot of material, and he It was Seth’s popularity, which was directly traceable to had salvaged his Boeing motor. hooking the season’s largest trout. The general secretly At sunup he rang up old man Foote. believed Seth had netted it, anyway. “I’m going to beat Dcval!” he shouted at the can­ “Don't think you’ll be getting a dime of my money!” tankerous early-morning voice. the general snapped. “Blast my britches!” Foote gasped, suddenly wide “I wouldn’t take it!” Ace snapped back without much awake. “How about the airport? What happened?” conviction. “I’m going fishing.” “Hang the airport. I went fishing,” Ace sang back, “Fishing?” repeated the general, touched in a soft and hung up. spot. “Maybe I’ll go with you.” “He went fishing,” Foote repeated slowly. “He fig­ “You’d scare off the fish,” Ace accused, and left in a ured out a way to beat Deval. But that don’t save my gray mood. So distant were his thoughts, he basketed county chairmanship if we lose the airport to F.lkton.” an eighteen-inch trout without even noticing it. Foote sat a long time at breakfast that morning, won­ But as he pushed up Deep Gorge toward Bald Moun­ dering if he had been giving occult, instead of political tain. Ace lost his gloom. Looking up the narrow sides advice all these years. Then he grabbed his fish pole of the gorge, he saw the place where he had once fer­ and headed toward Twin Forks. ried young, white-faced desperadoes across in his box kite. He recalled the irritation of his parents, who OLD M AN FOOTE had two great qualities of politi­ had nearly hided him for life. cal leadership. He was a good fisherman, and he knew “Golly, I sure knew the wind currents in these moun­ how to get blood from a stone. If he could not think tains!” he told himself largely. He thought about those of a way to steal the airport from Elkton himself, he currents and their peculiar violence. Then Deval’s remark thought of what to do about it while fishing. about a chicken crate and an electric fan occurred to him. Young men in love, he concluded, could rise to heights For a second the strong muscles of his jaw quivered. of sheer genius if properly inspired. The matter of in­ Then a twinkle of amusement came into his gray eyes, spiration he undertook by making up some stories about and his wild laughter, which matched the wild toss of Ace to tell his daughter. his red mane, rang up the gorge. There was a meeting between those two, the outcome The general awaited his son’s return with elaborate of which was a very pleased Lassie Foote and a dark- disinterest. He had been fishing himself, but his best browed Ace. Lassie, womanlike, believed nothing im­ catch just topped nine inches. possible to those in love. 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NE of the curious features of man’s conquests of the air lies in the fact O that certain of the earth’s peoples seem to take to wings more easily and naturally Russia Spreads than others. A good instance of this is the statement, made many times by people in a position to know, that the Japanese make poor pilots. They are said to he mechanical in their handling of the controls; they never Her Wings really become “part of the plane.” How true this is I am unable to say. If it is so, the young men of Nippon bear but little aerial The story of the long-distance resemblance to their Slavic neighbors across the Japan Sea, for the youth of Russia cer­ A .N . T. 25— the plane on the cover. tainly seems to take to flight as readily as the birds of the air. by Frank Tinsley Russia’s airplane and motor development was inconsiderable before the War. Most of the machines were built under foreign licenses, largely own hands and laid the foundations upon which the from French designs. At the outbreak of the War only great Russian air force of to-day has been built. two of the 16 different types of army planes were of Under the leadership of Professor Schukowsky, an Russian origin, and only one of the 9 types of motors. experimental and research establishment called the Cen­ During the War, transport difficulties and home require­ tral Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute known as "Z. A. G. I.” ments completely stopped French deliveries. The Czar- from the initials of its Russian name, was founded for ist air industry, thrown upon its own resources, was the development of all-Russian airplanes and motors. forced to develop native technicians and types of aircraft. At the same time, 3,000,000 rubles were appropriated for Among the Russian engineers thus brought to the the acquisition of foreign aircraft and engines. Thor­ fore was a young oughly alive to the handicap imposed on .its designer of bomb­ infant air industry by the shortage of raw ing planes who was materials and trained workmen, the Soviet a fanatic on the government took advantage of the Allied ban subject of large, on German aerial armament and permitted multi-engined ships. the erection of Teutonic aircraft factories on He built a number Russian soil. Hundreds of ex-flying officers of highly successful of the former imperial German army were machines with two employed as military instructors, and more or more motors, hundreds of skilled technicians were brought WHEELS ^ \ some of which rated r e t r a c t e d in to help staff the new factories. '/ / N X \ as the largest air­ D U F fl N 6 I t V , During the ensuing years, the Soviet army- 1 * l WHEELS planes of their time. F L I G H T i .·, \ i air force has continually expanded and im­ \ i V 1 I LOWERED The young man’s l l μ Fo r proved until it now rates as one of the most \ \ /I LANDING name was Igor Si­ \ *- formidable in the \ J korsky. world. The tech­ Following the nical ranks of the overthrow of the Russian air indus­ Czarist govern­ Operation of semi-retrac- try·, sadly depleted ment, all aerial ac­ table twin wheels and by the revolution, tivity ceased and a view of tunnel radiator. have been gradu­ general exodus of ally' filled up with aeronautical talent took place. Many gifted recruits drawn designers and pilots, among them Sikorsky and from the newly Alexander Seversky, arrived in the United established Soviet States and, being unsympathetic toward the engineering Soviet regime, never returned to their native schools. To-day, land. This great loss of engineering talent seri­ the design and ously hindered the development of Russian avi­ production of na­ ation during the years immediately following tive aircraft and the revolution. engines in the By a legislative act on June 28, 1918, air U. S. S. R. is activities wefe taken over by the State. The head of equal to that of any other nation in the world. the State Industries displayed little interest in flying, The international marking for Russian aircraft, as­ however, and even advocated that airplane factories be signed by the Federation Aéronautique Internationale, is done away with on the ground that they were non-pro­ URSS, which are the initials for the French form*of letarian luxuries. In the end, Lenin, who was then en­ the country’s full name, the Union of Soviet Socialist gaged in the formidable task of creating a new military Republics. set-up, took the re-organization of aeronautics into his Shortly after Lenin’s re-organization of aviation, the 31

route in Russia. The A. N. T. 14. another transport mono­ plane. boasts five engines and has given very satisfactory re­ sults under test. In 1934 the Λ. N. T. 20 was produced. This was the largest land plane in the world, a huge, eight-engined mono­ plane named after the Rus­ sian writer. Maxim Gorky. It was capable of carrying a crew of 23, plus 40 passen­ gers. Fitted out as a propa­ ganda plane, the ship was flown all over Russia and did much to popularize aviation with the masses of the people. During this service, the plane's equipment included a photographic laboratory and printing press for the prepar­ ation of leaflets and news sheets, a wireless transmitting plant with loud-speakers for broadcasting from the air, moving-picture apparatus for Russian government instituted a movement to popularize the projection of propaganda films, and a complete elec­ Hying with the general public. Clubs were started every­ trical installation for the display of lighted slogans on where and lectures and pre-flight instruction of qualified the underside of the huge wings. Each of the passen­ young Communists became the order of the day. Recog­ ger cabins contained four bunks. There was also a pas­ nizing the need of coordinating these far-flinti; activities, senger lounge, a telephone switchboard connecting 16 and of providing the Soviet army with a reservoir of separate stations, and long, medium and short-wave semi-trained fliers. Moscow soon announced the founda­ two-way radio sets. To generate the current necessary tion of a huge all-Russiau military organization which for this extensive electrical equipment, a dynamo driven would absorb all flying clubs and correlate all financial, by a 30 h.p. auxiliary motor was provided. propaganda and training activities in the Soviet republics. In May, 1935, a young pursuit pilot, while engaging This immense movement, which now numbers its mem­ in aerial acrobatics, flew too close to the big ship, and bers in millions, is probably the greatest mass effort to a collision occurred in mid-air. The "Maxim Gorky” advance aviation that the world has seen. Tt is known crashed and was destroyed, its 49 occupants being killed. as Osoaviachitn and has already produced thousands of Undismayed by this catastrophe, the Russian govern­ technicians, mechanics, pilots and parachutists. ment is now building three more of the giant mono­ Shortly after its foundation, the great Z. A. G. I. ex­ planes. and still others are being financed by popular perimental institute at Moscow commenced working on subscription. The new version of the A. N. T. 20 will flic problem of designing suitable aircraft for both mili­ be fitted with six, instead of eight, engines, as experi­ tary and civil use. Under the direction of its chief engi­ ence with the "Gorky” showed that the tandem engines neer, A. N. Tupolev, the Λ. N. T. series of large all- above the fuselage were not very (Turn to page92) metal airplanes was produced. Among them was the A. N. T. 4, which, bearing the name “The Land of the Soviets.” became well known in this country after a successful flight from Moscow to New York in 1929. The A. N. T. 4 is now being manu­ factured in large quantities -for military use as a twin-engined bomber-recon­ naissance land plane or sea plane. A larger four-engined version, the A. X. T. 6, is also being turned out. The A. N. T. 9 is a nine-passenger tri- motorecl commercial monoplane of the old Ford type powered with 365 h.p. Wright or 230 h.p. Gnóme-Rhóne Ti­ tan air-cooled radial engines. It is largely used on the Moscow-Irkutsk air line, the largest commercial air Light, strong wing construction of A. N. T. 25 and location of gas tanks. 32 CROSS WINDS

Can you answer the aeronautical definitions in this puzzle?

Across

1—Single-seat, wood-construc­ tion light plane 0—High nest of birds of prey 11— Present western end of transpacific Clipper route 12— Strata 14— Half of printer’s eni 15— Neither 16— Employ 17— Mountain, abbreviated 18— Leading manufacturer of 50—Human beings aircraft floats 52— Regarding 24—Wealthy man 20—Military foe 59—Withdraw 26— Air Adventurers’ guide 22— Strive for superiority 55— Traveled in a circuit 28—Wing member that shapes 23— Sea bird 57— Change surface 25— Make of Italian plane 58— Go in 30—Series designation of Rus­ 26— Airship mooring fixture on sian plane on cover m ast 32— Plantation owner 27— Grease stain Down 33— German make of light 29— K notty planes, in plural 1— Arrangement of wing be­ 31—Aircraft with two support­ 34— Air-sickness hind another ing surfaces 35— To scold 33— Dignify 2— Within 3— Fastening device 37— Furnish with weapons 36— Rips 4— Wild plum 38— One who bellows 40— Make of plane in Austrian 39— Airplanes’ outstanding qual­ air force 5— Tall tales 6— Oxide of aluminum ity 41— Government plane certifica­ 42— M ake of Swiss planes tion, abbreviated 7— N ot difficult 45— M i 1 itary assisla n t 43— To fall 8— Food grain 40— Element in air 44— Attachment fixture 9— That is, abbreviated form 49— Put in place 45— Avro bi-motored service 10— Northern weasel plane 11— Aircraft competitions 51—Thing screwed on bolt 47— Last name of Wiley Post’s 15— Horse 54—Abbreviation for longitu­ famous plane 19—Metallic earth dinal division of fuselage or 48— In the same manner oi—Planes that Sandy flies for other aircraft member 49— To perch Bill Barnes 50— Concerning 33

Electra, Junior

F you live hear ono Λί the large The new Lockheed 12 same cross section, maximum in­ airports and arc in the habit of side cabin width and height being spending your spare time there is smaller and faster 5 feet. Including the pilots’ sec­ (and what aviation fan doesn’t?) tion, the soundproofed cabin is perhaps you saw a glistening, 14 feet 8 incites long. In air-line all-metal, twin-motored job that J. Carlson service, the plane will carry six you’d never seen before come passengers in adjustable seats, a gliding in for a ‘landing recently. It looked very much crew of two, and about 450 pounds of cargo in the nose like an Electra, you thought, but it was smaller. Later, and a rear baggage compartment. or perhaps after an over-night stay, it took off for the Construction is principally of Alclad 24ST (aluminum next airport, leaving a lot of pilots and mechanics talking alloy, aluminum coated), with monocoque fuselage and about the swell job Lockheed had turned out. semi-stressed-skin wing. The twin fin and rudder ar­ For the twin-engined plane’s tour was the Lockheed rangement, which made for stability and controllability in company’s way of introducing its new model 12. Tt was the Electra, has been further refined in the 12. the first public appearance of what is claimed to be the The wing is built on a single shear beam. The load­ nation’s fastest twin-engine commercial airplane. sharing skin, carefully smoothed to present the lowest The Lockheed 12 may be considered a trimmed down possible resistance, is reinforced underneath by heavy version of the famous 10- corrugations which provide passenger Electra. It is in­ such strength that it is tended as an “executive” possible to walk down the type of ship for industrial Lockheed 12A center portion of the wing companies and business men, L e n g th ...... 80 ft. I In. without damaging the skin. Wing s p a n ...... *10 ft. 0 in. and as a “feeder” transport Height over-»II (lull on grouml)...... i) ft. 1) in. Electrically operated split- Wing arm (liiel. ailerons ami fuselage). . . .352 sq. ft. for small air lines, tapping Landing-gear t r e a d ...... 18 ft. 8 In. type trading-edge flaps in­ passenger traffic in areas Engines: 2 P&W Wasp Junior SB crease the gliding angle and where the bigger, heavier II.1*. at r.p.m. for cruising ...... 8< ni d 2.000 II. 1*. at r.p.m. for take-off...... -150 Or 2,200 reduce landing run. The sky-liners might not suc­ ailerons are statically and Take-off run (sea level), 2-position prop... .780 ft. ceed in filling all their seats. Take-off run (sea level), constant-speed prop.600 ft. dynamically balanced. .Maximum rate of climb (sea level), wheels up. 1,400 ft./min. There will be four mod­ Landing speed (sea level). Hups down...... 65 in.p.h. As with the Electra, the Fuel consumption, max. rated cruising power.r»2 gal./hr. els of the new plane: the Cruising range. (140 gal.) ...... 530 mi. Lockheed 12 wing center Fuel consumption, approx. 00% power...... 30 gal. hr. 12A, powered by 450 h.p. C ruising range (140 g a l.) ...... 650 mi. section is cut away at the I’ratt & Whitney Wasp Service ceiling, both engines...... 24,800 ft. Absolute ceiling, both engines...... 27,000 ft. fuselage, p erm ittin g the Junior SBs; 1213, Wright Absolute ceiling, full load, one engine...... 10,200 ft. Absolute ceiling, half fuel dumped, one engine. 11.000 ft. fuselage to be placed partly K-975-E3 Whirlwinds of Maximum speed, sea level. 10«»V« p ow er...... 210 in.p.h. within the tving. This re­ Maximum, .7.000 f t ...... 231 in.p.h. 440 h.p.; 12F, Wright Cruising, rated power, sea level...... 102 ni.p.li. duces the plane’s frontal Cruising, rated power, 5.000 ft...... 201 in.p.h. Whirlwinds of less power; C ruising, ra te d pow er, 10,000 f t...... 200 in.p.h. area, helping to eliminate and 12M, 6-cylinder in-line Gross weight ...... 7,02.7 ]hs. excessive drag and making 290 h.p. Menascos. Empty weight (inch std. equip.. W.E. radio).«7,85.7 lbs. L'seful lo a d ...... 2,570 lbs. p o ssib le high-performance Although smaller than the Passengers (6) and pilots (2) ...... 3,300 lbs. figures. The smooth nose Cargo (m ail, baggage, express, e tc .) ...... 4 1.7 lbs. Electra—5)4 feet less in Maximum oil capaeit.v (I I gal.) ...... 105 lbs. design and sloping, stream­ Normal fuel capacity (110 gal.)...... 660 lbs. span, 2 feet 3 inches in Maximum fuel capacity (140 gal.) ...... 840 lbs. line co n stru ctio n of the W ing lo ad in g ...... 22.-7 Ibs./sq. ft. length—the Lockheed 12 Power lo ad in g ...... 8.SI lbs./h.p. fuselage also provide maxi­ has a fuselage of about the mum visi- (Turn to page 47) ------— 34 u aoe i, tightening him, above out billowed and swished Silk s i blond no it. into ballooned air as rmtr sw ih trln caiy hog hs fatigue his through clarity startling with saw promoter, e pit I te cud e byn i, hyd ag up hang they’d it, beyond get could they If point. key water-bottomed grueling, the of most done had who ley, rse te u plenty. .Mid­ guy the crossed Bentley. blame didn't Tie reach. could they that o’clock. 8 fl the ight. of end hundred the at him behind fifty-seven clank would doors some world’s of the record shatter to failed distance they if nonstop Second, clouds. the nw ak I te dd h’ b a eo I ws hard was least It at had who hero hero. a a be jail—especially he’d in did, hero they a put If to mark. new a controls. the at now was and flying double- he’d and fast, and shrewd, smart, was dleton States United the in west flight point this farthest of the to hours Paris fifty from after him for loathing dumb ing, okd H sw h odry rne i pit o city of points Middleton pin orange orderly them. the saw beneath He clouds the looked. in hole sudden jail Rossi, and Codos aviators, French the by held miles under blackness the in crack-up possible a the and with trouble filled was cabin small the that fact the on first, clouds. the above moonlight H atrr woe rdcsh hd sd hs endorsements: his used: had he products whose facturers brood­ a nursed Bentley, Paul co-pilot, skilled his that h ht i hs voice. his in hate the closed. gap the before lights meant which oil, cooked of stench brown-tasting bitter, it tosn dlas n i okt olce fo manu­ from collected pocket his in dollars thousand fifty Cn e ae mh? h dmne. ht a the was That demanded. he Omaha?” make we “Can was It watch. wrist his at nervously glanced He ete gae a hm pitd on n aed o a to ahead and down pointed him, at glared Bentley based, was It mind. and body both of was terror His questionable airman, four-flushing Middleton, Henry Rvr iy" hpe Bnly Mdltn sensed Middleton Bentley. whipped City!" “River Bent­ of ear the into bellowed he we?” are "Where T, err n to agr mn oe n the in rode men haggard two and terror ATE, ln a ffen huad et hog te bright the through feet thousand fifteen at along oki o te alk mnpae s t pounded it as monoplane batlike the of cockpit y

35

tlíc stamped and cancelled postal covers lie carried for He knew that Bentley would join with the mulcted stock­ philatelists; and a newspaper syndicate running an exclu­ holders to slap him behind bars. Bentley should be put sive story about his flight. That much would get him out of the way. His correctional gyroscope was ineffec­ out of the jam he was heading into with the State Securi­ tive in a right spin. Middleton had talked the insurance ties Commission for selling stock in an aircraft corpora­ company into slapping a fiftv-thousand-dollar policy on tion which had no assets or promise of them, in order to the crate, which was a fair estimate of its actual cost, finance the trip. although it would bring less- than five thousand on the Rage and disappointment stung him as Bentley an­ open market because it had been designed only for long­ swered : distance flights, and had no commercial value. Answer: “Not a chance. Pistons have been seizing. Fire is Bentley out of the way via the crash route. The insur­ blowing by them into the sump, carbonizing the oil. The ance company ponying up the fifty grand. Middleton carbon’s clogging the oil-filter screen. W hen the flow’s paying off the stockholders to keep them quiet. His blocked the motor'll fry·.” part in the act would be risky—but he was desperate at “When ?’’ the thought of gray walls and iron bars. “An hour. Maybe two. "We've got nine hundred His hand closed over the crank which lay beside the miles to go— eight hours— to beat the Frenchmen.” mattress. He lifted it. swung it in a tight arc down Middleton stroked his whiskered, grimy face to cover onto Bentley’s head. The pilot slumped forward over the trembling spasm which shook him. Tie believed the stick. Middleton screwed himself forward, braced what Bentley said, for Bentley knew planes and motors, himself on the seat beside Bentley. He panted. His even if he w'as a sucker for a man with brains in any brow was mottled with sweat. He struggled, pushed other line. He tried to bolster up his flagging spirits, and heaved until he’d gotten the man away from the shake off his terror, by remembering the clever way in controls. Bentley was moaning, unconscious. Middle- which he’d bilked the pilot by getting him to sign a trick ton hadn’t cracked down too hard. Accidents were contract just before they had taken off from Paris. The freakish. A crushed skull might give Middleton away contract paid Bentley a mere five hundred dollars for fly­ during the investigation. ing the ship and robbed him of the fifty-fifty share of He snapped on his parachute harness. For a moment the proceeds which Middleton he was sick, and he swayed had promised verbally. dizzily with fear. He steadied “When the motor quits— himself, slipped into the seat will there be any great dan­ behind the controls, throttled ger?” the promoter asked, the rough, laboring motor to rubbing his hands together. “ I Tail Spin twelve hundred. Then he mean from the plane. Will drew the stick to him and she get out of control going kicked full right rudder. The down through the clouds now The record-seeking ship mushed forward, nose up, that the instruments have all like a sick fish gulping air gone haywire? Your inven­ hop was going to fail. at the surface of water, then tion^—the correctional what- sloughed off onto the right chamacallit—it’ll pull us out There was only one wing. The circle tightened. of anything, won’t it? Keep way oat------Nose slapped down, tail up. us stable? That’s why I let the crate began winding down you put it on the ship.” at the clouds and death beneath Middleton shuddered at the by Edward Churchill them. Middleton figured that oblique, detesting look lie got. they’d be just beyond River “The correctional gyro­ City, which was what he scope’s no good!” Bentley snapped. “It won’t save wanted. He had planned his deviltry carefully. your rotten neck. I tested it in Paris. When you He hugged the stick, pressured the rudder until his ease the motor back to about twelve hundred revs, kick stomach felt empty and his head swam. The tailspin the right rudder and pull the stick into your stomach, stuck—the ship didn’t fight to come out, but tightened the ship’ll go into a spin and the gyro’ll never bring up. Sure at last that there was no chance of it coming her out. That makes it worth absolutely nothing.” out, he reached up, unhitched the window latch in the Bentley went into a fierce silence, stared up at the roof, opened it, juggled himself out of it and kicked stars and down at the clouds, which looked like a mussed off into blackness. He counted a short five, pulled the fleecy blanket. Middleton studied him, pored over his rip cord. Silk swished and billowed out above him. statement, stiffened suddenly at the audacity of his cracked and tightened as air ballooned into it. thought. lie controlled his agitation enough to say, He sighed with the fervor of a condemned man re­ smoothly, as he unsnapped his parachute harness and ceiving the news of a stay of execution. Cold air weaved pulled up in his metal seat: through his garments, cooling his perspiration, chilling “Tough. Well. I’m going to hit the hay until the him. big moment. Call me when we’re licked.” “Perfect!” he gasped. He turned, stepped on the parachute pack, pulled him­ The parachute drifted in the light wind. He strained self onto a built-up platform over the tanks at the rear for a sound from the big monoplane which was cork­ of the cabin and worried his big body around until he screwing through the clouds, heard the distant popping was facing forward on the dirty kapok mattress. of the motor for a minute, heard it fade out. He knew He was amazed at the rapidity with which his mind that with both descending through fifteen thousand feet clicked under the stimulus of what Bentley had told him. of air, he and the doomed plane might (Turn in page85) 36

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: What hind of airplane was used in pro­ broken July 1. 1935, when A1 and Fred Key came down ducing the motion picture “Devil’s Squadron," and what at Meridian, Miss., after the remarkable time of 653 are its specifications and performance? R- A. M., hours 34 minutes, or a little over 27 days spent in the Utica, N. Y. air within sight of the airport. Answer: The plane you refer to was a Northrop Their plane, named “Ole Miss,” was a Curtiss Robin, Gamma. The same type was used in the filming of powered by a 175 h.p. Wright Whirlwind. “Ceiling Zero.” The former well-known "Sky Chief Question: I have heard that when a■ plane makes a of Frank Hawks—destroyed in the last Bendix race— turn without banking, it immediately starts to skid. was a Gamma, too. The Gamma is a single-engined freight and mail plane. I Chat happens then? Would it turn completely around, It is all metal, and has stressed-skin wing and fuselage or would it merely make a wide skidding turn? K. B., construction. Its length is 31 feet 2 inches, and span Canova, S. D. 47 feet 9y> inches. Weight empty is 4,119 lbs., and it Answer: Neither of the above-mentioned movements carries a pay load of 1.173 lbs. It has usually one of would happen. With practically all planes an attempted two engines: a Wright Cyclone SR-1820-F3 developing flat turn, furthermore, would result not in a skid, but 710 h.p., or a Pratt & Whitney Hornet of about the in a sideslip. That is, the wing on the outer side of same power. Maximum speed is around 220 m.p.h., the turn would begin to point downward, and the plane absolute ceiling 22,500 feet, landing speed 00 m.p.h. would fall off in that direction. At the same time, los­ (with llaps). If you want further details, I suggest that ing forward speed, the nose would drop and almost cer­ you write to the Northrop Corp., Inglewood, Calif. tainly you'd find yourself heading into a spin. In other words, don't figure to try a flat turn—at least, at low Question: R. T. oj Atlanta, Ga., asks an opinion on altitude—any more than you’d try going around a curve the pursuit-versus-bomber question, quoting claims that on a bicycle without leaning inward. the modern bombers can outspecd and outshoot many pursuits, but that, also, the pursuits arc developing can­ Question: Why are air-cooled engines considered bet­ nons that can stop the bombers. ter than water-cooled engines? B. L·., New Orleans, La. Answer: If I could give a final answer as to whether Answer: There are a good many reasons why; in the day of the pursuit planes is ending, I'd automatically fact, it would be·difficult to find anything to say in favor become the world’s foremost authority on military avia­ of liquid cooling. About the only advantage that liquid- tion and governments would come running for advice. cooled engines still have is that it is possible to line up The answer is that there is no final answer—at least, a lot'of cylinders along a crankshaft and so pile up con­ not at this stage of the game. In my opinion, no deci­ siderable horse power w ithout large frontal area, liquid sion will be possible until man stops inventing new weap­ circulation being a more or less efficient way of cool­ ons that arc deadlier than the old, and I see no sign of ing such an arrangement. But even in such engines, the his stopping. The factors that must he considered in science of air cooling is developing rapidly. air warfare—speed, maneuverability, armament, numbers The superiority of air cooling lies in its own virtues —arc constantly shifting unevenly, so that the probable and in its freedom from the drawbacks of water cool­ outcome changes practically from month to month. At ing. The somewhat higher temperatures of air-cooled present there's no solution. cylinders make for greater fuel economy, since the fuel is burned more thoroughly, or for greater power on the Question: What is the endurance flight record (re­ same fuel quantity. The air-cooled engine is simpler in fueling in air) official and unofficial? What type ship construction, lacking water jackets, radiator and pump, and motor 'was used? Who were the fliers? E. G. ]., and hence requires less attention and repair by pilot Selmo, Calif. and mechanics. For the same reason, it is lighter. It Answer: Both the previous official record of 553 is easier to start in cold weather, yet does not risk hours of the Hunter brothers and the unofficial time of overheating at any time, since there is no liquid to escape 647 hours 38 minutes, set by Jackson and O'Brine, were or boil over. 37

m a z i n g results Cross-piece antenna on were recorded in nose picks up the land­ A recent experi­ ing beams. In the back­ mental instrument land­ ground is an experimen­ ing tests made in a twin- tal antenna for better motored Boeing 247-D range beacon and mes­ transport by United Air sage reception. Lines· at Oakland Air­ port. They were made possible by new radio the task of maintaining directional and landing horizontal equilibrium beams, picked up by a manually so that he can cross-shaped antenna give all his attention to installed on the nose of the job of holding the the ship. craft in the correct di­ The directional beam rection for the blind operates on a frequency landing. of 232 kilocycles. It is When the altimeter transmitted from a shows 300 feet, the pilot small auxiliary station knows be is one mile located at the far end of from the border of the the field. At the station field. He is in a power the beam is a couple of Landing Blind glide, with motors turn­ inches wide; it spreads ing up 1,750 r. p. m., out to five feet at the and he is maintaining landing circle on the field, ten feet at by A. S. Gregory a safe landing speed of 85 m. p. h. the border of the field, and widens When the radio tone coming through gradually so that a mile away it is 300 the earphones begins to build up, the feet wide, and wider in proportion at ten miles. The pilot is warned that lie is close to the field. At 60 feet beam is vertical and extends upward to great height. altitude the tone suddenly fades away. The pilot then Once on this beam, the pilot knows he is approaching knows he has passed the border of the field. He holds the center of the field to land. the plane exactly on the junction of the two beams, and The landing beam operates on a frequency of 93,000 flies right down to the ground. The landing beam is kilocycles. It is transmitted from a small auxiliary sta­ almost flat at this height, so the plane’s wheels do not hit tion which stands close to the directional beam transmit­ hard. However, the plane bounces slightly, and when it ter. The beam is thin and horizontal. At the landing touches ground on the rebound the pilot cuts the throttle circle it is fifteen feet above the ground, and 60 feet at and applies the brakes. The automatic pilot holds the the liorder of the field. One plane absolutely straight while mile away it is 300 feet up. It rolling on the ground, and curves gradually so that at ten Invisible sky paths guide a eliminates all danger of swerv­ miles it shoots up almost ver­ ing into a ground loop. tically. big transport to happy land­ The first blind landing in These airport localizer radio official tests in the United beams register on an instru­ ings in zero-zero weather. States was made by Major ment in the plane called the James H. Doolittle in 1929 at cross-pointer or localizer. It contains two floating point­ Mitchel Field with a safety pilot riding in an open cock­ ers, one vertical and one horizontal. The only mark on pit. Doolittle sat under a hood. Three years later the glass dial is a zero in the center. Major A. F. Hegenberger actually made the first solo A pilot coming in to land in fog so thick that the blind landing at Dayton. And of course many airline ground is blotted out—or zero-zero weather— first locates pilots have landed by instruments in dirty weather. these beams after passing through the cone of silence over But their task was harder and carried considerable risk. the radio range beacon station at the field. The two Their landings were more than 50 per cent luck. All beams are in conjunction. The pilot must fly so that the of them found their greatest difficulty to be in over-con- horizontal and vertical pointers intersect one another at trolling, in trying to maintain horizontal equilibrium on the center of the localizer. approaching the ground and in holding the plane straight Now, if the plane loses altitude too fast on approaching after the wheels touched. The tendency of the plane is the field for a blind landing, it will go below the landing to swerve. They were never entirely sure whether the beam and the horizontal pointer will move down below plane would land on both wheels, or on one wheel and the zero, while if it does not lose altitude fast enough, it one wingtip. There was also the danger of stalling, since will go above the landing beam and the pointer will stand the planes were not brought in with flying speed. above the zero mark. In this manner the pilot can avoid In the successful United Air Lines experiment all the flying into the ground or overshooting the field. guesswork has been eliminated with the aid of the auto­ During all this time the automatic pilot is connected to matic pilot. The cross-piece antenna acts as greased the controls. It keeps the plane in level flying position skids which slide down the invisible directional and land­ and prevents skidding and slipping. It does not hold the ing beams and thus guide the plane to a safe landing with plane on the two radio beams, but it relieves the pilot of the pilot never once seeing the ground. 38

REMEMBER Duke. He lived next door and was do-or-die thrill—for the moment when Eate challenges older than most of the fellows in our bunch. He you. There will be such moments. You, the fliers of I called himself “Dare-devil” Duke—and how he lived to-morrow, will be called on to choose a course that may up to his name. He’d take a dare on anything, and if spell sudden death or the only means of living. Danger somebody didn’t give him one. he’d suggest a stunt for from storm, faulty landing gear, conked motor; risks in himself, then carry it out. connection with wing and motor tests; hazards encoun­ His chief hurts were sprains and bruises. No busted tered while pioneering a new air route—these, Air Ad­ ribs. Then, while we were still pedaling hikes, he began venturers, are the real dares of the skyways. They are driving a car. This was the real thing. Now he would the only kind considered by the Pangboms, Chamber­ show us kids some first-class daring. Three months lins, Balchens and Lindberghs. They are the only kind later, after he became the talk of the county because of accepted by them—promptly and with life in the balance. his new recklessness, they found Duke's body in the The Creed of ibis Club includes daring— when needed. charred wreckage of his car at the bottom of an aban­ If you are interested in becoming an airiHUM, and can doned quarry not far from town. And the very last honestly pledge yourself to uphold the seven-point Creed time I’d seen Duke alive he’d mentioned something about of Self-reliance, Courage, Initiative, Independence, Loy­ planning to drive within an inch along the top edge of alty, Integrity and Obedience, 1 cordially invite you to the quarry for a certain distance. apply for membership. Fill out and mail the coupon Even before Duke’s tragic finish a lot of my admira­ below. A membership certificate and a winged badge, tion for his dares had worn thin. I wondered what good our official insignia, will be sent you if your application his stunts were doing him. Seeing his blackened, man­ meets approval here at Headquarters. gled body brought me up with a jerk. 1 realized for Happy landings! the first time that the stunts had been unnecessary. Your Flight Commander, Duke's story came to mind as a result of reading Lieu­ tenant Wood’s splendid article in this issue. I’ve known flying cadets, some war-time pilots, barnstormers and amateur airmen such as he describes— members of our (MEMBERSHIP COUPON) profession afflicted with “aeroneurosis,” who think it To the Flight Commander, Air Adventurers, cute to slum beneath high-tension power lines, by way 79-89 Seventh Avenue, of mild example. To give the complete record, J’ve New York, N. Y. I am interested in aviation and' its future develop­ known some transport and mail pilots with the same ments. To the best of my ability I pledge myself to attitude toward flying. But these last, in every instance, support the principles and ideals of AIR ADVEN­ were quickly grounded or killed. As. for the former, the TURERS and will do all in my power to further the advance of aviation. smart-Aleck cadets and amateur playboys of the ether, a Please enroll me as a member of AIR ADVEN­ few of them are still alive, even after causing the death TURERS and send me my certificate and badge. 1 of other people by their antics. However, put this down enclose ten cents to cover postage. in your flight log: They'll all go the way of this world’s Name ...... Age Dukes, and sooner rather than later. The “adult” flier Lieutenant Wood mentions, who Address ...... ···· can have his fun though playing safe, is faced with his share of danger without courting it. Take that dare— □ Check here if interested in model building. when it’s necessary. Save that urge to experience a (Tiiis coupon maj/ not be used after January JS. 1Ϊ37.) 39 AIR TRAILS CALLERY A Picture Page of Modern Planes for the Collector

V O U G H T V-143 fighter, Northrop-designed and PERCIVAL Vega Gull above is Mrs. Markham's Vought-built, has Twin W asp Jr., 250-m.p.h. top, "Messenger," 200 h.p. Gipsy Six, which flew Atlantic two guns and 300-lb. bomb capacity. from England to Nova Scotia in 23h 15m.

FAIREY Swordfish 2-3 seat land or seaplane, 690 FOCKE-W ULF FW -56A Stosser trainer above was h.p. Bristol Pegasus HIM, carries fixed and flexible Gerd Achgelis' acrobatic plane at national races. gun, bombs or 1,425-lb. torpedo. Engine is 240 h.p. Argus air-cooled inverted V.

A.N.T. 25 side view shows large rudder area of Rus­ M IG NET HM-18, first Flea cabin version, does about sian plane. Description appears on page 30 and 100 m.p.h. on 38 h.p. Like Flea on page 6, strut flying-model plans on page 42. replaces wire wing control. 40 GULLIBLE'S TRAVELS-Major Hunt

UjuwrJIfWO*

T was morning, possibly because it was 9 :30:i/io a. m. sat down upon one of the pontoons to think. Here was I, I was roaring along over the foothills of the White a famous trouble-shooter, unable to shoot the trouble! I Mountains of Nebraska, idly strumming my bass viol, Wait, there was an idea! Why not shoot the trouble? with my faithful Airedale, Hykkuvm, lying beside me on I grasped my rusty— er, trusty .45 and climbed back to the hearth. the motor. A brisk fire crackled in the grate below the instrument I quickly twisted out all the spark plugs and piled board, softly lighting the instruments with a yellow glow. them on the propeller hub. Then, inserting the muzzle of As I deftly moved the stick in the soft twilight, my eye my automatic into a spark-plug hole, I pulled the trigger. chanced to fall upon the steamgauge giving the r. p. m.'s There was a terrific report and the prop slowly began to of the motor. It was missing! The motor, that is, not turn. The bullet had pushed down the piston, in place the steam gauge. of the exploding gasoline. T quickly removed the gun With the rapidity of a worried mudworm, I leaped to and inserted it into the next cylinder and pulled the my feet. I must investigate at once the cause of my trigger. The prop spun faster. I did this all the way engine trouble. Being known as a fearless trouble­ around the motor and soon the prop was again turning shooter, I took along my trusty Colt .45 and a few boxes as rapidly as ever. This required some agility, but I of shells. became used to it and presently I could do it with one Lashing the controls to the fireplace and setting the hand free. plane in a gentle climb, I crawled 6ut over the top wing With my free hand I dismantled the ignition system and dropped on to the cowling over the motor. Placing and repaired the generator, keeping the motor turning at my sensitive ear against the exhaust pipe, I listened. top speed with my automatic in my other hand. With Sure enough, the motor was not firing at all. As I was the generator repaired, 1 was soon on my way. Once falling all the while, I had to do something quickly. Evi­ more Major Hunt, master trouble-shooter, had crashed dently the spark plugs were not firing, or something. I through in typical fashion.

Prizes for Mistakes! I—Each month Bill Barnes-AIR TRAILS has contradiction nnd an error on the same item may be 7—The Editors will bo tho judges and their Judg­ printed one pieturu and story to test your knowledge counted separately. ment will be final. of aviation conditions and aerodynamics. 4—This puzzle will serve ns a game. It will be fun, but at the same time It will test the knowledge 8— No entries will be returned. 7—PRIZES are awarded monthly for the entries you have gained by reading Bill Barnes-AIR listing the highest number of errors nnd contradic­ TRAILS. 9— All entries must be postmarked not later than tions in the picture and the story of Gullible's 5—All entries must be neatly written (or typed) midnight, December 10, 193G. Travels. The First Prize will be S5.00. There on one side of the paper only, listing only one will be 5 prizes of S2.00 each: and 5 of $1.00 error on each line. Number your errors In the left- 10—Prize checks will be mailed not later than cneh. In the ease of ties, duplicate prizes will be January 15, 1937. awarded. hand margin I, 2, 3. etc. 6—Address your answer to the: 3—List the errors you find In the picture. Then December Contest Editor II— Every one is eligible to compete except em­ list the errors of fact contained in the story. Then Bill Bnrncs-AI R TRAILS ployees of Street & Smith Publications, Inc., and check the story and picture for contradictions. A 79 Seventh Avenue, New York, N. Y. their families. 41 The MODEL WORK-

C j M x f u x & J ( SHOP

H EN model building once But his famous ride was over­ takes hold of you. it never shadowed the next year by that W releases you from its Model Madness of Ben Shereshaw, director of the clutches. With each new model Kresge Aero Club of Newark, you build the grip gets tighter, and after a few years New Jersey. He and Mrs. Shereshaw rode a thousand you’re completely beyond saving. This in itself isn't miles to St. Louis on a motor cycle. Profiting by Ro- bad. But after a short exposure to the art you con­ manowski's sad experience, they kept a firm grip on tract a disease known as “model madness.’’ Queer ac­ their baggage. tions and strange doings are its symptoms. Usually it The night before any big contest you can determine affects you to such extremes that neighbors, alarmed exactly how crazy the modelers really are. The rela­ by your queer ways, are prone to shake their heads and tively sane builder will stay awake until midnight tinker­ sadly mutter, “Poor fellow!” ing with his models. The “goofier” ones will work on We’ve done our share of crazy things. Flying mod­ their ships throught the night, finally turning in at about els at night by the light of a lantern and flashlight, rush­ 5 o’clock for a few hours’ sleep. But then there are a ing out of the house immediately after a rainstorm to few builders, too crazy to classify, who work through launch hydros from the pools of water collected in the the night without a wink of sleep. streets, and getting up at dawn to fly models in the The most pathetic case I heard of was that of an calm air are only a few evidences of how this disease entrant at a national meet who worked all night finish­ has affected us. ing his models. About 7 in the morning, on the day of But we’ve never been as seriously affected as some the contest, he had everything ready. So he lay down of the other members of the modeling clan. For exam­ for a short nap before leaving for the field. Me awak­ ple, Art Snyder hitch-hiked across the country from ened from his “nap" late in the afternoon, and was Burbank, California, to attend the 1933 national contest barely able to turn in an official flight before the con­ in New York City. An even more famous hitch-hiker test ended. is John Dilly of Galt, Ontario. He’s been to contests A mass demonstration of “model madness” was ex­ at Akron, St. Louis, and New York via the thumb route. hibited recently at a contest we helped to direct. Friday But John is slipping. The last contest at Detroit was night, before the fateful day, all the Eastern States were near his home, yet he turned “softie” and came by auto­ soaked with a hard, steady rain. To make things even mobile. more dismal, it was still raining hard the morning of But “model madness" takes a variety of other forms. the contest. Yet 70 entrants left home in the heavy John Romanowski rode rain and drove distances his m otor cycle from of 50 to 150 miles Newark to Akron for the through the rain to the 1934 contest. Near the The Contest Calendar contest. Their faith was Pennsylvania-Ohio bor­ rew arded by clearing der he ran into a hard INTERSTATE MODEL MEET. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.. Nov. 28. weather about two hours Seale, stick fuselage, and gas-model events, in junior and rainstorm . When he senior classes, to In* held at the Municipal Airport. Informa­ before the events started. emerged from the storm, tion and entry blanks from August Burghard or E. K. Heim· But even if the storm had burger, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. he had lost his pack of continued and the contest baggage. It m ight be had been postponed, this added that Romanowski The Model Workshop asks the aid of rentiers and clubs in de­ same group of builders veloping for their benefit a complete, detailed report of all model was seen in the same contests and exhibitions, large or small, everywhere. Listings would have come again a should be received by The Contest Calendar. AIK TRAILS, shirt throughout the con­ 70 7th Ave., New York City, at least two months iu advance; week later. And they test, and no questions news of winners and results ns soon as possible. would have come even if were asked. it had been raining. 42

The long-winged Russian plane on the cover comes to A merica in an unusual flying scale model Arctic Flier by Alan D. Booton

ND now let us see what we can do with a flying, again. If carving is difficult for you, make cardboard model of the Λ.Ν.Τ. 25. The most noticeable templates to fit the outsides of sections 1—4 on drawing A feature is the high-aspect'ratio of tlíc wing which, ir4 to use as the cowl is carved. Sand the cowl and in relationship to the seemingly conventional fuselage, then hollow it to the approximate sections. Carve a would cause most model builders to think twice before nose block to fit the cowl and insert a bearing tube to attempting a flying model. have the proper down-thrust. The A.N.T. is of all-metal construction, chrome Mark the former locations on the two side longerons aluminum and steel, covered with 24ST, so in the model and cement them in slots on the cowl. Arrange them we will try to conform with the all-metal appearance by so they will dry parallel and on the center line. using all-balsa construction. Since the Cut out of the plywood sheet a pair of trend of large planes is toward the all- each of the formers, 4a—8, and cement metal type, why shouldn’t we use a me­ A. N. T. 25 them together. Former 9 is cut out of dium to reproduce the miniatures to be V/' sheet balsa, and is equipped with the the envy of the large planes? The rear hook, as shown on drawing iL·-· A.N.T. all-balsa construction is really quite simple, if Start with former 9 and cement the formers to the side care is taken with the consecutive steps of building. longerons toward the front. When dry, add the top Ready to fly, the model weighs less than 2 ounces. and bottom longerons. Read the instructions carefully and study the draw­ Now comes the job you may think difficult. Instead ings before starting the model. of using tissue, cover the fuselage with ’/« /' sheet balsa. Cut a trial pattern for one side out of paper, starting at FUSELAGE former 4. The two balsa patterns are then cut and ce­ The first step is to make a Aj" thick sheet of ply mented on, working back to 9. Apply cement to each balsa 4x6" to provide formers. Weigh it down and let former and longeron as you proceed. Rubber bands and dry at least for an hour. pins are a great aid in holding the balsa patterns in The cowl is made from a block and extends from the place. Check up at each former to sec that the frame nose block to ;tb" back of the center-section spar. Trans­ lias not warped out of line. fer the over-all side-view outline (less windshield) to N ote: the fuselage side patterns can be pre-curved by the side of the block, then cut the outside portion away. rubbing a thin layer of cement on the inside of each. Transfer the top view to the top of the block and cut The center section is made integral (Turn topayc 96) AIR TRAILS 43 44 BILL BARNES AIR TRAILS 45

H E A T E R A N D EXHAUST STACK \ ON EACH SIDE

o

FRONT SIDE SCALE PROP. OETAIL m a k e 3 b l a d e s

64 SHEET FILL.6T PATTERN (APPRO*)

RELIEF P ilot EMC.LOSU RE

HATCH

SENDING Ra d ia t o r t u n n e l ANTENNA

Detail o f r e a r . \ f a i r i n g . 3^ sheet \ w heel Ba l s a o r . .o o s a l u m FAIR.INO ( p r o m t ) 46 BILL BARNES AIR Ί RAILS 47 Electra, Junior (Continued from page 33) bility for the pilots. The retractable landing gear operates by hand. The double-fin tail scheme incorporates fixed fins and stabilizer, and two statically and dynamically bal­ anced elevators and rudders. The elevators carry controllable tabs. There are four fuel tanks, two being installed in each wing. Also within the wing, toward the tip, are two retractable landing lights which lift into the lower surface when not in use. Standard equipment on the Wasp Junior engines are two Hamilton Standard twó-vyay controllable- pitch propellers. Constant-speed props, if fitted in­ stead, produce an increase in take-off run and other details of performance. Lifting well over a ton and Hashing high up along the airways at 231 m.p.h., the Lockheed 12 represents another step forward for American air -transport. Although a few two-engined ships abroad, notably the Heinkel He 111 and the Bristol 142, claim a higher top speed, they use considerably more horse power than the Lockheed 12. American transport speeds in general already average much faster than those of other coun­ tries, and with the 12 added to the roster of LOCKHEED 12 U. S. speedsters that already includes the Vultee V-1A and the Douglas DST, we will move even further into the lead. Much of the success of the 12 is due to Lockheed's experience xvith the well-known 209-m.p.h. Electra. Three years of research, testing and hard day-by-day service with the bigger ship pointed the way to suc­ cessful development of the new model. Electras have made Lockheed one of the busiest and most rapidly expanding of the aircraft plants on the west coast. Some 70 Electras are in service for private fliers and American and foreign air lines, and a total of eleven more were on order at the Burbank, Calif., factor}' on June 1st of this year. Amelia Earhart’s special $65.000 “flying laboratory” model got newspaper headlines when it emerged this fall. Another transport, similar in design to the Electra but larger in all dimensions, is now on the drawing boards and will be introduced early next year. To be know'll as the Super-Electra, it will be a 12-pas­ senger job. We can expect, therefore, to see next year the spectacle of three sizes of the same plane parading our airways—a sort of aerial counterpart of the little bear, the medium-sized bear and the big bear of the fairy tale. But unless Lockheed hangs a lot more horse power on the leading edge of the Super-Elec- tra’s wing, the little Electra—the Lockheed 12— is going to lead the parade when it comes to the mat­ ter of speed. Official Lockheed Co. plans appeal' on following pages. 48 BILL BARNES i

AIR TRAILS

LOCKHEED 12 Scale: 50 Β i r d Wing

HAT is the most to build in sufficient efficient wing strength. If the wing Wshape? Is it a is externally braced taper wing, gull wing, with struts, the problem straight wing, long, nar­ is simplified, but in a row wing, or short, cantilever wing it is a stubby wing? Each difficult problem. Like­ m odeler has a wing wise the shape of a gull type he thinks is most wing doesn’t lend itself efficient, and each is to easy construction, the convinced his choice is curved portions proving the best. It-takes only difficult. Fortunately the slightest suggestion There's a challenge to your mode!-building these two construction to start a group of skill, and worthwhile performance reward- problems are not as dif­ builders arguing about ficult in models as in wing shapes. in this graceful and efficient wing shape, real-plane construction, Tliis month we pre­ so let’s try the Gull. sent our favorite candidate for the honor of the most effi­ Our model proved to be a good flier. It was not meant cient wing shape. It's a gull-shaped wing of aspect ratio to be a contest ship, but one which can be flown re­ 10—a value which falls between the extremely low value peatedly with little effort and trouble. Construction is of 6 advocated bv some and the higher values of 12 to 14 fairly conventional and the instructions will emphasize supported by others. the unusual steps in the procedure. We picked a gull wing because it has certain advan­ tages over the other types of wings. Λ wing which is FUSELAGE tapered at the tips and at the center shows better effi­ Making a full-size drawing of the side is the first step. ciency than a straight wing which has uniform chord Draw the datum line and lay off 2]/2" spaces along it. length throughout. A straight wing shows considerable From the drawing find the depth of the fuselage at the drag and also a loss in lift both at the tips and at the various positions. The dimensions given arc measured center, where the wing joins the fuselage. The loss of from the datum line to the outside edge. lift at the tips results from the circulation of the air The two fuselage halves can be assembled without the around the wing, which causes the air to spill out from help of a full-size drawing. Cut the cross braces to the the end. This breakdown in the air stream causes turbu­ length given in the top-view plan and cement lence and a resulting increase in drag and decrease in lift. them in position. Pin the fuselage together Where the wing joins while the cement is drying. Check to see that the fuselage there is like­ each half is bent equally. wise a let-down in the The upright pieces should wing’s efficiency. This re­ be at right angles with the sults from interference be­ cross braces. Check this tween the air flowing past with a square or a tri­ the fuselage and that mov­ angle, for proper construc­ ing over the wing. The tion will insure an effi­ result is that the section of cient, rugged job. the wing adjoining the The rear tip is cut from a fuselage shows marked in­ balsa block and cemented crease in drag and de­ to the ends of the longe­ crease in lift. rons. This block is ta­ $ There are two methods pered to a point to round of improving the efficiency out the fuselage shape. of this section. One is to fillet the wing where it joins Hard balsa pi x ;iijx23" is used for the motor stick. the fuselage. These fillets make the transformation be­ The balsa nosing cemented to the front serves as a bear­ tween the wing and the fuselage gradual and smooth out ing for the propeller and as a means of securing the stick the airflow, thus reducing drag. But a more effective inside the fuselage. For this latter purpose the nosing way of'reducing the interference is to taper the wing should be grooved to fit. The rear stick support is a where it joins the fuselage. Drag and lift both show de­ notched double piece of sheet balsa cemented inside the sirable changes following a reduction in wing chord at fuselage at the point labelled A—A. the wing-fuselage junction. In contrast to the desirable aerodynamic characteris­ LANDING GEAR tics, the gull-shaped wing is undesirable from a construc­ Each half of the landing gear consists of a V made up tion viewpoint. The taper at the center makes it difficult of two bamboo struts, which are cemented and threaded AIR TRAILS <_π NJ IL BARNES BILL AIR TRAILS 54 BILL BARNES

to tlie fuselage. The actual strut lengths along with the Merely twist the spars until they assume the correct landing-gear tread are given in the drawing. Wheels shape and then secure the ends with thread and cement. of 1)4" diameter, preferably balsa, are used. Λ wire tail Next add ribs A, B, C, and D. skid is bent to shape and inserted into the balsa block The straight section of the leading edge is a piece of at tbc rear of the fuselage. ytjxjdt-xS" balsa cemented to the notches in the front of each rib. The curved sections of the leading edge can ELEVATOR AND RUDDER be bent into shape between your finger tips. Simply grasp the wood tightly in your finger tips and force the Aerodynamic-ally, a high-aspect ratio elevator is de­ wood into shape. Naturally this weakens the wood, but sirable. This is especially true when a large-diameter a liberal coating of cement will restore its strength. propeller is used. Λ long, narrow elevator will extend The trailing edge is a triangular section cut from outside the turbulent slipstream of the propeller and will y &x.y A" Hat balsa. The straight section can be made from prove more effective than if it was entirely within the an 8" length. The curved portions must be cut from slipstream. In addition, a high-aspect ratio elevator will flat balsa, cemented together. show quicker recovery from stalls and bad flying atti­ The two wing panels arc made separately. For flying tudes. After a stall it picks up lift more quickly than the they are joined by a balsa center section. Rubber bands, short stubby elevator and in this way makes recovery joining the two wings, hold them rigidly in place. more positive. The aspect ratio of the Gull's elevator is about 6 J/>. PROPELLER The theory that determines the effectiveness of the The size and shape, along with the method of carving, elevator also dictates the design of rudders. I lowcver. is given in the drawing. The free-wheeling device is aspect ratios in both these surfaces are limited by struc­ simple to make. Many model shops sell them for a few tural difficulties. Getting sufficient strength into a long, cents each. However, you can make an efficient sub­ narrow elevator is sometimes difficult if the weight is stitute from a length of brass tubing. to be kept within a reasonable limit. The elevator and rudder are shown full size in the COVERING drawing. The same shape of ribs is used in both and Flitting the covering on the wing is not easy. The best the outline of both surfaces is built up from sections of procedure is to cover the flat section with single sheets Vs^Vio" balsa. Build up the complete outline, cutting of tissue—one on top and the other on the bottom. The it to shape from the drawing, and then cement it to the curved portion at the tips and at the center must be ends of the ribs. Finally, carve the outline into a tri­ covered with separate pieces. Make them small enough angular shape. to include only the space between adjacent ribs. Spray WING the covering with water and follow with a coat of dope. The various ribs and the number of each required is This procedure applies to the entire model. given. Start the assembly with the five main ribs. Ce­ ment the upper and lower spars in position. From the FLYING front view of the wing, you’ll notice that the tips and First check to make sure the tail surfaces are not the center are curved. It is easier to force the wing into warped. If they have twisted out of shape, pin them to this shape than to try to bend the spars beforehand. a flat board and spray them with water. Allow them to dry jn their pinned position. This will remove warps. In the case of the wing, the tips (beginning 8" from the ends) are washed out. That is, the leading edge is warped down. For preliminary flying, the wing can he at­ tached to the fuselage with rubber bands pass­ ing over the center section and around the fuselage. After the wing location has been de­ termined, the center section should be rigidly cementcd to the top of the fuselage. The elevator is slipped through the rear of the fuselage and secured by a rubber band. Ad­ justments can be made by inserting slivers of balsa to raise or lower the leading edge. The elevator incidence was about zero de­ grees. A convenient way to check the setting is to hold a yardstick alongside the fuselage with the edge parallel to the datum line. Ex­ tend the stick back underneath the elevator. For zero incidence, the leading and trailing edges should be equal distances from the edge of the stick. Wing incidence should be approximately ]4" at the center. As previously mentioned, the tips are washed out. which makes the incidence at the tips about zero degrees. (Turn to page 94) 55 The model art progresses through exchange The of ideas. The Discussion Corner is a monthly sounding hoard fo r your opinions. This month readers discuss contest rules. Discussion For January, the subject is age classes. Other topics are listed below. Think about them, then write your opinion in 150 words CORNER or less and send it to The Discussion Corner. One dollar is paid fo r each answer printed.

FTEN where thermals are present, winning ships Since 1 ounce for 50 square inches is average weight are those which stay in sight for the greatest time, for a reasonably sturdy model, the present outdoor rule O not necessarily those with the greatest duration. is about perfect. Quite a few good outdoor builders Luck decides. I feel, therefore that the N. A. Λ. wing­ never enter indoor contests except in the glider event. loading of 1 ounce to 50 square inches is insufficient. For indoors, therefore, a weight event of say 1 ounce However, the once-attempted rule of 1 ounce per 25 for every 100 inches should prove popular, interesting, seems too still for rubber-powered jobs. 1 would advo­ and more sensible to many than frail microfilm jobs. cate a moderate loading of 1 ounce for 33‘/3. or 3 per Luck decides so many contests, why not give the ship 100. With this loading, one flight would be sufficient its maximum turns and let it go. rather than worry about to determine the winner. having the time divided by three if the ship is lost tin It is possible that there arc wizards of design who a short first flight? lack building ability, but whose theories are valuable, Discussion, with experiments to demonstrate, would nevertheless. Therefore I con­ help every one, especially the sider a test on theorcticals novice with few model-build­ worth while, if well conducted ing acquaintances.----- T ED and kept subordinate to the This Mont /is Topic T efft, White Plains, N. Y. flying events.----- Arthur What weight rules would you like to see Lesselbaum, New York City. adopted for contests? Should the best Doubling the weight rule flight or average of three flights be taken? would help greatly to elimi­ The best of three flights Would you like to see an organized dis­ nate luck and give every one should count. One or two bad cussion on modeling as one of the contest another chance at new records flights would not eliminate the activities instead of confining the program in every event. Tt would also builder, as he would still have to competitive flying? give the heavier streamlined a chance to repair his model balsa-covered ships a chance at and turn in a good flight. The records taken by minimum- present weight rule of 1 ounce for 50 square inches weight ships which make 15, 25. and 41 minutes on light should not be increased. Beginners find trouble in get­ thermals. The best competition for all-around perform­ ting heavy models to fly properly. For the experts. 6 ance is the three-fligbt average. The ship must be con­ ounces should be the maximum weight for contest sistent, dependable, and should stay over the field. models. For the model builder who plans an engineering ca­ I would like to see organized discussion on modeling reer, discussion of current problems would give splendid because many builders would benefit from the material training, for he should be able to use his tongue as well presented. Personally, I learned a great deal from the as brains and hands. Model builders should find it in­ October discussion on demountable or fixed motor sticks. structive as well as interesting.------Joe Bloom, Roxbury. Contest discussions would be even more helpful.------Massachusetts. T ucker Crenshaw, Richmond, Va. COMING UP are these topics: For February— T lcrw much gas shpuld be allozocd each I would like to see a weight rule involving the weight model for contest flying? Or do you favor discarding of the rubber-powered model and amount of rubber used, the present idea of maximum duration and substituting instead of weight and size. It would reduce the luck- clement. Also, I favor the average of three flights. controlled flight in which the model would be judged on ability to land near a designated spot plus flying charac­ I believe organized discussion would not be a very teristics and appearance? Answers must reach us by intelligent addition to contests. The discussion could not be long enough for good or substantial thought. Also, December 1st. in every science we have more theory than we can prac­ For March— To what extent should a model be stream­ tice. Discussion would merely give modelers that much lined? is careful attention to ‘'cleaning up” the smallest more material that they would be unable to use.------details justified by improved flights? Answers must J ames J ohnston, Brandon, Manitoba. reach us by January 1st. 56 One Thousand Horses HE XF3F-2, latest devel­ The latest version of a favorite islied block should be sanded with opment of the formidable fine paper to a satin finish. TGrumman shipboard light­ ■navy fighter, using one o f the Trace the outlines of the tail ers, is certain to prove a sensa­ surfaces on -fo" sheet balsa and tion when accepted for service. powerful new engines, develops cut them out. Sand the edges Powered by the new 1.000 h.p. high speed round and the surfaces smooth Cyclone, the most powerful sin­ before cementing them in posi­ gle-row engine in the world, and tion. The tail braces shown are combining great strength with b y William Winter sanded round from fine bamboo. maneuverability, this aerial bull­ The landing gear and tail-wheel dog qualifies as probably the world’s fastest biplane mountings arc made from scraps. There are two tri­ fighter. angles on each side of the landing gear. Both of them The construction, which meets rigid specification are hinged on the large plane. As the lower one is standards, is of metal, with fabric-covered wings and open, it may be made from wire. movable tail surfaces. The main landing gear is re­ Cut the wings to their required outlines from %" tractable, as is the tail wheel, and even the carrier land­ sheet balsa. Shape them to the approximate rib section ing hook. The higher horse power of the new Cyclone and sand smooth. Mount the upper wing first on bam­ necessitates the three-bladed propeller. In keeping with boo center-section struts and then invert the model to the quality of the ship, the prop is the recently developed facilitate the installation of the lower ones. Cement the constant-speed Hamilton that provides maximum per­ lower ones directly to the fuselage block and form the formance under all conditions. fillets from wood filler or other Tests of the XF3F-2 have yielded moldable substance. a high speed of about 280 m.p.h., Make the outer struts from and a landing speed of only 72. hard balsa, sand them, and ce­ This latest Grumman makes ment them in place with the one of the most beautiful replicas ever to grace a shelf. model still held in the inverted position. Do not attach Its generous but graceful lines distinguish it from the the wires until the painting is completed. usual run of fighters. The three-bladed prop is constructed of sheet balsa Before starting construction, check your material sizes scraps and mounted on a pin so that it is free to turn. with the list given below. Give the entire model a coat of clear varnish, white The fuselage block is squared down to its required shellac, or clear dope to fill the wood pores. Paint the sur­ outside dimensions. On it draw the side view of the faces when dry in accordance with the color scheme on the fuselage and cut away the excess balsa. On the top of plan and trim with black. Remember that the star insignia the block mark the outside lines of the body and again have red centers and blue backgrounds. If you are sure of shave off the surplus wood. Round the fuselage in ac­ your ability, the control surfaces, etc., may be outlined cordance with the cross sections given. Since the cock­ with a hair line. Install the wing and aerial wires of pit can cither be painted on, or hollowed out and cov­ i t 60 thread. ered with celluloid, complete that part of the fuselage The materials: accordingly. The wheel wells for the dummy retract­ able landing gear might also be cut out slightly to add i 5ΐ4χΐ·%χΐ" 1 pair ýá" wheels to the realism. Hollow out the front of the cowling 1 J^x2xl8" wood filler section of the block as well for the sake of better appear­ 1 -rVx2x6" silver, yellow, ance. If your patience is equal to the job, half-round split bamboo red, blue and dummy cylinders may be cemented in place. The fin- i f 60 thread black paints

A ir Tr a il s presents The STOUT INTERNATIONAL TROPHY Winner Authentic plans and instructions for building the New Zealand model flown at the Detroit national contest for 44 minutes 14 seconds! by Cordon S. Light and Vernon Gray Another Model Workshop scoop-----in the January issue, on sale December 9th. 57

RETRACTABLE LANDING HOOK HOUSING p iv o t in g R e t r a c t in g TAIL WHEEL CONSTRUCTION METAL WITH FABRIC COVERED WINGS ELEVATORS & RUDDER

THE CYCLONE 1000 H.P

G f l l / M A N m DATA NOT RELEASED AT DATE OF DRAWING SIDE VIEW PROBABLE HIGH SPEED 2 8 0 M.PH. 58

H ave you a question on model we'll answer it in the interest building or flying that bothers of readers everywhere. Replies you f Bring us your problem and by mail require return postage.

IMPURE BANANA OIL method of construction is to use balsa wood. It is easy Question: Recently I purchased a supply of banana to bend or cut into shape and shows surprising ability oil from a local drug store and found that it would not to absorb shock and vibration. Spruce or other hard­ "stick” flic tissue to the wing frames. Is a special grade woods were used exclusively in early gas models, but used in modeling or did I use it incorrectly? L. /?., now only the "toughest" parts of the model, such as Tulare, Cal. propeller and motor mountings, arc made of hard woods. Answer: Drug-store banana oil is usually free from impurities, which, oddly enough, makes it useless for MONOCOQUE CONSTRUCTION fastening tissue. The impurities found in less refined What covering is used on the fuselage? oil are what give it tackiness and make it a good ad­ Answer: Japanese silk or a fine grade of aircraft hesive. Use paint-store banana oil instead of the drug­ fabric is generally used. Sheet balsa is applied to parts store variety, ft's considerably thicker and gummier. A which require added strength or are subjected to han­ good test is to “feel” it between your finger tips. If the dling. banana oil is tacky and leaves a thin film on your fingers The growing favorite in construction and covering after drying, you can be assured it will fasten tissue. methods is known as monocoque construction. Sepa­ rate parts of the model are built up of thin balsa strips THE COVERING PROBLEM about y$ or Va" square, running lengthwise along the Question: Would you please describe in detail the wing or the fuselage. These strips are cemented edge best way to cover the wings and fuselage of a flying to edge around formers to form a hollow balsa shell. model— especially a round fuselage? A. P., Chicago, III. The outside of the shell is carefully cut and sanded: when Answer: The first step is to iron out all wrinkles it is surfaced with a lacquer, it gives the impression of from the tissue. Next give the entire framework a coat a metallic substance. In this way the construction and of banana oil. Allow this coating to dry into the wood. covering processes are tied together in an efficient man­ Then, when the second coat is applied, it will “stick" the ner. tissue with little trouble. Remember that the tissue grain Sheet aluminum has a limited use as a covering. Its always runs lengthwise. chief use is for motor cowlings or inspection doors— When covering the wing, “tack" the ends of the tissue that is, parts of the covering which must be removed in place with a few drops of banana oil while you care­ frequently. fully smooth out the wrinkles. Next fasten all loose CONTEST FUEL LOADS ends with banana oil. Wherever necessary, paint the Is the gas supply given in contest models limited? banana oil on top of the tissue and rub it through to the Answer: Under N. A. A. contest rulings, as much wood with the tips of your fingers. as 14 ounce of gas (liquid measure) is permitted for A round fuselage necessitates covering with numerous every pound of weight of the model. Contestants usu­ small “patches” rather than with several larger pieces. ally feel it is just as much fun and that there is con­ Cut the tissue large enough to include only the sec­ siderably less danger of losing their models if the gas tions between the fuselage formers. Where there is an supply is reduced to Y or even -?s ounce. abrupt change of shape of the fuselage, it might be neces­ sary to cut the tissue into even smaller pieces. In the fuselage as well as the wing, use banana oil sparingly FOLLOWING THE MODEL until you've smoothed out the wrinkles. Spray the tis­ How can a builder safeguard against losing his model sue lightly with water. Use only light dope, or the tis­ on long flights? sue will be stretched excessively, destroying the round Answer: Following a gas model in an airplane is shape of the fuselage. the only sure-fire way of keeping after it! If it is not properly adjusted to remain over the field, it usually GAS-MODEL FUSELAGES flies too fast or too high to follow by automobile. Of R. L. of Edson, Alberta, Canada, asks the questions course, the builder's name and address should be on the which follow concerning gasoline models. In making a model. It's surprising how few really stay lost. Sooner gas model, what material is usually used in making the or later most of them are returned by people who find fuselage framework—aluminum tubing, balsa strips, or them. An example is Robert Long’s model. TTis ship spruce strips? disappeared high in the clouds near his home in Read­ Answer: Aluminum tubing is'difficult to handle, and ing. Pa. This was early in September. About the end is not worth the trouble, since it does not otter much of November it was returned to him by some hunters increased strength over wood. The most common who found it in the mountains. 59 Indoor Props They have to be good to produce long flights, and here's how to make them.

by Lawrence N. Smithline

models, prefers what is known as the helical-pitch pro­ peller (which is true pitch, of course). Λ helical-pitch propeller is one whose pitch at any particular point on the blade is exactly the same as at any other point. John Haw, senior fuselage-model champion, believes in an average-pitch propeller, that is, one which has more pitch at the tips than near the hub. His success with this type is well known. John Stokes, holder of most of the junior records, is an exponent of the true-pitch propeller that is not of the helical type. Such a propeller would be similar to the kind recommended by Gordon Light, that is, a lower angle at the tip than halfway out, but with the angles not varying helically. This evidence seems to indicate that which type you decide upon is merely a matter of taste. After you have made your choice as to type, the next thing to decide upon is the pitch. Generally speaking, Class A models should have props of pitches between 10 and 20", Class 13, between 20 and 27". and Class C, be­ tween 27 and 36". Exactly what pitch to use is deter­ mined by : ( 1) the weight of the plane, (Turn to pat/e 93)

Solid and built-up prop construction steps.

HE most important single thing on an airplane is the propeller, and a good T prop is far more vital on an indoor model than on an outdoor model because the duration of an indoor flight depends on the prop, and on the prop only. Indoor builders may he separated into two classes, those who prefer low-pitched props with rubber of small dimensions and those who believe in high pitch and more power. Equally lengthy times have been done by both. High-pitched props with more power, however, seem to give more consistent per­ formance. There are three designs an indoor pro­ peller can have. Carl Goldberg, a man gen- erallv believed to know most about indoor 60 Taking to the Ai r ! he DART A beginner's glider that w ill also serve F wishes were horses, beggars could the expert in sev­ ride,” is an old truism we’ve heard I many times. There are probably eral useful ways. nice sunny days when you'd like to fly a model, if only you had a model to skilled, a model builder you may be, a fly. There’s no excuse for wishing glider offers plenty of entertainment when a half hour of work will trans­ and instruction. It should be a part form 20 cents’ worth of material into an of your flying equipment. aerial mount that takes to the air with The glider is so easy to make, that the same fine style that a thoroughbred there is little chance to go wrong dur­ shows on the race track. ing its construction. All parts of the A glider is usually included when we model are given full size. Use the pat­ go out flying. It offers pleasant relaxa­ terns in the drawing when cutting the tion from the more serious business of parts. Tf you don't care to cut the flying rubber- or gas-powered models. pages of your magazine, trace out a It also offers a convenient way to de­ duplicate set. termine wind direction. It is better than using a wind sock or similar de­ FUSELAGE vice, since the glider reveals the upper The pattern is given in two pieces air currents as well as the surface because of the limited page length. breeze. Join the two pieces and cut the fuselage Gliders have other valuable uses. from one piece of 1/Y’ balsa. Round They make excellent models to give to all the sharp corners except the top younger brothers or cousins just be­ rear, where the rudder and elevator coming air-minded. A small young­ are fastened. ster is always attracted by models, al­ WING though he is usually unable either to Cut two wing halves from build or fly them properly. But that balsa. Shape them to the cross-section does not dampen his enthusiasm. indicated on the end of the pattern. Sometimes the only way to keep peace Tn shaping balsa you'll find a small in the family is to give Junior a model. plane, sharp knife, and several grades You’ll make things easier for yourself of sandpaper are handy tools. The if it’s an all-balsa glider. There’s little ends of the wings are bevelled so they trouble in building it, and when you're 111 lit together snugly when each wing tip called on to do the repair work after is raised 2 */«" above the center. Join the crack-Ups, a few minutes of cement­ the wings with cement. Liberal coat­ ing will fix almost any damage. ings of cement and ample drying time Throwing a glider back and forth will insure a firm joint. ( Tnm lo flage,91) between two or more people standing a short distance apart is good fun— considerably more fun than throwing a ball. Launching the glider so it flies directly into the other person’s hands is an art. After a few tries, you can de­ velop sufficient control to make the glider complete a half turn before reaching its goal. Soon you’ll be able to develop as much skill with a glider as a big-league ball player shows with a baseball. Regardless of how skilled, or un- AIR TRAILS 62

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

American Legion -contests always at­ noon, having been found 2V2 miles away. Speed tract a full list of entrants who turn in The first four models in the outdoor 1. Boh Jefferies, F indlay, Ohio 2 :0S 2. Kenneth Ernst. Indianapolis 3:01 excellent flights. One hundred and fuselage event were lost out of sight. 3. Boh Chatian, Findlay. Ohio 3 :25 All varieties of gas motors were en­ 4. Boh Eby, Findlay. Ohio 4 :05 twenty-five modelers converged on In­ 5. John Foster, Indianapolis 4:09 dianapolis for this year’s fourth annual tered. Cyclones, Brown, Tlush. Loutrel meet, held Aug. 29 and 30, from Illi­ and Elf motors powered models ranging Senior Gas 1. Kenneth Ernst. Indlnnnpolls 54:43 nois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Mis­ from Boehlc’s 15-foot job to Jim Lovett’s 2. Gerald Kitzenthaler. Chicago 0:03 small 300-square-inch model. Kenneth 3. Bill Owens, Chicago 5:29 souri. Wisconsin, Georgia, and Michigan. 4. Lee Vartanian. Chicago 5 :21 Contest headquarters were in the Hotel Ernst’s winning flight started oil with 5. Don Caffee, Munde, Ind. 3:18 Antlers, and the hotel manager won ever­ two full loops: then the model fell off Open Gas lasting fame by giving the builders the on one wing and spiraled upward with 1. Harold Stoffer, Indianapolis 25:13 2. Miles I. Stone. Joliet. HI. 19:45 largest workroom ever seen at any con­ a nice climb. It landed 18 miles away. 3. Stewart Harper. Wiliuet. III. 11:21 test. It was a banquet hall—large Two weeks before, this same model had 4. Mrs. Thelma Stoffer, Indianapolis 7 :12 5. P. J. Sweeney. Chicago 7 :00 enough for overenthusiastic entrants to taken oil’ from the Municipal Airport glide their gas models. TWO NEW INDOOR MARKS Indoor flying was held in the Butler University field house. The 70-foot ceil­ The Lakeliurst meet held Saturday, ing was high, but the girders and low- Sept. 5, was particularly satisfying, as hanging wires snared more than their two new major records were set in phe­ share of models. Ralph Kummer of St. nomenal flights. The Class (’ tractor rec­ Louis won the indoor stick event with ord is now 25m 29s, and the R. O. G. 13:08. Tissue covering was required on Class A record 15m 47.4s. all indoor planes. Kummer’s winning Lakeliurst meets are unique inasmuch model was the same one which, film- as prizes arc never given. The attrac­ covered, had won the Mississippi Valley tion at a Lakeliurst meet (flying is done contest with a 81-minute flight. in the big airship dock, which is over William Gough's winning indoor fuse­ 200 feet tall) is the fact that official lage model was a low-winged job of tri­ marks can be made. This feature brings angular fuselage design, with apex at top. out chiefly record builders, of whom Late Saturday afternoon was given there were 19 present. Results were: over to the freak, or experimental, event, Class C Tractor aimed to bring out originality in design. 1. Bobort Jacobsen. Phlla. (sr.) 25:29 2. L aw rence Sm itliline, N. Y. (sr.) 21 :23.13 Lawrence Harlow won first with the 3. John Young, N. Y. (open) 1.8:22.2 same design with which he won first last 4. Jesse Beibernmn, Phlla. (open) 18 :0G.l 5. Hewitt Phillips, Phlla. (sr.) 10:29 year. It flew 10 seconds longer this year, Ralph Kummer and his winning indoor showing some refinements. Harlow’s ship tractor at Indianapolis. Class B Tractor 1. E rn est W halen, was a twin-motored autogiro with twin Springfield, Mass, (open) 17:09 rotors. 2. Daniel Clini. and landed right smack in the middle Springfield, Mass, (sr) 12:42 An 18-m.p.h. wind greeted the outdoor of Hoosier Airport, 9 miles away, after 3. Morton Heeker, N. Y. (sr) 9 :07 fliers on Sunday. It didn’t calm until a 00-niinute flight. Class C Fuselage late in the evening, after the contest was Contest results were: 1. Edwin Mammtkln, Phil, (sr) 1G :01 finished. Many ships made perfect land­ ings into the wind, but were wrecked by Class A (R. O. G.) INDOORS 1. Ervin Loshnor, Phil, (sr.) 15:47.4 being blown across the airport before 2. Column Zola, N. Y. (sr) 9:40.2 the builders could retrieve them. Dick Stick Event 1. Ralph Kummer, St. I.ouis 13:08 Class B (R. O. G.) Everett sent his plane up in the morning 1!. A lvin A nderson, Chicago 12:1-1 1. Arnold Cohen, l’hll. (sr.) 10:11 and lost it out of sight after 10:08. It 3. William E. Gough, Chicago 11:45 4. Wallace Simmers, New Lenox, III. 10:30 Class B (R. O. W.) was returned to the airport in the after- 5. John Houbolt. Joliet. III. 10:01 1. Arnold Cohen, Phil, (sr.) 0:10.4 Fuselage Class B Glider 1. William E. Gough, Chicago 8:35 1 Louts Mllowttz, N. V. (sr.) :38.7 2. Jim Cahill. Imliunapolis 7:51) 3. John Iloubolt, Joliet. 111. 7 :25 4. W allace Simmers. New Lenox. III. 0 :3 8 5. Bob Cleary, Joliet, 111. 5:51) Experimental 1. Lawrence Harlow. Ind’p'lie twin Itutoglro ,ι-iiflt. Kummer, Si. L. autogiro LJ. Foster. ImlVIis barrcl-hoop-wing job 4. Leonard Elgensen. Chicago autogiro 5. It. Miller, Beach Grove» lad. Hying crescent

OUTDOORS Snapped at the Legion contest, left to Fuselage right: John Houbolt, Ralph Kummer, 1. Dick Everett, Washington. Γη. 10:08 2. W illiam Hruinui. Dayton. Ohio 7 :04 Wallace Simmers, Alvin Anderson, Bill 3. John Foster. Imliunapolis G :40 Carl Goldberg helps wind Kummer’s 4. A. Cowels. Atlanta, Ga. 4 :59 Owens, Bill Gough, Mike Holly. 5. H arry DelH. Chicago 4 :25 indoor Legion winner. 63

INDIANA GAS MODELS the acrobatic novelty event, in which his model dropped gliders and small The Indiana Gas Model Association bombs while in flight and finally t he sponsored a gas model contest Sept. 20. model itself exploded while the tiny fig­ Λ 13-m.p.h. wind—strong winds have ure of the pilot was floating to the haunted every Indianapolis meet this ground via the parachute route. summer—made flying difficult. Boehle’s The 1Í13C tropily winners: 15-foot gas model, powered with a Cy­ Texaco Trophy: Michael Kostich, clone, was lost out of si glit almost di­ Akron, first, 4:00; William Kluss, Cleve­ rectly over the airport. land, second; no third. A 5-foot gas model of the Flying Flea Buffalo “Times” Trophy: Ferdinand made its appearance at the contest, built Falkowski, Buffalo, first, 22:80; Harry by Louis Matlie and powered with a Thomas, Akron, second; Clement Turan- Cyclone. One wing tip was badly sky. Pittsburgh, third. warped, causing the plane to bank Goodyear Trophy: Seymour Stein. sharply and dive into the ground. Oth­ Akron, first, 7:35: Joseph Nagy, Cleve­ erwise the Flea model showed great land, second: Robert Fitzgerald, Denver, promise, in spite of this minor disaster. third. Summaries of the flying (name, age, Blue Flash Trophy: Albert brothers, time, motor, wing span): Cleveland, first. 32:30; Richard Everett, 1. Vernon Doehle (21) 85:05 Cyclone 14.'S" Pittsburgh, second; Ferdinand Falkow­ 2. Don Lodge (15) ski. Buffalo, third. 28:00.2 Loutrel 8' Chester Lanzo adds the Junior Aviator 8. Kcnimth Ernst (20) championship to his laurels. Model Aircraft Builders Trophy: 10:00 Brown S'2" 4. Harold Stoffer (24) Chester Lanzo, Cleveland, first, 18:10 0:57 I. oti tre I 10' 8" (new open-age Class D stick record); 5. F. Tlnrold Smith (80) INDOORS 2:14 Brown 8'6" Herbert Fish, Akron, second. Semi-Scale Peerless Trophy: Won by Edward CANADIAN NATIONAL CONTEST Junior P oints Tim e Yambor, Cleveland; second, Cowles 1. Clarence Dunn. Hamilton * 21S 2:09 Results of the Canadian national con­ 2. Robert. E. Milligan, Toront«) 1 S3 2:29 test held at Toronto, Aug. 31-Sepl. 2. 3. Cliff Balter, St. Catherines 135 1 :20 are listed below. New Canadian rec­ Senior ords are marked with an asterisk (*). 1. Paul Verdier, Ottawa · 388 4 :5S 2. J. Arthur Covey, Saint John 200 3:52 3. Fred Hollingsworth. OUTDOORS Vancouver 289 3:40 Stick Models A dult 15 and under 1. Owen Cortield. Port Dalhousle. Ont. 229 2:33 1. Leonard Fisher, Winnipeg * 4 :12.0 2. Clarence Dunn, Hamilton 2:55 2. Melvin BardHley. St. Catherines 200 2:28 8. Hurry Doe. Vancouver 2:11 3. John T. Hilly, Halt. Ont. ISO 2:01 4. L. Carpenter, Hamilton 1 :55 5. Bert Norman, Vancouver 1 :02 Fuselage 0. Cliff Baker, St. Catherines :51 Open View of the Junior Aviator annual con­ 1. James J. Hnffev. Toronto * 9 :59 2. Joseph I\ Matulis. Chicago. 111. * 8 :55 test at Buffalo. 3. Fred Hollingsworth, Vancouver S :17 Stick Davis, Pittsburgh; third, Charles Smith. Junior Toledo. 1. Bert Norman. Vancouver ♦ 10:15 15. F. Goodrich Trophy: Won by ·» Harry Doe. Vancouver 7 :44 s. Don .McIntyre. Cuelph. Ont. 0 :51 John Banko, ('leveland; second, Richard Open Bodle, Akron, ().; third, Roman Lysz- earz, Buffalo. 1. Joseph I*. Matulis. Chicago, Til. * 12 :20 2. Fred Hollingsworth, Vancouver • 11 :59 Thompson Trophy: Won by Richard 8.* Bruno Marehi, Boston, Mass. 11 :5S. Korda, Cleveland; second, Henry Junior Champion Thomas, Akron, O.: third, Charles Davis, Clarence Dunn, Hamilton. Pittsburgh. L. AY. Greve Trophy: Won by Ches­ This neat hydro by J. G. Wheeler of Senior Champion ter Lanzo, Cleveland; second, Clement Victoria, B. C., has made some splen- Faul Verdier, Ottawa. Turansky, Pittsburgh; third, Seymour did flights. Stein, Akron, O. Adult Champion Shell Trophy: Won by Ed Deemcr, 16 and over Bruno Marehi. Boston, Mass. Cleveland; second, Richard Sloan, Co­ Hill Doo, Vancouver Γ» :27 Norman McDonajrh. Hamilton 4 :41 lumbus; third, Anthony Kazlouskns, Ak­ JnillCH J Miami, l nity. Sank. 4 :10 JUNIOR AVIATORS ron. Thomas CL Harris. Toronto 3 :30 Jam en J, IlnflV.v. T oronto 2 :42 Buffalo Airport was the scene of the Bendix Trophy: Won by Don Mer- (I. .1, Arthur Covey, Saint John 2:83 annual national contest of the Junior lens, Buffalo; second. Anthony Kazlou- Wakefield (aver, of 3 flights) Aviators, Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Entrants from skas, Akron; third, Boh Pfeiffer, Cleve­ Open all parts of the country numbered 38. land. 1. Paul Verdi or. Ottawa *4:53 They were the winners of the elimina­ 2. Kruno Marehi. Boston. Mass. 8 :«··.· 8. Owen Cortield. Port Dalhoueie. Out. *2 :51) tion contests conducted earlier in the N. Y. STATE FAIR CONTEST 4. James J. HafPey, Toronto 2:45 5. John Lemlck, Toronto 2.:29 summer in wing cities. Twelve trophies Holding the largest model contest ever 0. Clarence D unn. H am ilton * 2 :14 and 81.500 in prizes were given. staged in central New York, the annual Gas Models Chester'Lanzo of Cleveland proved to State Fair meet at Syracuse, Sept. Í). Open be the outstanding champion, winning under the sponsorship of the Exchange 1. Bruno Marehi. Boston. Mass. *7:45 two firsts. In the stick event he set a Club and the Syracuse Model Airplane 2. Ed. Uomiens, Windsor. Out. 2:18 8. Kay Hunter. (Jiieiph, Out. :15 new open record of 18:10. He also won Club, drew 115 entries. (Turn In ftngc 95) 64 BILL BARNES THE PIGSKIN BAG (Continued fron: page 14) slick in his hand, now, which lie used it the two men had pulled him back into A dull, half-muffled explosion sounded as a liaton. Bill began to search for the bushes. inside the house and Bill knew that Nick Barney Cockrane as Stewart’s chorus Bill’s first instinct was to go charging Stewart’s safe hud been blown open. He became immersed in the song. But he across the lawn to the man’s aid. But wondered if the famous Stewart emer­ saw no sign of him. Me decided to wait that second sense that had pulled him alds were inside. a few more minutes in the shadows try­ out of a thousand tight spots told him to Bill watched the big man on the pier ing to pick out Barney before he went sit tight and see what happened next. with the brown hair and the mask over on an active hunt for him. He didn’t have to wait long. He swept his face, as he directed the operations Just as Bill had given up hope and the lawn with his gaze and saw another of the men under him. He gave his was about to start out looking for him of Nick Stewart’s guards clipped on the orders in short, clipped words and noth­ in the milling crowd, he heard the drone head and dragged behind a hedge. ing seemed to escape his eyes. Bill saw of an airplane overhead. He could sec Then he knew what it was all about. him put his right band to his forehead its running lights as it circled low over He saw the people on the pier raising and acknowledge a waving handkerchief the Stewart home and out over the cove. their hands high in the air as the four on the porch of the Stewart home. A He watched it as it circled around into occupants of the boat climbed on it. moment later a powerful motor roared the wind, flushed on its landing lights They all wore masks over their faces into action on the driveway. and came swooping down a few hundred and they carried short, black things un­ Two of the robbers were carefully go­ feet from the Stewart pier. der their arms that Bill knew were ing over the men and women lined up As Nick Stewart’s chorus finished a tommy guns. Bill tried to fade back before them. Each had a small zipper song and turned toward the cove, the toward the house to reach a telephone, bag hung around his neck, and as the pilot in the plane killed his engine. As but he didn’t get far before a gun was victims removed each valuable, he it sputtered and gasped, the voices of pushed into his back. dropped it into the bag. They were, Bill four men came across the water in a “We’re watching you, Barnes,” a reflected, as cool and efficient as a pair song that lias been sung by barber shop voice that wasn’t pleasant said behind of expert fruit pickers. They knew their quartets since the beginning of barber him. “Get your hands in the air and jobs and they were taking it in their shops. move down toward the crowd on the stride. They even talked to their vic­ Their voices rose clear, and in perfect dock.” tims as they robbed them. harmony, as the tenor took a high note, Bill put his hands in the air because When the two men with the zipper the bass rumbled and the second tenor he didn’t want to lie the cause of half a bags had finished, they signaled to the and baritone came in at the right beat. dozen people being shot. He knew, if big man on the pier. He. in turn, sig­ Nick Stewart and his chorus stood in the breaks were with him. he could naled to the men on the lawn and on the open-mouthed amazement until the last swing around and take the man who was porch of the big mansion. The car in note floated across the water. Then covering him out of action. But lie the driveway roared again as all but the they burst into thunderous applause. also knew it would start the others shoot­ four singing bandits moved quietly to­ Nick Stewart cupped his hands to his ing and throw Nick Stewart’s light­ ward it. mouth and shouted, “All ashore who is headed guests into a panic. He shrugged The four men on the pier moved down cornin’ ashore!” his shoulders, stuck his hands high in to the end. They kept swinging their “Send out the dinghy,” some one the air, and moved down toward the tommy guns back and forth as they re­ called back. water. On the way. he looked behind treated, step by step. When they “Man the dinghy!” Stewart shouted. him and saw that there were at least reached the steps leading down to the “All hands on the quarter deck. Rescue four men with masks on their faces boat the big man spoke. that bass und bring him ashore!” herding the guests toward the crowd on “Hold it. all of you,” he said. “Don’t move until after we take off. We’ll Bill Barnes couldn’t help laughing at the pier. Bill smiled a wry smile as he watched keep you. covered and the first one who the absurdity of the thing. Here were the four singing bandits round up the makes a break will not live to be sorry.” grown men and women acting like a men in one line and the women in an­ The outboard motor of the little boat flock of clowns. Ife moved toward the other. He couldn’t help admiring the caught. The leader stood in the back, crowd to find Barney Cockrane. ingenious method the robbers had used his tommy gun slowly swinging back He searched the grounds while the to receive an invitation to come ashore and forth. A powerful young fellow that people crowded down to the pier to greet and rob Stewart’s guests. It was almost Bill recognized as young Stanton, the the flying singers. They were singing laughable. polo player, lost control of himself. He while they were being brought ashore He tried to estimate the value of the cursed, started to run toward the end of in a small boat. diamond rings, pins and bracelets he had the pier as though he would stop the Then, suddenly, Bill Barnes knew that seen glistening on the women guests. robbers single-handed. The tommy gun something was wrong. He saw a burly And there would be no small amount of of the leader went tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat, man with a square jaw and the shoul­ cash carried by the men. just that many times, and the young ders of a wrestler standing near a clump He heard Nick Stewart protesting in fellow pitched forward on his face. of bushes, watching the guests. The a thick voice that the whole thing was Bill knew what was coming then, so he man was trying to look like a guest, but an outrage. He saw a heavy fist swing leaped in front of the crowd and shouted Bill knew lie wasn’t a guest. He knew in an arc, saw Stewart sprawl on his for quiet. But the strain had been too he was a detective. face. A half dozen of the women were great. They became an incoherent, hys­ What held Bill’s attention were the sobbing hysterically. Some of the men terical mob of people. The leader fired two men who slipped out of the bushes were cursing—but not too vociferously. another burst over their heads. They behind the. burly man. They crept up They valued their own skins beyond the broke in all directions while Bill tried to behind him. Bill saw an arm raise; valuables they wore or carried. quiet them. something round and black slapped the Bill tried to find Barney Cockrane in Young Stanton. Bill found, had been burly man on the. head. He dropped as the stewing crowd, as the robbers killed instantly. Three bullets had lorn though he had been shot through the methodically stripped the guests of their through his heart and lungs. That was heart. In less time than it takes to tell jewels. He was nowhere in sight. when Bill saw red. He could feel the 65

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NAME

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Mood throbbing in his brain as he gazed “I ’m no cripple,” Bill said. “I’ve got IV—A MILLION—IN CASH down at the torn body on the pier and to get hack to Barnes Field.” BILL BARNES was too busy dur­ then bellowed a curse at the retreating “You’d better rest for a few hours, ing the next few days to think much bandits. Mr. Barnes,” the doctor said. about Barney Cockrane. But he was The thing he did next was typical of “I’ll rest when I get back to the field,” forced to think about him occasionally, him. He made a flying leap, landed in he said. “What happened? Dili they because detectives ■ interrupted him a the bottom of a rowboat that was tied catch up to any of those gorillas?” dozen times to ask him questions about up alongside. lie untied it, sat down the robbery at Nick Stewart’s. and hent his back to the oars. Robbery, Barney Cockrane shook his head. “They all got away clean,” he said. “It The fourth day after the robbery, Bill lie told himself, was one tiling: murder was standing at a window of his bunga­ was another. He pointed the prow of was a neat job—that singing stunt to throw Nick off guard. He has been low on Barnes Field, gazing toward the the rowboat toward Barney Cockranc’s scared to death of robbers because of administration building and the traffic- amphibian. He knew that if he could the Stewart emeralds. A lot of good control lower. He was gazing at them, get into the air soon enough, lie would his guards did him.” but he didn’t sec them. His thoughts be able to cut them off and effect their were, for the first time since the robbery, “They got the emeralds?” Bill asked, arrest. He didn’t pay any attention to entirely Occupied with Barney Cock­ getting to his feet. The room spun for a Hie warning shouts that came through rane. moment, then settled. the night from the robbers’ amphibian, He had called Barney Cockranc’s lie didn’t believe they would be nble to “They got ’em,” Barney said. “And office a few minutes Indore. Old La­ pick him off because of the darkness. a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of under Trimble, the man who had been He ducked his head, instinctively, as a other stuff from the guests." Anthony Coekrane’s right arm and was burst of machine-gun fire roared off to “What about the police?” Bill asked. now Barney’s faithful employee, had his left. “Will they let us out of here?” come on the wire. ITc told Bill that Then the oar blades dropped into the “They won’t hold us up if you think Barney hadn’t been in the office for three water with a splash and Bill pitched for­ you ought to go,” Barney said. days. He said Barney had flown uj> to ward on his face, much like young Stan­ During that fifteen-minute flight down one of his country places in the Berk- ton had done. the length of the Island. Barney Cock- shires two days before. He went on to rane said a curious thing to Bill Barnes, say they hadn’t been able to get in touch WHEN Bill opened his eyes he saw a a thing that set Bill to wondering. with Barney for the past couple of half dozen dim. hazy figures blurred days; they were becoming worried. Tie “I—I may run into some trouble soon. around him and heard the far-away promised to tell Barney that Bill was Bill,” he said. “I wanted to tell you whisper of voices. He closed his eves trying to reach him as soon as they made about it to-day, but I didn’t have time. and heard some one sav, “Tie’s coming contact with him. I'll probably need your help. It’s a mess around.” Bill jammed his fists deeper into the that may be hard to explain. I’ll get in Λ hand grasped his jnd.se and some­ pockets of the flannel dressing robe he touch with you again in a couple of thing soft and cool was rubbed over his wore over tweed slacks and white flannel days because I want to talk it over with face. In a moment he opened his eyes shirt. Why, he asked himself, had old you.” again and tried to focus them. Barney’s Trimble been so mysterious about the voice came to his ears. He clenched his “Okay, fella,” Bill said. He didn’t whole thing? He had made it sound like teeth. pay a great deal of attention to what a secret. Barney was saying at the moment be­ “IIow you doing, fella?” he heard He whirled, paced across the room a cause his bandaged head ached beyond Barney ask. half dozen times, his head bent in belief. “I’ll do.” Bill said. “What happened?” thought, his forehead furrowed. He “They creased your scalp with a ma­ But when lie stood beside Barney’s was plainly worried. He liked and ad­ chine-gun bullet.” Barney said. “How plane on Barnes Field and Barney leaned mired Barney Cockrane as well as any do you feel?” out of the front cockjiit to shake his man lie knew. He considered Barney his “Rotten headache,” Bill answered. hand before he took off. Bill thought friend, and Bill was not the kind of man “The wound doesn’t amount to any­ about that curious birthmark again. to treat friendship lightly. He re­ thing?” And as Barney kicked the amphibian membered what Barney had said to him “The doctor says you just need a few around into the wind and took off. the about running into some trouble, need­ hours’ rest,” Barney stud, his voice tense thing that had eluded him came back to ing help. He wondered if Barney had with emotion. “I was scared for a bit. him. He gasped in amazement. already run into trouble. I thought the rats had killed you.” He suddenly remembered the jewel It occurred to him a few minutes later, Bill opened his eyes, startled at the robbery that had occurred between New­ when Sandy Sanders came bursting into intensity of Barney Cockrane’s voice. ark and Chicago on Transcontinental his quarters with a telegram, that the He saw that Barney’s face was livid with Airways nearly a year ago. He remem­ extravagant claims of the prophets of anger. And then lie noticed something bered the description the co-pilot of the mental telepathy might be worth listen­ else for the first time in his life. plane Jmd given of the leader of the ing to. robbers. He noticed a curious, crescent-shaped The telegram was from Barney Cock­ birthmark on the side of Barney’s neck. And he remembered Barney Cock­ rane. Tt read: It fascinated him because it was red in rane’s eccentric reputation about being contrast to Barney’s almost-purple face. a Robin Hood, a man who took jirofits AM WIRING TRIMBLE CERTAIN IN­ away from the rich to help the poor. Something vague stirred within him, STRUCTIONS IN CODE STOP IT IS OF some memory that eluded him for the Bill shook his throbbing head and THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME moment. Why, he asked himself, should made his way toward his quarters. Then THAT YOU FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS that odd birthmark on Barney’s neck he remembered what Barney had said WHEN YOU HEAR FROM H IM STOP bother him? lie wondered why he had to him over the intercockpit phone on PI.EASE DO NOT FAIL MB STOP never noticed it before. He shook his the way back to Barnes Field. BARNEY COCKRANE head, swung his feet off the bed and sat “A man might get a goofy idea about up. Barney and a man Bill knew was a robbing the rich to help the poor.” Bill Bill read the telegram twice, then doctor tried to push him back on the said, aloud, to himself, “but he wouldn’t handed it to Sandy, whose freckled face bed. murder in cold blood to accomplish it.” exuded curiosity. Before Sandy Imd AIR TRAILS 67 finished reading it the telephone on were triplc-bladed, automatic-pitch pro­ “Good work, Martin,” Bill said. lie Bill’s desk rang. He picked up the in­ pellers. leaned into the cockpit and looked at strument and spoke to Tony Lamport. From the center of the propeller cap the tachometer. Then lie looked around “It’s Mr. Trimble, from Barney peeped the muzzle of a 37-mm. auto­ for Sandy. At just that moment Sandy Cockranc’s office, Bill.” Tony said. matic engine cannon that was built in­ came running around the corner, trying “Put him o n jl Bill said. tegrally with the motor in the V of the to put on a white overall and white hel­ “Mr. Barnes?” Leander Trimble’s thin twenty-four cylinders. Firing through met while he ran. He carried a small voice came over the wire. Bill could the hollow prop shaft, it could pour ex­ bag in one hand. picture his gaunt, lean face as he told plosive, incendiary or armor-piercing "Haul yourself in there,” Bill shouted him he was on the wire. shells at the rate of three hundred a as lie gunned the engines for a moment. “I just· had a code wire from Mr. minute. Swinging the Lancer lightly around, he Cockrane,” Trimble went on. “He From troughs along each side of the rolled down the center runway into the makes a very unusual request. I don’t engine peeped the noses of two .50-cali­ wind. In the center of the field, where think it is safe to communicate the sub­ ber machine guns. They were equipped the main runways converged, he tapped stance of it to you over the telephone. with automatic ammunition counters the rudder lo kick the ship directly into IIow long will it take you to reach our and engine-driven synchronizing gear. the wind. The engine blasted. The offices?” The dull, burnished metal sight that sat three thousand horses in the nose roared. An expression of annoyance swept directly before Bill’s eyes when he was The -tail lifted and a moment later the over Bill’s bronzed face. Why. he in the air was a telescopic one such ns retractable landing gear slid up into the thought, couldn't people leave him alone the U. S. army uses. belly as Bill stuck the nose of the ship for a while? Why did they always have At the ends of the silver, all-metal, toward Manhattan. to pick on him to----- Tie brushed the cantilever wings gleamed the navigation The two plain-clothes, men. pacing thought out of his mind as the sound lights. Underneath the belly, protrud­ back and forth before the marble facade of Barney Cockrane’s troubled voice ing slightly, were the slots containing the of Coekrane’s building, nodded deferen­ echoed in his ears. emergency landing flares. tially to Bill and Sandy as they mounted “I can get over there in half an hour. As the ship stood there in the hangar, the steps. Another guard swung the in­ Perhaps sooner,” he said. “I’ll fly in and it seemed to be a sort of biplane. But. ner door wide. land at the Battery.” once it was in the air the amphibian They were in the main lobby of one “You’d better bring a small bag of gear folded completely into the fuselage of the largest corporations in America. overnight clothes with you,” Trimble and wings and it became a silver bullet A uniformed attendantr took them to a whined. “Mr. Cockranc’s request in­ that was a monoplane. With the low- girl who phoned Bill’s name to Leander volves a short trip.” speed landing gear retracted, the main Trimble. The attendant guided them “0. K„” Bill said, and snapped the float vanished into the belly of the fuse­ through a maze of corridors and offices receiver on its hook. lage, and the auxiliary wings, with their until they came to one marked: “Office “Whereyougoin’Bill?” Sandy asked wing-tip pontoons, nestled into the main of t h e President.” The attendant him, running the words together as wings between the spars. In front of opened the door, bowed and departed. though they were one. the two regular landing wheels was an Leander Trimble’s secretary led them “IIop out and tell Martin to warm auxiliary nose wheel to lake up the through two offices and knocked on a up and check the Lancer,” Bill answered. shock of rough landings. door. The thin voice of old Trimble “I’ll lie using it within fifteen minutes.” In the tail assembly was a balanced floated out to them. The secretary “Listen. Bill,” Sandy said, his blue rudder, elevators, and cantilever stabi­ opened the door, and departed. eyes shining, “I’m all ready to go with lizers. Bill and Sandy stepped into the most you.” The pilot’s cockpit, back of the rear­ sumptuous office either of them had “If I wanted you to go with me I’d wing spar, contained a complete set of ever seen. The wide, high window at mention it,” Bill growled. “Haul your blind-flying instruments, including the the front was hung with soft, wine-col­ useless carcass out to the hangars and Kruesi short-wave direction finder, along ored drapes to shut out the gaze of the do what I told you to.” with all the other instruments to be crowds who passed on foot along Wall “Aw, have a heart, Bill,” Sandy im­ found in Bill’s Snorters. Street. The walls were hung with auto­ plored. “I’ve been sitting around here The rear cockpit was equipped with a graphed pictures of world-renowned for a week. listening lo that fathead complete set of duplicate controls, navi­ men. Behind a great, gleaming mahog­ Shorty make wisecracks. If I don’t get gating instruments and a flexible .30-eali- any desk sat the man who was sup­ away for a bit I ’m apt to lose my tem­ ber Browning, mounted on a track. posed to know more about the details per and hurt him.” A sliding inclosure of shatterproof of the North American Steel Corporation The idea of Sandy hurting the one glass 'covered both cockpits completely, than any other living man. hundred and seventy-five pounds of with an arrangement that permitted the He was a man of indeterminate age, dynamite that was Shorty Hassfurther rear section to be telescoped forward with thin, white hair and black, bristling made Bill break into laughter. out of lbe gunner’s way when in action. eyebrows. His eyes were mere slits in “All right, kid,” he said. “After you In the fuselage, immediately behind his lean, lined face, and his hands were give Martin my instructions, pack an the cockpits, in a locker, was the usual long and thin, like the claws of some overnight bag and be back on the apron Barnes emergency equipment, which in­ enormous bird. in ten minutes.” cluded a small outboard motor and a folding rubber boat, a small tent, rations, As Bill bowed and smiled at him, a “0. K.,” Sandy said, and jumped for an ax. a pick, a short spade, a . 15-caliber trace of a smile flitted across his face, the door. Thompson submachine gun, one Spring- then was gone. lie got up from his desk “I said ten, and not fifteen, minutes!” field rifle with a telescopic sight, and and advanced toward Bill with out­ Bill roared after him. one repeating shotgun. stretched hand. There was an expression in Bill’s eyes “You checked her carefully?” Bill “This is a pleasure. Air. Barnes,” he that is hard to describe as they ran over asked Martin, head mechanic of the field. said in that high, whining voice. lie the sleek, gleaming thing that was the “Yes, sir.” Martin answered. “There shook Bill’s hand and turned toward Silver Lancer a few minutes later. was a slight amount of torque when you Sandy with an expression that was any­ He listened to the idled three thou­ brought her in last time. I took it out thing but cordial. sand horses in the twin-Diesel engine by checking the timing in the forward “Mr. Sanders,” Bill said. “One of my and watched the two silver disks that engine. She neutralizes perfectly now.” best men.” 68 MAKE UP YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST NOW FROM THIS IVSodel Airplane Builders Always Welcome SCIENTIFIC Kits As Gifts! They9re Complete! They9re Authentic! They9re Perfect! 4 DeLuxe 25-lnc5i HI-FLYERS Bigger, stronger, more durable, and better flyers. For the utmost in a kit, make your first and last choice, Scientific’s De Luxe HI-FLYERS. 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“A little young, isn’t lie?” Trimble a telegram. His eyes ran across the in that telegram to send him a million asked. face of it several times before he finally dollars in cash. I will give you our code “I’m old enough,” Sandy said, his face spoke. book and you can decode it yourself if Hushing. “Mr. Cockrane,” lie said, “intimated you wish.” “I’m afraid,” Trimble said, bis annoy­ before he left that I would have a re­ “Never mind that,” Bill said. “I be­ ance evident, “you’ll have to wait in quest for funds from him while lie was lieve you. Does he say why he wants the outer office while I talk to Mr. gone. He flew up to his place in the it?” Barnes.” Berkshires. From there he was going "No,” Trimble answered. "But the "Ο. K.,” Sandy said, and started to­ to do a little hunting, perhaps go into request is not—er—unusual, coming ward the door. Canada. He has some very fine coon from Mr. Cockrane. lie does strange “Just a minute, Sandy,” Bill said qui­ dogs at his place up there and takes tilings at strnnge times. But it is his etly. He turned to Lcander Trimble, great pleasure in hunting with them.” money, and it is his to do with as he measured him with his eyes. There was Bill nodded his head and took the sees fit.” something, Bill decided, he didn’t like telegram Trimble extended. The words “Have you any idea why he wants about the man. He knew Barney Coek- meant nothing to him, being in code. it?” Bill asked.

VS * ' ·' '

Bill heard Sandy's gun yammering, and then his wail of disgust as he missed. rane trusted him implicitly. But Bill He raised his eyes and found Trimble “None,” Trimble said. “I ”—Bill didn’t. There was something about him studying him with a gaze that annoyed thought his voice became suddenly bit­ that sent cold shivers up Bill’s back. him. ter—“am only his secretary.” "Mr. Sanders,” Bill went on, “is not “What does it say?” he asked impa­ “It’s a lot of money,” Bill said. only one of my most trusted pilots, he tiently. “Whooey!” Sandy interposed. “ΙΈ is also my confidential secretary. What­ “Mr. Cockrane,” Trimble said evenly, say it’s a lot of money.” ever you have to say to me you can “requests me to send him one million “The question is whether you will take trust with him.” dollars in cash.” it to him,” Trimble said. For a moment Lcander Trimble hesi­ “He what!” Bill said. “You have the money ready?” Bill tated. Then he cleared his throat, nod­ “I don’t wonder that you are dum- asked. ded his head and went back behind his founded,” Trimble said, a ghost of a Trimble opened a bottom drawer in desk. From a top drawer he took out smile flitting on his lips. “He asks me his gigantic desk and lifted out a pig- AIR TRAILS 71

skin liag of medium size. He put the hag the guards opened the door of the big, their heads. Lightning flashed all about on his desk, took a small key from his black limousine parked alongside the them in jagged welts. Rain beat down vest pocket and unlocked it. He opened curb. The chauffeur stepped on the on the wings and batch like the pound the hag and motioned with one finger starter and the car glided silently into of machine-gun bullets. The big ship to Hill. Bill and Sandy moved across the traffic. reeled and skidded. Bill fought the con­ the room together and gazed at the con­ Bill warmed up the Lancer while a trols with a grim tenacity that was char­ tents of the hag. Their eyes became in­ Staten Island ferry boat eased into its acteristic of him. They were both flung credulous as they saw the contents. slip and a large Atlantic liner made its back and forth on their safety straps “There is a million dollars in cash way into the mouth of the Hudson River. until their stomachs ached. The wind there?” Sandy asked in a whisper. Ten minutes later he came around in a ånd rain lashed against the windshield “In quite small denominations,” Trim­ steep bank over Governor’s Island and with an ever-increasing fury. Bill ble said. “He specified that in his tele­ stuck the nose of the I.anccr north opened the throttles of the Lancer and gram.” above the river. tried lo get the nose up. It wallowed “Do you suppose this thing is black­ "Listen, kid.” Bill said into the inter- and rolled under the force of the wind mail, or a kidnaping?” Bill asked. cockpit telephone as the northern tip of and rain. “I don’t know,” Trimble said. “T only Manhattan flashed under their wings, "How about some oxygen?” he shouted know he asked me for the money, and “swing out that swivel gun back there, at Sandy. there it is. The question is will you just in case. I’m not used to lugging a For the next twenty minutes Bill held take il to him?” million dollars around in the air, or any the Lancer head-on into the face of the Bill’s common sense told him to say place else.” storm. His face was streaming with “No.” But some instinct that was “You stick around with me. Bill.” perspiration. The cabin was becoming stronger than logic made him nod his Sandy said, laughing, "and you’ll get suffocating. The heavy artillery of the head that he would take it. used to it. A million will seem like so heavens rumbled and crashed in their "I'll want to check it over and ex­ much chicken feed to you.” ears as Bill fonght to hold the ship on change receipts with you before l go," “You keep your eyes open and stop an even keel. lie said quietly. trying to be funny.” Bill growled. “I “Ease off on the oxygen.” lie shouted “That’s quite agreeable to me,” Trim­ don't like any part of this. The whole at Sandy. “I ’m going to sec what it’s ble said. “Wall do it now. You can thing sounds goofy to me.” like down below.” gel the stuff up there in a couple of "My gosh, Bill.” Sandy said. "If you The Lancer nosed down through the hours. He has his own landing field at smell a rat. let’s take it back. It all storm in a terrific dive as Bill slapped Barcock—that’s the name of his estate. seems all right to me. Barney is the the stick forward. At ten thousand feet It is understood, of course, that you arc one who sounds a little goofy to me.” he eased back on the control column to deliver the money to no one hut Mr. Bill stuck the nose of the Lancer up and brought the ship out in a series of Coekrane.” until he had eight thousand feet under shallow dives. The storm seemed to “O. K„” Bill said. “Let’s get at it." him. The Hudson River gleamed dully reach all the way to the mountaintops. "You brought some extra clothing with in the light of the setting sun. Off to Again he slapped the stick forward. you in case you have to wait over for the left, the sky became a symphony of The roar of the twin Diesels mounted to a day or so?” Trimble asked. pink and mulberry behind the scowling a high-pitched scream. As it came to “Yes,” Bill said. Catskills. a peak whine. Bill eased up on the stick “A million bucks—in cash!” Sandy Yonkers, Tarrytown and Poughkeepsie again. He opened his mouth and said. “Zow.ey!” flashed under their wings as they held a shouted at the top of his breath to take course parallel to the river. At Rliine- the pressure off his ears. beek Bill glanced at his map and altered At four thousand feet he leveled off V—SURPRISE ATTACK his course to the east toward Stock- again and began lo search for a hole in “I SUPPOSE you are armed," Trim­ bridge and Great Barrington. Above the clouds. When lie could find none ble said to Bill after they had checked Mt. Livermore, in the Berkshires. Bill he opened his throttles and held the nose over the money and signed a duplicate kicked his rudder again and laid his of the Lancer into the storm again. She receipt. course due north. rocked and plunged and dived as the “No.” Bill said. "I didn’t expect to “Sweet mamma!” Sandy said into the rain and wind beat at her. be carrying a million dollars around with telephone. “Look what’s coming at. us!” Then, because of the Lancer’s terrific me. When I reach my plane I will be.” Bill looked and jerked the stick of the speed, they were out of it. The bank “Here is an automatic,” Trimble said, Lancer, back into his stomach as he fed of angry clouds whirled away from them taking one from his desk. “I will send the Diesels juice. One of the thunder­ to the southwest. Below them the au­ you down to the Battery in one of Mr. storms for which the Catskill and Berk­ tumnal forest of greens, reds and browns Cockrane’s cars. The car and chauffeur shire mountains are famous was racing spread out in every direction in the dim arc parked in front of the building. An­ toward them. light. other car will follow you with two armed "Be ready to switch on the oxygen.” “Listen, kid.” Bill said into the tele­ guards in it.” Bill said to Sandy. “I'm going above it. phone. “take the controls for a minute “Arc they ready now?” Bill asked. We can never land while it’s roaring.” until I figure out our exact position. I’m “They are always ready,” Trimble The clouds were racing to meet them. not sure where we are.” said, smiling. "I am quite sure you will Bill held the stick back rigidly. His face find Mr. Coekrane at Barcock when you Sandy nodded and took the dual con­ was grim as he thought of the million arrive. I will telephone ahead and tell trols in the after cockpit. lie banked them to have the landing lights on. It dollars they were carrying. around and around ill wide circles while will be dusk, nearly dark, before you ar- Yellow stabs of lightning flashed in the Bill checked their position. Because il ri ve.” oncoming clouds. He altered the pitch was stuffy in the cockpit, Bill slid back Bill nodded his head and wrapped the of the propellers and eased down the the overhead hatch. strap fastened to the pigskin bag around wing flaps. Then he tightened the over­ As he settled back in his seat, his eyes his wrist. “All right," he said to Sandy. head hatch and locked the lugs that suddenly flew open, and he sat up on "Let’s go.” made the cockpits practically airtight. the edge of his bucket seat again. He The two guards followed Bill and As the altimeter read twenty thousand probed the air all about, anil when he Sandy out of the front door and down feet, the storm hit them. It was like a hitched around to look over his right the steps of the ornate building. One of million bowling balls thundering around shoulder, lie saw what he had heard. 7 2 BILL BARNES

He saw a red-lacquered, bi-motorcd, ta t- ta t of his swivel joined the crescendo cased back ns the other ship came up cantilever monoplane diving at them of screaming motors. and over in a flashing Imtnelmann. Now from the cast at high speed. And while The two ships streaked and tumbled the monoplane was above him anti div­ lie gazed at it he heard the tat-tat-tat all over the heavens, filling the air with ing, its guns flaming. Bill glanced at his of a machine gun and saw white, feath­ whining lead. They fired burst after altimeter, saw that he was only a thou­ ery streams of smoke that were tracer burst at one another as they jockeyed sand feet above the treelops. He opened bullets. for position. the throttles of the Lancer and shot up­ Bill’s head came up; his eyes were “He knows his onions,” Bill grated ward as the monoplane dived beneath wide and startled as Sandy screamed in into the telephone to Sandy. “And lie him. his ear. Then he waved a hand at Sandy can shoot.” Bill’s stomach felt as though it had and pulled the stick of the Lancer hack “Go at him head-on,” Sandy shouted. come to rest beside his tonsils as he into his stomach. The Lancer leaped out. “When you come up to chnndelle back brought the Lancer up and leveled off of range of the guns of the streamlined I’ll get him. He’s a sucker for my gun. with a half roll. Then he felt bullets ship, but not before Bill and Sandy I can get him.” tearing up through the belly of the could feci bullets pounding into her tail Bill's fingers clamped down on his gun Lancer. He barrel-rolled to get out of assembly. The flame from the exhaust trips again as the red-lacquered ship range as the monoplane zoomed past pipes of the red-lacquered plane showed came under his sights. But before his him. Then he was under its belly, with brightly in the dim light as it dived be­ bullets had reached their mark the pilot his machine guns chattering. He could neath them. had slipped away. Sandy made noises see his tracers pumping into it before As Bill brought the Lancer up to the in his throat, screamed something into it sideslipped out of range. top of a loop, he half rolled it level and the telephone. Bill’s lips became a hard, Again the two planes raced upward, gazed down over the side as the mono­ set line of determination. His face was each trying to gain the advantage of plane came out of its dive and came dripping with perspiration. He was us­ altitude. At four thousand feet. Bill around in a sweeping bank. ing all his powers of concentration as he whipped around to finish the fight. He “That is the ship Γ tested for Barney studied the other pilot’s tactics. was so tired his hands were trembling Cockrane the other day,” he said aloud. Bill sideslipped the Lancer out of on the stick. Ilis body felt weak, as “There couldn’t be two ships like that range as the monoplane came at him though he had not slept or eaten in one. Since I took it out to the end of head-on, guns yammering. Then he days. Long Island, Barney, or some one, has opened his throttles as he went by and As lie searched for the other plane he had a pair of synchronized machine guns stuck the nose of the Lancer upward could not believe his eyes. He heard stuck in her.” again. He heard Sandy’s gun yammer­ Sandy shouting and followed the direc­ tion in which the kid was pointing. The “What are you saying. Bill?” Snndv ing, heard Sandy’s wail of disgust as he other ship had peeled off and was head­ shouted at him. missed. As Bill came up and over in a chnn­ ing north. Tt was running away! “Nothing,” Bill said. “Gel that swivel delle, he dived on the monoplane. But For one brief instant Bill considered gun ready. This guy is going to try when lie clamped down on his firing following it. It must have been dam­ to chop our heads off.” trips, the plane faded from under his aged, or the pilot would not have pulled “She’s ready, Bill!” Sandy said, his sights as though a magician had flicked out of the fight. voice tense. it away with a handkerchief. Then Bill put the plane out of his Bill’s face was suddenly burning; his Bill was getting mad now, and lie was mind. His teeth came tightly together blood was racing through his body like getting worried. It was so dark that as he remembered that he had a million fire. Who, he asked himself, was pilot­ he could locate the other plane only by dollars in the back that was to be deliv­ ing that other ship? Was it Barney the fire belching from its exhaust. He ered to Barney Cockrane. lie wondered, Cockrane? Was Barney Cockrane try­ cursed himself for having left Barnes as lie began to check his position, what ing to frame him? Field without his electron telescope set Barney Cockrane would have to say He opened his throttles wide and in his instrument panel. about that other plane when he saw him. “Who do you suppose it was. Bill?’’ zoomed upward again in an abrupt, And he realized that he was trying Sandy asked. climbing turn. lie debated with him­ too hard because of his anxiety. He was “I don’t know, kid,” Bill said wearily. self for a moment about what he had "over-controlling” the Lancer because of “I don’t know. We’ve got to find out better do. Tic was still responsible for that million dollars in the after cockpit. where we are and locate Barney Coch­ that million dollars in the rear cockpit. The next time the monoplane flashed Should he open his throttles and run? rane’s landing field. I didn’t tell old across his sights, he kicked his rudder Trimble, but I’ve been there before. I While lie was leveling the Lancer ofT. ever so little as his fingers gripped hard think I can find it as soon as I work the monoplane decided the question for on his gun trips. The nose of the Lancer out our exact position.” him. It zoomed up underneath him. its followed the swerve of the monoplane guns spewing lead and fire. The lead for a split fraction of a second. chewed through his right wing, and he Bill’s bullets wove a pattern from the VI—BARCOCK skidded the Lancer out of the line of engine housing to the tail assembly. He A HALF HOUR LATER Bill picked fire as anger welled within him. couldn’t see them, but he knew he had up a two-million-candlcpower beacon The monoplane roared upward and scored a number of hits from the way flashing in the distance. He knew it dived back to the attack. Bill pulled the monoplane skidded off dangerously was off the regular air lines, so it must the control column back and raced up­ on one wing and yawed wildly. He be. on Barney Cochrane’s field. When ward to meet the diving ship. The two whipped the Lancer around and returned they circled low above it they found planes roared at one another at terrific to the attack. His breath was coming that the floodlights were on at the small speed. in short gasps now. and his body was but well equipped field Barney Cockrane Bill’s fingers tightened on his gun saturated with perspiration from his ef­ maintained. trips. His guns chattered their song of forts and the terrific speed of his maneu­ Bill located the illuminated wind sock death. His bullets drove through the vers. He poured burst after burst at and lowered his landing gear. The pow­ monoplane’s fuselage as the pilot side­ the retreating ship as it tried to dive out erful plane kissed the ground with its slipped out of range. of danger. wheels at eighty miles an hour and came Bill could hear young Sandy talking to Bill pushed the stick of the Lancer to a stop on the apron in front of the himself in his microphone before the ta t- forward and tried to follow it. Then he one hangar. AIR TRAILS 73 G. H. Q. GAS MOTOR KITS LAST CHANCE.... of fered up to Christmas only! This is actually one of the most startling announcements ever made. Only six months ago, G.II.Q. blazed new trails in model airplane history with the news that a super-power engine may be had at only ?S.50 for a limited time only. Thousands of delighted men and boys availed themselves o f this unusual opportunity during this period of time. 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A short, stocky man with a clipped hand. “Stick a gun in your pocket, kid," As Bill and Sandy reached the end of mustache and close-set eyes appeared he said in a whisper to Sandy. the field and took a dirt road to the out of the glare of Bill’s landing lights. “Let’s see your hangar,” Bill said. “Is right, a light rain began to fall: the wind A (lying helmet was pushed back on his it large enough to hold my ship?” He began to whine through the great pines head. Two grease monkeys followed wanted to see if Barney Cochrane’s new, in the valley below them. him. red-lacquered monoplane was inside. They trudged along side by side, “This is Barcock?” Bill shouted as he One glance told him that it wasn’t. stumbling now and then as their feet killed his motors. There was only a three-place cabin job encountered unseen humps in the road. The man nodded, smiled and asked and a Single-seater biplane there. A little over a quarter of a mile away Bill if lie Imd had any trouble locating “Lots of room,” Warren said. “We’ll a long string of lights gleamed from a the field, roll her inside for you.” house they knew was Barcock. They “Not much,” Bill said. “My name is “And lock the doors,” Bill said. could hear the long, mournful howl of Barnes. Did Mr. Trimble phone you to “Right,” Warren agreed. “It’s only a a half dozen hunting dogs in the ken­ expect me?” short walk to the house. I’m sure Trim­ nels hchiml the house. But they could “He did,” the man answered, his eyes ble told Leeds, the butler, or major- see no movement in the house itself. flitting' over Lite long, streamlined fuse­ domo, or whatever you want to call him, “I'll walk ahead here, kid,” Bill said lage of the Lancer. “I’m Warren, the at the house to send the station wagon ns they came to a bend in the road that field manager. I would have known you for you. He must have slipped up.” was as dark as the inside of a dungeon. from your pictures if Trimble hadn’t “We’ll find it,” Bill said. “Come on. “Then, if I stumble, you’ll know where phoned.” kid.” to take it easy.” “How far away is the house?” Bill “You can see the lights through the “O. K.,” Sandy said. “It’s darker asked, knowing full well that it was less trees there,” Warren said, pointing. than the inside of your stomach.” than a half mile away. “Can you run “You take that road, and when you As they rounded the bend, Bill be­ me over in your car? Mr. Cochrane is come to the edge of the field you turn came aware of some other person than expecting me.” right down the hill.” Sandy close to him. He held his breath “I can’t run you over,” Warren said, “Thanks. Let me show you how to for an instant while lie listened, but not “because my ear won’t start. We’ve just tune in on my radiophone in ease you the slightest sound came .to bis ears. been fiddling with it. The magneto has should hear the buzzer. My field may Only the low moaning of the pines be­ gone floocy.” want to get in touch with me.” low them. Yet he could feel the pres­ “We can make it all right,” Bill said, The world about Bill and Sandy be­ ence of another person. and he slid over the side. “Toss me the came a black void when the floodlights It was when he heard a sharp little hags, kid,” he said to Sandy. on the field were turned off. Only the crack and a moan, behind him that he He wrapped the thongs of the pigskin two-million-candlepower beacon contin­ knew lie had been right. He dropped bag around his wrist and took the hag ued its intermittent flashes across the the bng that held his clothes, jabbed containing his own clothes in his other starless sky. his hand into liis pocket to find the auto- 74 BILL BARNES niiitic Trimble had loaned him. He supposed he was Leeds, the man, War­ “You and the cook stay here the year spoke Sandy’s name, but no answer ren had spoken about. round?” came. “Take this bag,” Bill said, sharply, “Mostly, sir.” He took three cautious steps back. “and put one of your arms under “You’ve been with Mr. Cockranc for Ilis feet came in contact with something Mr. Sanders’ other shoulder. You’re some time?” on the road as a crash sounded in the Leeds?” “We’ve both been here for five years.” bushes off to the right. He didn’t bother “Yes. sir,” Leeds said. “You are Mr. “Both?” to bend down to see what the thing Barnes?” “The cook and myself.” in the road might be. He knew it was “That’s right,” Bill snapped. Leeds Bill swabbed the cut on Sundy’s bend Sandy. He emptied the automatic he lowered the shotgun and attempted to with iodine and slapped a square of held in his hand into the night after the take both of Bill's bags. bandage over it. only sounds he could hear. “Only the one,” Bill said. “Do you know where to get Mr. Trim­ He heard a voice grunt and curse as “I heard shots,” Leeds said as he ble on the telephone at this time of a crash louder than the rest sounded. slipped his arm under Sandy’s shoulder. night?” Bill asked. Then the sound faded away, and only “You did.” Bill said. “Some one hit “I think so, sir,” Leeds said. the faint snapping of twigs came to his Mr. Sanders on the side of the head and “See if you can get him,” Bill ordered. ears. stole the bag of clothes he was carry­ “I’ll try his home, sir,” Leeds an­ As he bent over the crumpled form of ing. I tried to hit him in the dark. swered, and disappeared. Sandy he cursed himself and old man He got away.” “Bill,” Sandy said when he had gone, Trimble and Barney Cockranc. He could “Did you get a look at him?” Leeds “what’s this all about?” feel something warm and sticky trickling asked. “I wish 1 knew, kid,” Bill answered. down from under Sandy’s helmet. He “No,” Bill growled. He supported “I wish I knew who was piloting that raised his voice and shouted as loud as Sandy’s weight while Leeds opened the plane of Barney Cockrane’s. It must he could toward the house below them. door. “Is there a couch down here have been his ship. It was a Special Only the wail of the wind in the trees where he can lie down?” job.” and the howl of the dogs came back to “In this room.” Leeds said. “All right,” Sandy said. “Who hit him. As he started to pick Sandy up “Get some scissors, an antiseptic, some me on the side of the knob and almost in his arms a moan came from the kid’s bandages and,adhesive tape,” Bill said. killed me?” lips. Then a series of incoherent words. “And a basin of water—hot water.” “There has been a leak about this He spoke Sandy’s name and felt his Leeds disappeared. Bill helped Sandy money somewhere,” Bill said. “Some body stiffen, then go limp. onto the couch that was placed in front one is doing a little double-crossing.” “Bill! Bill!” Sandy half screamed, of the high, deep fireplace in which a “You don’t suppose Barney Cockranc while his bodv twisted. cheery fire crackled. has been twisting his books around and “It’s all right, kid,” Bill said. “Take “Feel any better, kid?” Bill asked. is getting this money to get out of the it easy. It’s all right.” He put him on “I’m all right now. Bill,” Sandy said. country and stay out?” Sandy asked. the ground and leaned his back against But Bill knew he wasn’t all right. His “He’d just be stealing his own money.” the bank at the edge of the road. Sandy face, except for the dried blood on it. Bill said. Then he thought about the groaned and then his body became was as white as a Christmas morning. robbery at Nick Stewart’s a few days rigid. Bill eased the helmet of! Sandy’s head before and the link between Barney “Bill!” he said. “Do you still have and stopped the fresh flow of blood with Cockranc and the man who had di­ that pigskin bag?” a handkerchief. He knew when he saw rected the robbery of a Transcontinental “Take it easy, kid.” Bill said again. the slight cut and lump on his head that Airways plane. He shook his head vig­ “I still have the bag. Do you know if it had not been for the helmet, the orously. “I don’t know, kid.” he fin­ what happened? Did you see any one?” blow would undoubtedly have crushed ished. “I don’t know.” “Not until just before something hit Sandy’s skull. Leeds came in with the A moment later Leeds stuck his head me,” Sandy said, his voice weak and things Bill had asked for. in the door to say he had Trimble on the trembling. “Something big and black “Where is Mr. Cockranc?” Bill said. wire. Bill followed him to the telephone, loomed up beside me. I started to call “Have you told him we’re here?” the pigskin bag still fastened to his wrist. your name as I tried to dodge.” “Mr. Cockranc isn’t here.” Leeds said. “Yes. Barnes?” Trimble said in his “Forget it now,” Bill said. “Do you “He w h a t? " Bill shouted. car. think you can walk? I t’s only a few “He isn’t here,” Leeds repeated im­ Bill told him of all the things that hundred yards to the house. We can perturbably. “He hasn’t been here for had happened since they had left his talk about it when we get there.” three days. Mr. Trimble knows that.” office that afternoon. On two occasions “Mr. Trimble said he would be here Trimble interrupted to ask inconse­ “If you’ll give me a hand,” Sandy quential questions. When Bill had fin­ said, and he struggled to his feet. when we arrived.” Bill said as he skill­ fully cut Sandy’s hair away from the cut. ished lie could tell by the tone of Trim­ A man was standing on the stone “I don’t know anything about that, ble’s voice that he was more than a lit­ porch of the long, rambling house ns sir," Leeds answered. tle excited. Bill and Sandy crossed a bridge over “I’ll get the first train up there,” the stream that gurgled across the wide, Outside, the coon dogs began to snarl and howl as though a thousand devils Trimble said. “An early-morning milk spacious lawn. lie was standing back train. And Barnes----- ” His voice so that he was not directly in the rays were chasing them. Sandy’s eyes grew wide and startled. trailed off. of the overhead light, and Bill saw that “Yes?” Bill said. “What the devil is the matter with he had a double-barreled shotgun in his “Don't give that bag to Mr. Cockranc those dogs?” Bill asked irritably. “Can’t hands. if he arrives,” Trimble said. “Don’t give you keep them still?” “Hey!” Bill called. “Come here and it to any one until I reach there. Is that give me a hand!” He was supporting “The cook is feeding them,” Leeds understood?” Sandy with one arm and carrying the said. “That’s understood.” Bill said. pigskin bag and his own bag in his “They act as though they were being other hand. beaten instead of fed,” Bill said. “Who VII—HOWLING DOGS The man hesitated for a moment, then else is here besides yourself, Leeds?” A LITTLE LATER Leeds served Bill ambled slowly off the porch. Bill saw “Just the cook, sir,” Leeds said. “The a steak, hash-browned potatoes, buttered that lie was dressed in simple livery and summer staff is gone.” beans and a salad on a small table in AIR TRAILS 75 front of the fire, while Sandy, propped them what time they wished to be “Hey!” Sandy said. “Don’t leave me up on the couch, was satisfied with some called in the morning. around here with those two cutthroats. soup. “Mr. Trimble will be here at nine,” The way I feel----- ” Outside, the wind was howling down Bill said. “You’d better make it eight “I’ll only be a few minutes,” Bill said. the valley like a thousand banshees. o’clock.” “I’m going to slip out this door onto the The windows rattled in their casements “I’ll come in and start the fire before porch.” He lowered his voice to a whis­ as falling leaves swirled against them. 1 call you,” Leeds »»id. per. "On the way here, just before we In the back of the house, Barney Coch­ “Listen. Leeds,” Bill said. “Don’t came across the bridge to the house, I ranes dogs raised their voices in a make any mistake about this: Any one noticed an old dredge beside the creek. mournful dirge. who tries to come into this room hrfore I’m going to slip out there and put this Once Bill saw a man in a white apron we are awake in the morning is more bag in it some place.” slip out' of the pantry, into the dining than a little apt to be shot right through “Gosh, Bill.” Sandy said, his eyes

Bill emptied his automatic into the night.

room. Bill noticed that one of his eyes the stomach. Do you understand that?” wide, “remember what’s in it. Suppose was slightly cocked and he looked more “It’s plain enough,” Leeds said. some one sees you.” like a strike-breaker than a cook. The “There is a lock on the door, isn’t “Xo one is going to see me,” Bill an­ man cupped his hands and stood peer­ there?” Bill asked. swered. “It will be safer there than ing out of the window into the pitch “A very good one, sir,” Leeds an­ here. It will take me only a few min­ black of the night for a moment, then swered. “You won’t need to open the utes.” glided back into the kitchen. window because you’ll have plenty of air Bill cased open the door leading to After Bill had finished eating, Leeds from the door that opens on the porch.” the porch, slipped out into the darkness. led them up a flight of stairs to a bed­ “Good night. Leeds,” Bill said. He bent his face against the half gale room on the second floor. Because the “Good night, sir.” that whipped at his clothes as he pushed house was built on the side of a hill, the Bill helped Sandy into bed, propped down the steps and out to the road. bedroom window opened on a drive­ him up with a couple of pillows behind The night was so dark that lie could not way that ran back to the stables and his back and put an automatic in his see three feet away from him. The only kennels. hand. thing that was visible in the darkness After he had lighted a fire that was “Just hold it like that until I come was the string of lights in the Cockranc already laid in the fireplace, Leeds asked back, kid,” Bill said to him. house. 76 BILL BARNES

He felt Iiis way across the little bridge “You’ll get a knife in your back if should have been howling if there was and slipped down a slight embankment you go taking looks around this place,” some one around here last night, and on the other side. The dredge loomed Sandy said. “I guess I heard you go I'm sure there was some one around.” up before him like some huge prehis­ out. You must have wakened me. I "The cook just told me they were all toric monster. Bill opened a little door heard you walking on the stairs. I mean dead, sir.” Leeds said, his face a mask in the side, found the fire box inside. I heard the stairs creak. Then, a mo­ of imperturbability. Opening the door, he pushed'the pig­ ment later, something loomed up against “They died of old age, I suppose.” skin bag far buck, then banked dead the window, something that was darker Bill said. Suddenly lie sat upright in ashes up around it. He could tell that than the night outside. I felt for you betl and reached for the gun on the chair the dredge had not been used in months, in the bed and didn’t find you. I didn’t beside him. “Listen, Leeds,” lie saitl, or perhaps years, and supposed it was want to shout for fear I might upset the and his voice was grim, “you’re a smooth one Barney Cockrane had used to dig apple cart. Why did you get Up?” crook, but you’re not smooth enough. out a swimming pool in the creek. “I heard a scream,” Bill said, and he You or the cook poisoned those dogs. When he regained the road. Bill’s shivered when he thought of it. "It You were bright enough to know why I heart climbed into his month as he wasn’t like anything human, kid.” asked you how long you had been here heard a movement near him. Then he “The flogs have stopped barking. Bill." when you told me the cook was feeding heard the scamper of a chipmunk. He Sandy said excitedly. the dogs. But you’re not bright enough slipped back into the house as noise­ “1 noticed that a moment ago. Leeds to get away with the thing you’re try­ lessly ns he had left it. Sandy told him and the cook are still up. playing curds ing to pull. Something screwy is going he had heard nothing but the continual in the dining room,” Bill said. “I can’t on here. I’m not sure what it is yet. wail of the wind and the howl of the understand that scream or why those But I’ll know before I’m through. You coon dogs. flogs aren’t howling. The cook and take my advice and play things easy. It was three o’clock in the morning Leeds are new here. Leeds said they Have you heard from Mr. Trimble?” that Bill was awakened by a horrible had both been here for five years. If “Yes, sir,” Leeds said. “He phoned noise; one that was half scream, half they had been, the dogs wouldn’t, have from the station. He is on his way out shout. He sat bolt upright in bed, and snarled at the cook when he was feed­ here now. Breakfast will be served in he could feel the hair at the base of his ing them. Dogs don’t snarl at a person twenty minutes, sir.” scalp creeping. He slid his hand under who feeds them.” “Not to us,” Bill said decisively. his pillow, wrapped it around the butt “All right. Bill,” Sandy said, “what do “We’ll get our own breakfast.” of his automatic. As he slipped out of we flo next?” "Yes, sir,” Leeds said. bed, he could hear Sandy breathing “IIow does your head feel?” "How long since you got out of prison, deeply and evenly. “Ο. K. Aches a little.” Leeds?” Bill snapped at him. He drew the bolt on the door that “We go back to betl anti try to get “I beg your pardon, sir,” Leeds saitl. led to the hallway and crept out into some more sleep." Bill said. "I have a “Get out of here!” Bill roared at him. the hall. Bain lashed at the window- hunch we’re going to need it to-morrow.” panes; the wind had become a high- vill— A WARNING pitched scream. He could see a light THE WIND was still howling and shining under the door at the bottom of rain was pounding on the roof and lash­ AFTER a quick shower, Bill stripped the steps and heard the faint murmur ing at the windows when Bill heard off the bandage on Sandy’s head and of voices. Leeds knock on the floor at eight o’clock, looked at the wound. The swelling had Bill gazed out the floor that led to lie slipped his automatic out from under gone flown and the cut was clean and the driveway and imagined, for an in­ his pillow and laid it on a chair beside hcalthy-Iooking. stant, he could sec a form moving in the the bed before he leaped out to unbolt "You feel all right, kid?” Bill asked. abysmal darkness of the night. Then the floor. “Not dizzy or headachcy?” he began a silent march down the stairs, “Good morning, sir.” Leeds said in his “I can totter,” Sandy saitl. He looked step by step, careful that they did not even, oily voice as Bill ducked back into out the window at the driving rain. “ Γ creak under his tread. bed to get out of the chilly air. wish it was a nicer day. I’d like to get He found the latch, lifted it silently. “Good morning. Leeds,” Bill said, and some exercise now that I’m up here in When he opened the door he saw that he saw that Leeds’ eyes were running the country.” the light had come from the dying em­ around the room in search of the pig­ “You’ll probably get all the exercise bers in the fireplace. The voices, more skin bag. “What time did you go to you want, in spite of the weather,” Bill distinct now, were coining from the din­ bed? I)ifl you hear some one shouting said dryly, “I ’m going downstairs. I ing room. lie glided the two or three last night?” think I hear a ear coming. It may be steps to the doorway, stuck one eye “I didn’t hear anything sir,” Leeds Trimble.” around it. Leeds and the cook were sit­ said. “I was probably asleep. I turned “I'll be down as soon ns I’m dressed,” ting at the long table, playing cards. in at about one o’clock.” Sandy said. Bill went downstairs and stood at the Bill studied them for a moment, saw “You’re a liar, Leeds.” Bill saitl. “You that their clothes were dry. windows as a battered old car witli a were playing cards at three o’clock. I taxi sign on it came down the hill. He Then he suddenly became aware of an­ saw you.” watched it swing past the front of the other thing. The dogs outside were no “Begging your pardon, sir,” Leeds said house and into the drive. He sat down longer barking as they had been when without looking at Bill. “I may have in front of the fire and waited for Trim­ he went to sleep. If that horrible noise been wrong about the time. I heard ble to come in while he reassembled in had come from outside, the dogs would nothing.” He poured a little kerosene his mind the things that had happened. have been making the night hideous on the fire he laid in the fireplace and After five minutes of waiting lie with their din. touched a match to it. Bill watched glanced, impatiently, at the watch He crept back up the steps and into him. eyes narrowed, as lie straightened strapped to his wrist. Why, he asked the bedroom. As he bolted the door, up and began to search the room again. himself, hadn’t Trimble come directly in Sandy’s voice came to him in a whisper “What has happened to the dogs, to speak to him? After all, he was car­ from across the room. Leeds?” Bill asked. “They were howl­ rying the million dollars. “Is that you, Bill?” ing when I went to sleep. But I haven’t Bill waited another ten minutes, then “Ο. K., kifl. I heard a noise and got heard a peep out of them since. That got up and strode the length of the din­ up to take a look around.” seems a little strange to me. They ing room. He pushed the swinging door AIR TRAILS 77 into the pantry aside, stepped through. away with you. Barnes,” Trimble said. “That’s all right,” Bill said calmly. Trimble, Leeds and tile cook were talk­ “There is no doubt there was a leak. But his brain was working with astonish­ ing at the foot of the steps that led Some one tried to cut in and get that ing rapidity. “It’s quite all right,” lie re­ down to the kitchen from the garage. As money. We’ll find but who that was be­ peated. “He’ll be along later in the bill appeared, Leeds and the cook faded fore we’re through. Mr. Cockrane is a day?” away and Trimble came toward him, his very generous man. But he isn’t one “That’s right,” Trimble said. “You hand out and a smile on his lips. who enjoys being robbed. He should can turn the money over to me noiv, “Hello, Barnes,” lie said. “I ’ve just be here most any time. Then we’ll both Barnes. In fact, you don’t have to wait been questioning Leeds and the cook have the responsibility of that money here if you don’t want to. I mean, if about Mr. Cockrane. I can’t understand off our minds.” you have things back at Barnes Field what has delayed him. I think he may “I’m not insinuating that you have that need your attention. Mr. Cock­ arrive at any minute, or we may hear anything to do with the attempts to rane will be sorry to have missed you. from him by telephone.” rob us,” Bill said. “You know that, of But lie will understand your impatience “Let’s go in the front room,” Bill said course. I----- ” to get away.” grimly. “I want to talk to you.” “By the way,” Trimble interrupted, “I ’m not impatient to get away,” Bill They sal down in front of the (ire, and “is the money in a safe place?” said, and he smiled that disarming smile Bill went over the events of the day be­ “I t’s safe enough for the time being,” again. “I don’t like to take the Lancer fore with Trimble. lie saw the old man’s Bill said. “I----- ” off in this wind. I might as well stay eyes glow with something besides inter­ “Mr. Cockrane on the telephone, sir,” and sec Barney. He’ll be interested in est as he told of the attack on them Leeds said to old Trimble. Trimble got that altnck on me.” from the air and of the man who sapped to his feet, relief shown on his face. “Yes,” Trimble said, “he will. He’ll Sandy on the head. “I want to talk to him when you are be more than interested. Now, if you’ll “There lues been a leak some place,” through, Mr. Trimble,” Bill said. Trim­ get me that pigskin bag, at least you Trimble said. “And I can’t imagine ble nodded his head and followed Leeds needn’t worry about it any longer.” where.” to a little alcove off the dining room. Bill got to his feet, stretched his hands “What about these servants, Mr. Bill followed part of the way and stood above his head, yawned, then smiled. Trimble?” Bill asked. “Have they been watching the turbulent little stream “I think,” he said, “I’ll leave it where with Barney for live years?” tearing along its bed through the lawn. it is. It’s safe there, and I don’t like “Oh, yes. Longer than that, I think,” “We’ve heen worried about you, Mr. Barney’s five-year-old servants.” Trimble said. Cockrane,” Bill heard Trimble say. The eyes that were mere slits in Trim­ “They told you about the dogs?” Bill “Yes,” Trimble said after a moment of ble’s lean, lined face gleamed beneath asked. silence. “Mr. Barnes is here with me. I his black, bristling eyebrows. His.thin, “Dogs?” came here, because of certain occurrences clawlike hands opened and closed con­ “Some one poisoned Barney’s coon last night. We’ll acquaint you with vulsively, and his already-white face be­ dogs last night,” Bill said. “And I heard them when you arrive. Late in the day, came even whiter. Bill watched the some one scream in the night. I----- ” you say?” transition with something akin to re­ When he saw that Trimble was looking Bill moved around the corner of the vulsion. at him as though lie were crazy, he little alcove and made motions at Trim­ “You don’t understand me, Barnes,” stopped talking. He suddenly realized ble, who was facing him. Trimble nod­ old Trimble said. “I want you to get that all of his suspicions sounded fan­ ded his head and said, “Yes, Mr. Cock­ that bag. I want to be sure it’s safe.” tastic. rane,” then hung up. “Safe from whom?” Bill asked, still “I don’t like this, Trimble,” he said, “I told you I wanted to speak to him,” smiling. “You told me at first not to pacing the length of the room. “Barney Bill said angrily. give the bag to any one but Mr. Cock­ Cockrane is my friend. But there is “I didn't hear you, Mr. Barnes,” old rane. And, Mr. Trimble, I’m going to something screwy about this set-up.” Trimble said suavely—too suavely, Bill follow your orders. I’m not going to "You’re letting your imagination run thought. ‘Tin sorry.” give that bag to any one except Bar-

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Listen, I have an errand for you. he rose, he whipped a blue-nosed auto­ “What part of Canada?” One for you, Red and Cy Hawkins. I matic out of a side coat pocket and “On Lake Copake, about fifty miles want you to do a little checking for pointed it at Bill’s stomach. northeast of Toronto.” me. You know I’m doing a little job "Perhaps,” he said coldly, “I can “Does he have any other places be­ for Barney Coekrane. . . . Yeah, that’s change your mind. Unless you tell me sides this one and his apartment in New right. I’m up at his place in the Berk- where that bag is by the time I count York?” Bill asked. shires. He has another place, a hunt­ live. Barnes, I’ll shoot, and I’ll shoot to “Another hunting lodge in Wisconsin ing lodge, on Lake Copake, about forty kill.” and a home at Miami Beach. Florida,” or fifty miles northeast of Toronto. I “That,” Bill pointed out to him, Trimble answered. want you to hop up there and look the “won’t get the bag for you.” “Does lie keep a staff of servants at place over. Barney is supposed to have “We’ll find the bag,” Trimble said, all of them all the time?” been there. I want to know if he was his finger tightening on the trigger. “I “Just a small one, such as he has there. He’s supposed to be on his way don’t like to do this, Barnes, but----- ” here,” Trimble said. back here now. You’ll probably have “Put that gun away and let’s talk it “O. K.,” Bill said. “Now don’t worry to leave your Snorter at Toronto and over,” Bill said. He was still smiling. about that little episode of the gun. I’ll hire a car to take you to the lake and “I’ll talk nothing over. Barnes,” Trim­ just keep the gun and you can forget Barney’s place. Just nose around and ble said in a voice that quivered with about it. I know how you felt about find out what is what. You get what I emotion. “I want that bag. Now! the thing. Barney will be proud of you.” mean? . . . One----- ” Hill smiled again, then turned to Sandy. “That’s the idea,” Bill said, after lis­ Bill saw the door to the stairway, be­ “Let’s go in the kitchen and grub our­ tening to Shorty. “And I want you to hind Trimble, slowly opening. lie selves a glass of milk,” lie said. “Then send Cy out to another hunting lodge shifted his eyes to the fire and back we’ll stroll over to Barney’s airport. 1 Barney maintains in Wisconsin. You again so that Trimble would not sense want to get in touch with Tony Lam­ can call his office on the telephone and what was happening. port.” say you’re calling for me. They’ll give “Two,” Trimble said slowly. “I’m a After a glass of milk and two pieces you information about that one. I want desperate man, Barnes. T know about of toast, which they fixed while the cook Cv to do the same thing you are going your cournge. But it won’t keep bul­ glared, Bill and Sandy asked Leeds for to do. lets from tearing through your stomach. a couple of raincoats. Fifteen minutes “Then send Red down to Miami Three----- ” later they were plowing through the two- Beach, Florida, and have him do the “Don’t jump or turn or get nervous inch mud toward Barney Cochrane’s same thing. Either Sandy or I will with that trigger, or yo u won’t have any hangar. hang around the Lancer most of the stomach,” Sandy said as he shoved a They opened the unlocked doors and afternoon. If you don’t get us at first, gun into Trimble’s back. “Put that gun ducked inside out of the driving rain. keep on trying.” on the table, and don’t turn until you Bill cupped his hands and called War­ “O. K , Bill.” Shorty said. “We’ll nose do it!” ren’s name a half dozen times. No an­ around and find out what we can, espe­ “Nice going, kid,” Bill said calmly. swer came back to them. cially where Barney has been recently.” He reached over and dexterously re­ “Mr. Warren and the mechanics seem “That’s the idea,” Bill said. “I’m moved the little blue-nosed automatic to be taking a vacation,” Bill said with signing off. . . . from Trimble’s hand as the old man tot­ a tinge of sarcasm. “I don’t know what that will prove,” tered toward the table. Bill put a hand “Listen, Bill,” Sandy said, his blue Bill said as he climbed out of the under his arm and helped him into a eyes gleaming with excitement, “what’s Lancer, “but maybe we’ll find out some­ chair. your dope on this thing, now? You’ve thing.” “You’d better let younger men handle got some idea in the back of your brain. “Just a minute, Bill,” Sandy said as the guns, Mr. Trimble.” Bill said. “Your I can tell by the way you act.” he started to climb into the rear cock­ forte is in using your brain, not your “The only thing I have in the back pit of the Lancer. “I want to get some hands.” more shells for my automatic, just in of my brain is a headache,” Bill said tf Trimble’s eyes flickered for a moment. disgustedly. “The only thing I can tell case. Then he bowed his head like a beaten you is to keep your eyes open every min­ Bill’s blood froze in his veins as .old man. ute and don’t let any one get. behind Sandy’s voice came to him a moment “I was too hasty, Barnes.” he said. you. This whole thing goes back far­ Inter. He whirled and took two steps “I owe you an apology. I pretended ther than I can see now. There is more to the side of the Lancer as he gazed up not to be worried when you told me of to it than the million dollars we are car­ at Sandy’s horror-stricken face. the attack on you. But I was worried. rying to Barney Coekrane. There are “It’s Warren, Barney’s field manager,” It occurred to me that you might have other angles we know nothing about. I Sandy whispered. “Look—look at him. faked the whole story and intended us­ haven’t been able to put things together Bill!”’ ing it along with another story to keep yet. I ’m as much in the dark as you Bill climbed on the step and gazed the money for yourself. That would are.” over the cowling into the cockpit where leave me with the responsibility of ac­ He climbed into the forward cockpit Sandy was staring. He could see the counting for a million dollars.” of the Lancer, threw the key on the dim form of a man curled around the "I see.” Bill said evenly. “You have radio and tuned a half dozen dials. In controls on the deck. As his eyes be­ my receipt for it.” a moment lie began to chant, “Calling came accustomed to the shaded lights, “A clever lawyer could get around B. B. X. . . . Calling B. B. X. . . . he saw that the man’s head was hanging that,”'Trimble said. “I have looked out Calling B. B. X.” back. His throat, had been slit from ear for the Coekrane interests for so many When Tony Lamport’s voice came to car. years it is second nature to me.” back to him. he said, “Bill calling. Tony. “Don’t touch him, kid.” Bill said “Barney knows that,” Bill said. “But Have you tried to get me? . . . No? quickly. AIR TRAILS 79

“Why is he in here, Bill?” Sandy big red-lacquered monoplane circle twice thoroughly displeased with him. Bar­ asked in a whisper. over the airport and head into the wind ney chuckled as Trimble began to splut­ “Probably as a warning to us.” Bill from the far side of the field. Its land­ ter at him and gave him a clap on the said grimly. “Or, perhaps some one is ing wheels threw up a geyser of mud back that nearly knocked the old man’s trying to frame us.” and water as they skimmed the surface. teeth down his throat. “Maybe he was the one you heard For a moment Bill held his breath as As Barney nodded to Leeds and fum­ scream last night,” Sandy said in a the plane dipped its nose. Then the tail bled with the strap on his helmet, Bill hushed voice. settled and it roared across the field to stepped quickly to his side to help him “Perhaps he was,” Bill answered. come to a stop a few feet from the with the fastener. “They may have known he was the one apron. “Bend your head over to the right a who attacked us in the air and the one The man who shoved back the over­ little, Barney,” he said, “so I can get who clipped you on the head. Tie looked head hatch looked tired. His face was at this thing.” as though he had been flying when we lined and sallow: his eyes were desperate Barney bent his head to the right, landed last night. They may have ns he shook hands with Bill. and Bill saw the same crescent-shaped known he was trying to cop the whole “I’m a tired man. Bill.” he said in a birthmark on his neck that he had seen million for himself.” hoarse wheeze, lie. shook hands with there before. As Bill unloosed the fas­ “But where was his plane when we Sandy and asked them to help him roll tener on the strap, he happened to came in?” Sandy asked. his ship into the hangar. glance up and catch old Trimble’s eyes “How the devil do I know?” Bill “What is this all about, Barney?” with his own. He was startled by the roared. “How do I know anything?” Bill asked. deadly viciousness of Trimble’s gaze. “I’ll tell you when we gel down to A few minutes later, after Trimble the house. Bill,” Barney said. “I'm had gone into the kitchen. Bill said to IX—OFF TO CANADA nearly exhausted.” Barney, “Listen, old boy. The other A HALF HOUR after Bill had called While they were rolling the mono­ day, when we were flying back from the sheriff on the telephone he arrived plane into the hangar, Bill studied the Nick Stewart’s party, you said you with the coroner, the medical examiner, empty gun ports on each side of the thought you were going to run into some and men from the local police force. ship. trouble. You said you wanted to talk Bill held nothing back when he talked “You got here earlier than Trimble to me about it.” to the sheriff, the chief of police and expected, Barney,” Bill said. “Oh, that.” Barney said in a moment. his men. He told them everything that “Yes,” Barney said. “I thought 1 “I was a little nervous that day, Bill.” had occurred since the previous day, would be delayed. I’m sorry you’ve had “But you said you would need my when old Ilander Trimble hud sum­ all this trouble. Bill. I wouldn’t have help. Does it have anything to do with moned him to Barney’s office. wired you to bring that money up here this mess up here?” Bill insisted. They agreed to move the body into if I thought there would be any trouble “It’s over now,” Barney said shortly. the manager’s office and keep out of or danger.” “Forget it.” He laughed again as he saw sight until Bill had received reports from “Listen, Barney,” Bill said earnestly, Trimble coming out of the kitchen. his men later in the day. “why the devil do you want a million “Trimble,” he went on, “whispered to me “Then,” Bill told them. “I believe I’ll in cash up here in this forsaken wilder­ a minute ago that you had hidden that have something for you. I have a ness?” million bucks and wouldn’t give it to hunch. It’s a little fantastic, but it may “A business deal, Bill. I've been him when he arrived. The old boy was work out. If it does, you can take all working on it for the past two weeks. a bit miffed, I imagine.” the credit, and there will be plenty of I think, when I stick a million in cold “He was,” Bill said grimly. it. Is it a go?” cash under certain noses, they’ll come “You’d better get it for me now, Bill,” “Well,” the old sheriff said, scratch­ to terms.” 'v Barney went on casually. “Then you ing his head, “it’s more than a little ir- "I see,” Bill said slowly. But he didn’t won't have to worry about it, either.” rcg’Iar. Mr. Barnes, but we’ll play along see. Barney’s explanation, given so “I----- ” Bill was interrupted when with you.” casually, seemed plausible. But why the. door opened and Sandy rushed in Bill cocked his head to one side for hadn’t he taken a million in cash on a out of the rain. a moment, and a slight smile flashed train from New York to Toronto, with “Shorty’s on the radio. Bill,” Sandy across his bronzed face. a proper guard accompanying him? “I’m puffed, wiping the rain out of his eyes. “This is the time for you to start,” going to leave Sandy here in the hangar. “He said he’d hold on until you picked he said. “I can hear a plane a few miles I’m expecting a couple of important mes­ him up.” off. and if I’m not surprised. Mr. Coek- sages from my field.” “0. K., kid. You’d better come along ranc will be at the controls when it lands "Right,” Barney said as he lifted a with me to the field. I’ll have to come here in the mud. I want you fellows bag and a topcoat out of the back cock­ back here after I talk to Shorty.” to duck back into the office and stay pit of the monoplane. When they were across the bridge and there. O. K.?” “There is something about him,” Bill behind the first clump of trees that hid “But this thing happened on Mr. reflected, “that is different to-day. the road from the house, Bill swung Cockranc’s property,” the sheriff said. Something that has nothing to'do with around toward Sandy. “He’s a powerful man, Mr. Barnes. If he doesn’t like the way things are han­ his worry about a million dollars and a “Listen, kid,” he said. “I want you business deal.” Barney Coekranc had dled, we’ll all lose our jobs.” to go back to the house and stay until “I'll take the responsibility for every­ lost his. debonair, confident attitude of a I come back. Don’t leave the pince, few days before. And with it. Bill no­ thing.” Bill said. “You said you’d play and don’t let any of them leave. If with me. I want you to keep out of ticed, had departed a great ileal of his necessary, hold them with a gun, all of sight and keep the death of Warren charm and natural courtesy. them! I may be back in a few minutes quiet. Will you or won’t you play along As Bill passed the old dredge along­ and I may not be back for hours. I with me?” side the road, he scanned the mud for don’t know. But keep them there. And “We will, dang it!” the sheriff said. possible footsteps leading to it. Even don’t tell any of them where that money “You write the ticket.” his own had been washed out by the is. Do you understand?” “Get back in that office and keep out driving rain. “Yes, sure; I understand,” Sandy said. of sight,” Bill said. He moved out to Trimble shook hands with his em­ “But for gosh sake, don’t leave me there the apron with Sandy and watched the ployer in a way that showed he was too long.” 80 BILL BARNES

"You do wlint I tell you, kid. And Bill chanted Shorty’s call letters and "Send a couple of your men down to­ don't let ’em kid you into telling them Shorty’s name into the microphone, per­ ward Mr. Cockranc’s house,” he said. where that money is hidden.” spiration dripping from his face, then “Have ’em stay where they can’t he seen. The shcrifr and his men were sitting threw the key and leaped over the side Instruct them to prevent any one from in the manager’s office. Bill rushed into and ran to the manager’s office. leaving the house. Any one! I d o n ’t the hangar, his clothes dripping, and “I want some of your men to help me care who tries to leave. Keep ’em there. climbed into the forward cockpit of the roll my plane out on the field,” he Young Sanders is down there. If you •Silver Lancer. He saw that the light panted at the sheriff. “I’ll be able to hear any shooting, rush the place. Do on the radio panel was still burning red. break this murder if I can get to Canada you understand?” so he just threw the key. fast enough! I------” As he stopped to “I understand,” the sheriff said. But "Where are you?” Bill asked. gulp for breath, he saw the sheriff gaz- Bill knew he didn’t understand.

“Lake Copakc,” Shorty said. “There ing at him as though the man thought Sandy noticed that Barney Cock- is a field a couple of miles from the him crazy . rane's eyes were focused behind lake. It’s not fur from Barney Cock- “M r. Barnes,” the sheriff said, “I can’t him. He half crouched before rune’s pince. I hopped in a Snorter, let you run out of here to Canada with he whirled. opened her up and talked to Toronto on that man lying dead on the floor.” the way north. They told me about “There will be more people lying dead X— ONE MISTAKE this field.” on the floor if you don’t let me go!” Bill “Did you find Barney’s place?” Bill sh o u ted . “Com e on! Snap into it, you YOUNG SANDY reached under his asked. men! I can’t lose any time. I’ll be raincoat and felt of the automatic in his “I found it,” Shorty said, “and I back here within five hours,“and I’ll lay pocket before he opened the door into nosed around. Something funny here. the murderer of Warren right in your the living room of Barney Cockrane’s Bill. Tilings aren’t as they should be. lap. I can’t slop to argue with you. house. The solid feeling of the weapon If it’s anything important. I think you’d M o v e!” gave him courage. He grinned at Bar­ better come up. I don’t like------” They moved. They moved as though ney and tried to grin at the scowling Shorty’s words were suddenly cut off. the devil were commanding them. They T rim b le. and the choking sound that came over helped Bill roll the Lancer out onto the “Where is Barnes?” Trimble barked the ether was a sound that left Bill rigid apron, and the sheriff listened respect­ a t him . with horror. fully while Bill gave him orders. "He went on up to the Lancer,” Sandy AIR TRAILS 81 snid blithely. "Ile told me to come back “Where’s lie going?” Barney asked Barney said, and his expression was the and wait for him.” sharply. expression of a man who has just been Barney Cockrane nodded at him and 1 don’t know,” Sandy said. "He said betrayed by his best friend. “He has gazed into the fire. he didn’t know what Shorty wanted, but ducked out with that million in cash and “Did you ever do anything about he might have to leave for a couple of left you here to face the music.” having that .Martinson single-seater hours.” “And you’ll face it, too,” Trimble built, Barney?” Sandy asked him in a “Leave!” Trimble shouted. “He came shouted. moment. up here to deliver that money to Mr. “You’re screwy,” Sandy said. “I “Martinson?” Barney said blankly. Cockrane. Why didn’t he give it to know where he put the money—and it’s “YVhat Martinson?” him?” still there!” “The one modeled after the fighter,” “I wouldn’t know anything about “Oh, you do, do you?” Banicy Cock-

Sandv said. “The one we talked about that,” Sandy said blandly. He. knew rane said. “Well, kid. unless you want that day. You said they had given you something was going lo happen in a mo­ to get the hide ripped off your body, an estimate of seventy-five thousand dol­ ment, and his heart was in his mouth. you’d better tell us just where that place lars on it.” “Listen, punk!” Barney Cockrane said is.” “Oh,” Barney said, “that one. Xo, I to him. “I)o you know where Barnes Sandy realized before Barney had fin­ never did anything more about it.” hid that money?” ished speaking that lie had been tricked When the mighty growl of the twin “Xo,” Sandy said, "Í don’t. And don’t into betraying himself. A little smile Diesels in the Silver Lancer roared down call me a punk!” played across bis lips as he measured the hill on the wind, all three of them “Do you see what he’s doing lo you. Barney and old Trimble. He had been sat bolt upright in their chairs. The Sandy?” Barney asked kindly. His lone right. Barney was trying to duck out faces of Barney Cockrane and old Trim­ and attitude Imd changed the way a with the million, ami old Trimble was ble were twisted with rage. chameleon changes its color. helping him. He wondered if he could “Is that Barnes’ plane?” Trimble asked “What do you mean?” Sandy asked. argue Barney bnck to sanity. Certainly Sandy. “He’s left you here holding the bag,” he was a different man than the one "Yeah,” Sandy said, and he slipped old Trimble cut in. his voice trembling he had last talked lo. 1’robably he was his hand into the side pocket of his with emotion and rage. half crazy from worry. jacket. “She has a lot of horses in her “Nuts!” Sandy said vehemently. “Listen, Barney.” Sandy said. “You nose,” he added. “That’s wlmt he has done, Sandy,” wait until Bill comes back. He’ll see you 82 BILL BARNES through whatever trouble you’re in. face of an animal as Sandy pitched for­ creased, Bill had to use all his powers H e ’ll------” ward like a poled ox, anti he kicked him of concentration to keep the Lancer on "Shut up, punk!” Barney snarled, and tw ice. its course. Air pockets were slapping him lie got to his feet. “I’ll give you ten sec­ “Stop it, you fool.” Barney snarled at against his safety strap. onds to talk. Just ten seconds.” He him. “We want him alive. He knows He pulled the Lancer out of a flat started to come around the end of the where Barnes hid the money.” spin and began to cheek his bearings. table toward Sandy. When Sandy first opened his eyes, the He knew he was some place over Lake Sandy’s right hand came out of his faces above him were mere blurs and Ontario, but he wasn’t sure where. And pocket, and it was wrapped around the the voices that spoke his name were in­ he knew that Shorty’s life might de­ butt of his automatic. He pointed it at coherent. Some one jabbed a bottle of pend on his getting to Lake Copakc Barney, then swept it in a circle as ammonia under his nose until he half within a very few minutes. Trimble made a movement to get out strangled. He tried to struggle to a sit­ A sharp, staccato sound came out of of his chair. ting position, but fell back weakly on nowhere. It brought him straight up in “Stay where you are, both of you!” the divan. The next time he tried it his bucket sent, and his eyes became Sandy Snapped. He got to his feet and some one gave him a helping hand. He mere pin points. ran his hands' over Barney’s clothes. opened his eyes. He wanted to close Then he could feel machine-gun bul­ He took a small pistol from Barney’s hip them again when he saw the leering lets driving into the wing and tail sur­ pocket. faces of Trimble, Leeds, the cook, and faces of the Silver Lancer; he could feel “I don’t think you have a gun,” Barney Coekrane above him. the big ship tremble under the impact. Sandy said to Trimble. “I think we got “So.” Trimble snarled, “you thought He yanked the control column of the it this morning.” you were too bright for us.” He mo­ Lancer back into his stomach as he “A fresh punk,” Barney Coekrane tioned to the cook, who lifted a red- heard a screaming prop dive beneath said. “A fresh punk who is going to hot poker out of the fire and held it him . be sorry he was ever fresh!” within an inch of Sandy’s eyes. The He brought the Lancer up until he “How much money will you take to heat shot through his eye, his brain, and was hanging, head downward, in an in­ lead us to that bag?” old Trimble asked, seemed to crash against the back of verted position. As he half rolled it, he his face a mask of rage. h is skull. caught a glimpse of a tiny biplane coin­ “Well,” Sandy said, stalling, “how “You’ll talk now, damn you!” Trim­ ing out of its dive. And in that one much do you think it’s worth?” ble screamed at him. But Sandy didn’t glimpse he saw that it was a thing of “Never mind that. Trimble,” Barney hear him because he had collapsed. great speed and power. He looked down cut in. “He’s one of Bill Barnes’ high- over the side as he leveled off, and saw minded young men. You can’t buy them XI—AIR DUEL that the little blue ship was coming with filthy money.” He shook a finger back to the attack in a climb that was at Sandy. “I’m going to lake you apart BILL BARNES kicked his rudder and almost vertical. He saw it turn at al­ and see what makes you tick,” he. said. stuck the nose of the Lancer full into most right angles, and lie knew he had “That’ll be nice,” Sandy said, “but the northwest gale that was causing his an adversary with deadly punishing I’ll have to visit your jail to let. you do compass needles to jiggle like dancers. pow er. it if you don’t get some sense.” The pale, phosphorescent glow from his He matched the maneuver of the bi­ Sandy moved a comfortable chair instrument panel showed that his gyro­ plane with a sweeping turn and stuck over into a corner where he could not und earth-inductor compasses were go­ the nose of the Lancer upward to gain he seen from outside the room, and ing mad as he bounced above the air altitude. The urge for conflict was rac­ where any one coming into the room pockets over the Adirondacks. ing through his blood like fire now. This would be in full view. He settled down lie adjusted the elevating and trans- was something he understood. He was and refused Lo answer either Trimble versing screws on his telescopic machine half around in a vertical bank when the or B arn ey . gun and .‘17 nun. cannon sight and then little blue fighter zoomed upward be­ They pleaded, coaxed and threatened threw his radio key und tuned the mas­ neath him. The twin guns, mounted him. But he regarded them much as a ter control. A sound like the roar of a along its engine housing, spewed out sphinx might have regarded them. hungry lion sounded in his ears until burst after burst of fire. The lend he „tuned out the static. Then he began It was when Sandy got up and walked chewed through the leading edge of his to chant Tony Lamport’s call number left wing before he could throw the over to the fireplace that he made his into I he microphone. first mistake. He had both Trimble and Lancer out of range. “Barnes Field. . . . Tony Lamport Barney in full sight. He could have The little biplane roared above him speaking. . . . Barnes Field. .. . ” killed either of them before they got out and chaudelled back to the attack. Bill Tony’s voice said in his car. of their chairs. He also commanded a yanked his stick back and raced to “Ο. K„ Tony. Bill. Please get in view of the dining room and the door meet it. The two ships roared at one touch with Pat Hendricks, a Transcon­ leading upstairs. another. Bill’s finger tightened on his tinental Airways pilot. He knows me. gun trips, llis tracers told him that lie But he hadn’t noticed a little half If he’s in New York, send Bev Bates had missed as the blue ship side-slipped floor that was set in the wall to the over to pick him up. Explain to his out of his line of fire. right of the fireplace. boss and to him that it is of great im­ “He knows what lo do with that crate, He stood for a moment in front of portance that he come with Bev to Bar­ and he can shoot,” Bill gasped to him­ the fireplace. He didn’t hear the floor ney Cockrane’s summer place in the self as he opened the throttles of the open. But suddenly he noticed that Bcrkshires. You can get all the dope Lancer and stuck the nose upward to Barney Cockrane’s eyes were, focused on from Barney’s New York office. Tell gain altitude. a spot behind him, and they were alive Hendricks I’m on the trail of the men with interest. who killed Dave Reed a year ago. Do The biplane came out of its dive and Sandy half crouched before he whirled. you get it?” chandclled upward as Bill indled the That crouch probably saved his life, be­ “T get it. Bill,” Tony said. “We’ll get Lancer level and threw the throttle wide. cause the piece of wood that Leeds to work immediately. Where are you?” ■ The two ships roared toward one an­ smashed against his head only knocked “I’m on my way to Canada,” Bill said. other again as Bill nosed down to meet him unconscious instead of crushing his “I’ll be back at Barney’s place by the the enemy craft. His fingers clamped skull.. time Bev arrives. Signing off.” down on his gun trips. His guns stut­ Leeds’ imperturbable face became the As the fury of the lashing rain in­ tered their song of death as fire raced AIR TRAILS 83 out of the wing stubs. lie saw his bul­ lets tear through the leading edge of the biplane’s right wing and saw it stag­ ger under the impact of his powerful .50- PRICES SLASHED caliber bullets. 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First right. trips. His bullets crept along the fuse­ his engines. Before he got out he made Next left and you’ll see the driveway.” lage. Apparently it was unharmed, as contact with Tony Lamport on Barnes “Thanks,” Bill said, and he started it came slashing back in a fast Immel- Field and told him where he was. Then on a run for the little roadster. inann, head-on. he slid over the side, an automatic ill He went out across the air field, down Bill lined the ship up in his sights each of his leg overall pockets. the dirt road and took the first right with the cool precision that had saved Bill shouted at the first man he saw turn on two wheels. His heart was his life a thousand times. This time his coming out of the office. pumping in his chest, and his lips were linger clamped down on the trigger of “Have you any idea where I can find dry as he swung around the next left the 37-nun. cannon. There were three the manager?” he asked. turn. The little motor in the car he was explosions as the shells struck the engine "I'm the manager,” the man said, and driving was singing, “T iki late! Too late! block of the blue biplane. Then a ter­ lie stuck out his hand. “ It’s an honor Too late!” rific explosion and a great cloud of black to have you use our little field, Mr. When lie came to a driveway and saw smoke took the place of the little blue Barnes,” he added. a sign with Barney Cockranc’s name ship. Orange and saffron flames shot Bill shook the man’s hand. “Do you painted on it, he killed the motor and out of the mass with bits of debris. have any idea what, happened to the parked the ear alongside the road. Be­ Bill wiped the perspiration out of his man who landed that amphibian—that fore he got out of the ear he checked eyes and watched the wreckage plunging Snorter?” the two clips in the automatics. toward the lake. “Why,” the manager said, “he went Instead of going directly down the He glanced at his watch, checked his over to Air. Cockrnne’s. A couple of driveway to the long log house along hearings again and stuck the nose of men from Cockrnne’s turned up here, the lake, he cut across the lawn. He the Lancer down through a hole in the and I told them he had been asking darted from one tree to another. clouds ahead. about Air. Coekrane’s place. They went He rail across the driveway to the Great red stretches of woodland and over and talked to him. then lie went closed front door and stood listening. flat, rolling fields appeared below him. with them in their cnr.” Then lie moved stealthily along the side Ten miles off to the northwest he could “Do you have a ear I can borrow for of the house, pausing at each window. see the dark, choppy waters of Luke Co- a bit?” Bill asked, trying to control his As he neared the end, the end that he pake. Off to the right he picked up the excitement. He knew only too well why supposed was the kitchen, he heard the great white arrows that pointed lo the Shorty had gone with them. rumble of two men’s voices coming from landing field Shorty had mentioned. “I’ll let you take mine.” the manager inside. He moved toward a door that He stuck the nose of the Lancer down said. “She’s old, but she’ll run.” opened on the side lawn. He could tell and circled the little field twice while “Where is it?” Bill asked sharply. “I by the thickness of the voices that the he confirmed the direction of the wind don’t mean to he short, but I’m in a men inside were, or had been, drinking. by the orange windsock. lie saw hurry.” For a moment he hesitated. Then, Shorty’s Snorter sitting on the ground “There she stands,” the man said. hand on gun, he stepped round the near the apron. There were a half dozen “The key’s in her.” lean-to and pushed the screen door open. men moving around the hangars, but no “I go which way?” Bill asked, poised The two men who sat there stared at sign of Shorty. like a man about to sprint. him for a brief second. They were both 84 BILL BARNES big, powerful men, and llicir bloated “Shucks, yes,” Shorty said. “I just matted with dried blood. faces were red from whisky. As Bill ain’t talk. They jumped me and al­ “Get a doctor," he said to the sher­ started to speak, the one nearest him most pushed my larynx out through the iff as he carried Sandy’s unconscious moved as only a big, fast man can move. back of my neck. What about those form into the other room and laid him He glided over the floor and threw a lugs downstairs?” tenderly on the couch. hamlike fist at Bill’s chin before he could “They won't bother us,” Bill said. It was while he was trying to bring duck. Bill rolled his head with the When Bill and Shorty had their planes Sandy to consciousness that they car­ punch, but it drove him back against well warmed up and ready to take off, ried old Trimble down the stairs, and the wall and he instinctively took his Bill motioned the manager of the. air the man Bill had brought from Canada right hand away from the butt of his field over to him and told him about in the Lancer came into the room. automatic to return the blow. It landed the two wounded men at Barney Coch­ “Well, Bill,” the real Barney Cockrane flush on the nose of the big man and rane’s lodge. He jazzed the twin Diesels said, “you just made it.” flattened it out across his red face. A in the nose to drown out the manager’s “I wasn’t sure of you until now.” Bill second later Bill’s left spun him half breathless questions. Then he kicked said. He shook Barney’s hand. “But around, and Bill closed in on him when the ship into the wind and took it off I knew there was something very pe­ he saw the other man had a gun in in a long, low climb. culiar happening. Maybe Trimble will his hand and was trying to get in a posi­ At five thousand feel he leveled off tell us about it before he dies.” tion to use it. and threw his radio key to speak to “Die?” Trimble said. “That’s the Bill’s right arm curved around the big S h o rty . worst of il. I don’t think I’m going to man’s throat while his left sought and “We’ve got to go like the devil,” lie die. But there isn't any use in trying held the man’s left wrist. While he half said. “Sandy is back there at Barney’s to cover up any longer. The man you strangled the man with his right fore­ place with a pack of murderers. If they shot upstairs is Barney’s brother. He arm, he brought his left arm up and get to him, they’ll torture him until they was supposed to have been burned in a twisted it until the man howled with get what they want.” lire at the orphanage when they were pain. As the man’s arm snapped. Bill “Let’s go!” Shorty wheezed into his •both children. But he didn’t die. He threw him at the man with the gun. microphone. ran away at the time of the fire, and They both crashed against a table and they thought he was dead. Old Anthony sprawled on the floor. C o ck ran e to ld m e a b o u t it.. I n e v er told XII— SANDY'S REQUEST From the floor a gun spat orange Barney about him. flame. Bill felt the bullet fan his cheek. THE SILVER LANCER became a “Before that Transcontinental Airways Then his own gun was in his hand and shimmering streak of light us Bill opened plane was robbed a year ago, I located lie fired two shots that crashed into the his throttles and sped southward. He Barney’s brother. We started to plan. shoulder of the man with the gun. The left Shorty far behind him for a time, I would have won. too, if it hadn’t been gun spun across the room. Bill picked but when lie slashed his wheels into the for you, Barnes. Barney was suspicious it up. mud at Barcock Field, Shorty was glid­ that something was wrong, but he didn’t He didn’t wait to sec what might hap­ ing down for a landing. know what. Then we kidnaped him. pen next. He threw open a door leading As Bill rolled up to the apron, the But we needed a million or more to fix from the kitchen and raced through the sheriff and his men came out of the a few people we had to send out of the rooms on the first floor. They were hangar. Bill motioned to them as he country before Barney’s brother could em p ty . locked his wheel brakes. “Help me gel take his place as the head of North At the end of the hallway on the sec­ Mr. Cockrane out of the rear cockpit. American Steel. ond floor he found a room that was Take him .in the office. Tie has been “But lie wouldn’t have been the head.. closed and locked. lie smashed on it doped. Anything happen at the house?” I would.” Old Trimble’s white face with the butt of his automatic once and “Nothin’,” the sheriff said in answer twisted into an insane leer. heard a smothered cry from inside. Then to Bill’s last question. “You say that’s “Who killed Warren?” Bill asked. he half tore the door from its hinges as Mr. Cockrane?” “Leeds and the cook,” Trimble said. he threw his entire weight against it. “I don’t know,” Bill said. "I want “He was trying to double-cross us.” Shorty Hassfurther’s red-rimmed eyes your men to come with me. I may need “You had me puzzled,” Bill said to gleamed at him from a face that was them. They’re all armed?” Barney, “because of that birthmark. bruised and bloody. He stripped the They closed in on the house from all You look as much alike as two peas.” tape off Shorty’s mouth and cut the sides, their guns ready. Bill told Shorty Barney looked startled for a moment, ropes that bound him. to come with him, and they covered the then started to speak. doors in the driveway that led to the ga­ The next instant he was bending over “We had your brother’s mark tat­ rage and kennels. As they rounded the a man who lay on the bed. He shook tooed. It matches yours perfectly,” corner of the house, the big man who him, and when his eyes opened Bill did Trimble interrupted. had called himself Barney Cockrane not have to be told that the man was At just that moment Sandy’s eyes came out the door with a gun in his dru g g ed . opened and he tried to struggle to a sit­ hand. Behind him was Trinible. “How you feelin’, fella?” he asked ting position. As his eyes focused on The big man opened lire at Bill at a old Trimble, they filled with loathing. S h o rty . distance of twenty feet, and for an in­ “Fine,” Shorty said in a voice that stant Bill did not expect to' live. Then “It's all right, kid,” Bill said. was a whee/.y whisper. “Just fine! I lie cracked down with his own automatic “You’re a game kid, Sandy,” Barney never felt belter. What the hell is this and emptied it, while Shorty answered said. “I’d like to do something for you all about. Bill? What is Barney Coch­ old Trimble’s fire. —anything.” rane doing here in his own house, The man who had called himself Bar­ “You’re the real Barney?” Sandy drugged to the cars?” ney Cockrane pitched forward on his asked, a little bit dazed. “I don’t know whether it is Barney face, and when Bill rolled him over a “I am,” Barney said. “And don’t for­ Cochrane,” Bill said. “I can’t stop to moment later lie knew he would never get, that goes. Anything—anything at tell you about things now. We’ve got call himself anything again. all that you want------” to get this man over to the Lancer, get Then Bill was down the stairs in three “Listen!” Sandy said, pointing at him in it and back to Barney’s place in leaps and into the dining room. Sandy Trimble. “Move that old buzzard over the Berkshires. Can you fly your was strapped to a chair; his face was a here and let me clout him—just once. S n o rte r? ” mass of angry welts, and his head was That’s all I want in the world!” AIR TRAILS 85

fellow? How’d you happen to drop in motor’s gone. Something’s the matter TAIL SPIN on us?” with the controls. We’re starting to “Forced landing!” Middleton snapped. spin. Bail out. I'll follow you!’ I (Continued from page 35) “I bailed out. I want to go to the jumped—and that’s all I can tell you.” he separated by several miles. He broke River City airport. I've got to make a “Very good.” through the clouds, found himself about report to the Department of Commerce Sargent pressed a button on his desk. five hundred feet above the ground. lie inspector there.” A door to the office opened. Middleton based his estimate on the distant, shift­ “Okay. Climb in. Wc pass by it on turned a greenish yellow under his stub­ ing flood of automobile headlights along the way to the city.” ble, leaped to his feet, his hands groping a road, and other twinkling lights. He Middleton saw that there were two foolishly. guessed that the highway was a mile State policemen in the machine. They “Good God!” he muttered. “What’s away. That highway would lead him plied him with questions. He was eagy, this? He didn’t—I didn’t----- ” into River City to make his report----- evasive. Careful not to overstate him­ “No, you didn’t kill me,” Bentley cut He was too late to slip to safety when self. The trip was a short one. in, finished. “The correctional gyroscope he saw that he was over an orchard. “We’ll go up with you,” one of the works perfectly, Middleton. You’d know The landing shock came in a second. patrolmen said. “We know Inspector that if you hadn't been too yellow to fly The webbed canvas straps and heavy Sargent. And we have to report all air­ tests with me in Paris. It’s worth a hell buckles of the parachute harness bit into plane accidents. State law.” of a lot more than anything I might his flesh and wrenched his muscles as the have gotten out of this distance flight. silk above him snared the topmost MIDDLETON faced Department of At first you could have had a partner­ branches of a tree. He hung, suspended Commerce Inspector Winfield Sargent ship in it. But you cheated me and lied by shrouds, a yard from the ground. He across a desk in the latter’s office at to me, just as you cheated and lied to kicked his feet, shifted his body. This River City airport. He noticed that the your stockholders. You double-crossed didn’t work. He began jerking the inspector looked harassed, nervous, me because I trusted you—stole what shrouds one at a time. As he pulled, he tense. He had to feel his way. He had might have been my share of the money could hear silk tear above him. It. was a question ready. from the flight. I was sure that you’d slow work, but bit by bit he lowered “I suppose you know what’s happened try to pirate my invention if I told you himself. ----- ” he said". the truth about it. so I told you it didn’t In fifteen minutes the last snared Sargent nodded. work. I didn’t know, then, that you panel of the shredded ’chute gave. “It was terrible. You’ve found the contemplated murder. Yes, it works, His feet jarred beneath him. plane?” Middleton—brought the ship out of that He unsnapped the harness buckles, Sargent inclined his head again. spin and held it level until I recovered dragged himself through the plowed “And Bentley----- ” This was the from the sock you gave me----- ” ground of the orchard toward the firefly hard part. Middleton felt all gone in­ Middleton, beside himself, whirled on brightness of the highway for the next side. What if Bentley lived? Yet there Sargent. quarter of an hour. He visualized the wasn’t a chance. “Did he—use his para­ “You lied, too. You tricked me into crash. The monoplane diving in. The chute?” this----- ” rush of the mob, on foot and by car, “No,” revealed Sargent flatly. “I beg your pardon, Middleton. 1 lo the scene. Perhaps the growing glow “Good Lord!” Middleton gasped, in­ merely said that 1 had seen the plane, of flames. Flashlights and lanterns. wardly approving his histrionics. “The which is now in the far hangar here Gaping bystanders. The bloody body. poor devil!” at the field, and that Bentley hadn’t A shapeless mass of wood, steel and wire, He groped for a chair, sat in it, cush­ used his parachute.” if the flames hadn’t reduced it to hot ioned his head in his hands. He turned to the State police. metal and ushes. “He was a friend of mine, too,” Sar­ “He’s so smart he tricked himself. And, soon, fifty thousand dollars for gent said. “Suppose you tell me just Book him on a charge of assault with him. what happened. I've got to make out a intent to kill.” He reached the road, flagged and report. Your testimony is important.” The men started forward. Bentley thumbed ears. All passed him by. Then “Of course.” Middleton cleared his brushed them aside. His fist cracked a white sedan bearing a State seal on throat, spoke hoarsely. up with the speed of a striking snake. the rear-door panel braked, skidded to “We were at fifteen thousand feet. Middleton caught the blow on the chin, a halt. A spotlight limned Middleton. Bentley was at the controls. I was ly­ folded like an accordion. Bentley looked He suddenly became conscious of his ing down above the gasoline tanks, doz­ down at him. helmet and goggles. ing. He shook me. He shouted: ‘Mid­ “Now I feel better,” he said, rubbing “Aviator, eh?” he heard. “S’matter, dleton, the oil screen’s clogged and the the bump on his head.

“Me?” asked the old man suspiciously, ens of them up—in rows, triangles, for­ KIWI CLIPPER wondering how to appear most broke. mations, hodgepodge—at sunup and sunset. (Continued from page 28) “You. The engineers anil army men and commission will all be at the races, Then strange packing cases anti grin­ wanted to prove his love he would not won’t they?” ning, tanned men arrived at the Tighe only beat Tom Deval, but find some Foote nodded. The formal assignment place. The barn took on furious activ­ way to get the airport put in at Pine of the airport project to Elkton would ity. A few overcurious souls felt the Notch. sting of rock salt and thereafter stayed be signed immediately after the races. Ace was so enraged and hopeless at clear. dinner that he ate a full bowl of prunes “All right. Then you’ve got lo see There was a deep notch which cut without thinking. The result was a very that Tom Deval gives a lunch for the through Bald Mountain, joining the Elk- sleepless, uncomfortable night. But dur­ big shots at his own house, and that I ’m ton and Pine Notch valleys. Through ing the hours before dawn, was born the present. And right before the races.” it, tearing in one direction or the other, big idea. Winking mysteriously, Ace disap­ or both, rushed the hot and cold drafts “Listen,” Ace said, button-holing old peared and became a man of mystery. from the two valleys. man Foote next day, “I ’m going to hi­ He was all over Bald Mountain and Elk- At this spot on a windy day appeared jack that airport, if you’ll help.” ton township flying kites. He hail doz­ Ace, his tanned helpers, a roadster, anil 86 BILL BARNES a giant box kilo. Small balloons were It was General Tighe who let slip the culty. It wanted to go up instead of sent lip, their course noted. first gossip that nearly caused Pine dow n. “Boy, there’s no time left for you to Notch heart failure the day before the “Miraculous!” the colonel said as Ace borrow!” one of the tanned men said race. swaggered up. seriously to Ace. “W hat’s Ace’s contraption look like?” "It could stand a bit more paint,” Ace Ace grinned feebly and strapped on a old man Foote asked the general. a d m itte d . parachute. “I’ve got twenty seconds “Looks like a hen house with a mo­ No plane ever attracted more atten­ yet. Let her go.” tor truck on front.” the general admit­ tion since the days of the W right broth­ Taking a seat in the center of the box ted . ers. T h e Kiwi Clipper was all wing with kite set on skids at the edge of a sheer Old man Foote grew thoughtful. lie giant flippers. The lifting edges rose clilf, Ace waved an arm. The men in had been a little confident in the love like hills. There was enough lift for six the notch road many yards beneath, of the wild Ace Tighe for his daughter. ships. much whiter than Ace, hesitated, then Y’es, more than a little. He had even There was a peculiar lump on the climbed into the roadster and poured allowed it to get noised around that he fuselage in the slip-stream line, evidently the barrel. A long rubber tow cable had figured out a way to get the air­ a hasty and badly made repair. There stretched out side by side with a ground port switched to Pine Notch and was was a decidedly uncalled-for ridge at rope. There was u-'ping and a swish. letting Ace help him with the plan. the fore end of the fuselage where the The kite catapulted from its skids, “Ace said it was a crate.” the general motor joined, and the wings looked very spun giddily through the air. It cleared confided. “W hat’s a kiwi?” weakly attached. the cliff, started to drop. Old man Foote expanded importantly. "What are the odds on Dcval and “He can’t even get clear to jump!” a That was one flying term he had picked me?” Ace asked. mail muttered through clenched teeth. up from Lassie. “It’s an Australian bird "They were five to one on Deval. but But that second the kite shot up on a without wings. It can’t fly. A cock­ they’re about thirty to one now.” old hot-air draft, rolling slowly on its asccnl. eyed pilot is a kiwi.” man Foote said dismally. Then it leveled off on an even keel. For The general turned slightly green. "I’ll lay another thousand.” General a second the ground rope pulled sharply “He’s named it the Kiwi Clipper.” he Tighe groaned. “I’m ruined now. I where it had looped a side. The kite whispered hoarsely. might as well mortgage the homestead, tilted dnngerously as Ace shifted weight The general was capable of great to o .” to free the rope. Then the rope slipped mixed emotions, and he thought simul­ Old man Foote nodded and bet six free and the kite rode buoyantly on the taneously of nine hundred dollars and hundred of his own money. Fifleen min­ swift mountain vertical and horizontal his son’s funeral. No trout was worth utes later he found he had absent-mind­ d ra fts. th a t! edly bet on Ace instead of against him. An hour later Ace bailed out of his Old man Foote had a single-track The shock numbed him against the rib­ kite, a mischievous grin on his face. mind. He could only think of the county bing of political rivals. chairmanship. "K-r-r-ph!” snorted Colonel Cockles TO ANYBODY but Ace his motor after the inspection. “It must fly be­ would have been a complete wreck. But “HOWDY. ACE.” said “Doc” Wilson cause it got here. But Heaven knows Ace talked to it, joked with it and gave at the apothecary’s the morning of the how! Stay away from over the stands.” it mechanical rubdowns. It began to race. “Arsenic or prussic acid?” “He’ll never get over them!” Dcval recuperate. Finally it barked its dis­ “Jalap.” Ace said haughtily. “Pap’s guffawed, but Ace’s innocent smile was gust for past brutal treatment and de­ got dropsy.” suddenly very disquieting to his hu­ cided to go back to work. Doc Wilson dug around in a drawer. m or. Precisely what Ace was doing with all “Thought he looked a might ailing, but The luncheon was what might be ex­ his cases of supplies and workmen, no­ just figured it was worry over a nitwit pected of Tom Dcval, about to become body could find out. Tom Dcval passed family.’1' He slapped down the purga­ the most important young man in the the state of curiosity and began to tiv e. section. worry. Ace might have found some “Got money on my race?” Ace asked. “I’ve put you next to Lassie, across means of getting together a fast racing “Practically even money.” Doc con­ from the colonel,” Tom said magnani­ ship. fided. “I’m only giving five to one that mously. “A favored seat for your last Tom Deval will leave you in the barn.” supper, Ace.” Deval set to work on the test-race “Don’t worry about pap, then,” Ace rules committee to assure the exclusion Ace beamed good will. Lassie sat advised. “Y'ou don’t, know it. but it’s of more powerful ships than his from stony-faced, after a tearful, whispered his money you’re betting against.” the important race. He arranged a outburst that Ace was trying to make a Doc Wilson Imd the uncomfortable course and steeplechase with a fast fool of her and Pine Notch. Ace made feeling that maybe General Tighe had power {live at the end where his Corsair little clucking noises and three times not given an accurate description of the would show to best advantage. That leaned over to speak to somebody be­ contraption in the barn. power dive made Dcval feel safe. His yond the colonel’s chair. Corsair was built to take it. A fast ship At noon the crowds assembled at Elk- “When you’re through leaning in my built for level-course racing would go to ton. The airport commission and Colo­ plate. I’ll eat!” the colonel barked finally. pieces on Lhc lo n g dive. nel Cockles, regular army commissioned “I hope so!” Ace murmured fervently. officer of the nearest service field, came Dcval slept soundly that night for the “Young man,” the colonel said to Ace on the scene to the blare of a brass band. first time in weeks. just before the start of the steeplechase, “All entry ships on hand?” the colonel So did Ace. His ship was nearly “you’re not only a lunatic, but a nui­ asked. “Where’s this Kiwi Clipper?” ready—ready for Deval’s new rules! sance. Just why do you think the course “Probably can’t get off the ground.” of this test race should be changed?” lie had but two more worries in the Deval grinned. world: the first-was that the weather “Well, it’s this way,” Ace said inno­ wouldn’t come out the way he figured, “My hat!” the colonel gasped, his eyes cently. “It’s a good race course, but il and the fierce blasts of freak wind riveted on the near-by mountains. doesn’t cover any true landing routes. around Bald Mountain fall below par: “ W h a t’s that?” Now the way it cuts across the valley the second was whether or not he would Everybody gaped. That, w as th e Kim down there, all in-bound northeast ships live to enjoy the lady and the airport Clipper. It wallowed toward them like would have to buck tough cross winds. he was vanning. a drunken buzzard and landed with diffi­ At times they’re positively dangerous. A ir t r a i l s 87

Even in calm weather like to-day they’re For The Modern Christmas Gifts b a d .” Colonel Cockles scowled and snapped FINISHED SOLID SCALE MODELS Ready built models Complete In all detail* with wire ιΊχκΙιιι:*. insignia*, machine puns and licenso numbers when a look at one of his engineers. needed. MOVABLE CONTROLS (but not from the cockpit» and lll/BUEK T1KEI) WHEELS. All orders sent POSTPAID and insured (except Handley· Tage Bomber which will bu shipped express charges collect). “I have some men down the line with balloons,” Ace said hurriedly. He brought out a red flag and waved it. “Watch this one released from the five- mile pylon.” A large balloon shot from the ground down the. valley. At five hundred feet it jerked like a meteor toward the moun­ tains. At seven hundred it jerked back. It went through gyrations that made "Look Out Below!' "Always Reliablel” barnstormers wonder if Ace was inside. Soven Fokker Triplancs models (posed on a realistic For those who prefer somethin« different In romrneirlal background) preparing to attark. Thi* set of Seven planou, tho Stinson Reliant is offored. HOLLONNED Deval looked dumfounded. models makes one of the finest of Christinas gifts. These OFT mb In Interior add* to the realism of this popular models have the added features of having squadron in­ model. This model priced at only $3.00. Wingspan of “Why wasn’t this reported?” the signia am! numbers with an individual design on curb model, and RAISED. OUT · LINED WING It IBS. I’rlrc this model is II". colonel asked. “That air is like a hurri­ of the entire set of seven 6*4" models $15.00. cane.” He glared at Deval and the engineers, then signaled his own pilot “M atter of fact,” Ace remarked, “this and took oil' down the valley in his Cur­ side of the mountains is much bumpier tiss. than the Pine Notch side. By the way. Ace glanced hastily at his watch. colonel. Pine Notch is in more direct line Twenty minutes since lunch. He prayed between vonr field and Washington. that the colonel’s stomach was not as You can’t cross these mountains for a leathery ns his face and hands. hundred miles in thick weather.” "The Giant and tho Pigmy!” There was a bumpy cross draft where "By thunder, we'll look into that! A comparison in size of two tnodr.ls of the same scale. the colonel was headed, but nothing like The 20" Handley-F aro Bomber completely dwarfs the Was no truth told in that report?” the t’.*fc* S. E. 5. The Handley-Poire Bomber Is complete the (light of the balloon would intimate. down to (ho Inst detail including iotir-bladod prop», colonel roared. “What are those small double swivel-mounted Lewis mnrhlno guns and RAISED. But Ace bad seen to the balloon’s er­ OUT LINED WING BIBS—$10.110 sent express charges balloons going up along the new course?” collect. S. E. 5 model sent postpaid and insured for ratic course by the simple process of lie snapped suddenly at Deval. $1.80. suspending a heavy weight on a rubber “W Boeing FIB-4.. .$2.05 7*4* Albatros D.3 ....$1.80 “I—till—I'll have to find out,” Deval Oři* Buelm: P-26A . . . 2.05 7* Camel ...... 1.8U band midway of the balloon’s inside. said with a suspicious glance at Ace. f>" Consolidated P-30 2.30 7*4" Fokker I). 7 ...... 1.80 8* Vaught S B U -l... 2.50 10* D. H. 1...... 2.50 Whichever way the balloon was jerked, “Oil. those,” Ace said cheerfully. “I 0* Seversky IJT-S... 2.30 9%* Bristol Fighter.. 2.50 8*4* Waco CabinDlane 2.25 β*£* Snad 13...... l.so the weight swung against it and jerked it had my men take them over along the 0" Hanker Monoplane 2.30 6ft* Nleuport 1 7 ...... 1.8«) back. A wild flight resulted. 8" Monocminc ...... 2.05 9Í4* Vulteo A tta c k .... 2 .1 0 mountains to show the colonel how the 7* Grumman Fighter 2.05 7*4* Northrop FI* .... 2.05 Tlie army ship met the cross drafts drafts are on (hat route.” squarely, bucked through and found The balloons shot up and gyrated as CHRISTIE BATLAS itself a half mile οΙΓ course. This the if an unseen terrier were shaking them P. O. Box 160T, Morgantown, W. Va. pilot knew was not due to the drafts so violently. Forked lightning would be much as the Hood of orders suddenly straight by comparison with their er­ coming from the colonel. ratic course. course was set, incoming planes from But the colonel only knew two things: “Terrific drafts!” the colonel grunted. the north, east and west would have lliat it was the most treacherous air “Terrific,” Ace repeated, lie thought to make an almost perpendicular dive belt he had ever passed through, and of the small containers of compressed onto the field. The Kiwi Clipper that he wanted to get hack to the field air with alternating outlet valves which couldn’t stand an ordinary dive—but buildings as quickly as possible. If the were impelling the balloons on their way. just to make sure Deval called this to bumps on a calm day would upset an old “Imagine bucking those drafts, colonel." the colonel’s attention. skyliawk like himself, what would they The colonel imagined. He felt de­ The colonel eyed the notch. There do to passengers on a rough day? cidedly real results taking place in his was nothing to it but to give in to Deval. Ace was not among those who sur­ stomach. ' He grew white, and then The dive was increased a thousand feet rounded the colonel as he climbed from green. and made nearly perpendicular. This his cockpit. But Deval was. “Terrible— greatest engineering laxity called for a landing rule: planes must “You see, it wasn’t so rough,” Deval ------As for Deval’s sworn statement come out of the dive under two hun­ b lu rted . on local flying conditions------” T h e dred feet and stay beneath that alti­ “Not rough?” the colonel roared. colonel’s voice became hurried. He tude until crossing the finish line or “It’s a cyclone path!” He turned pallid, turned a shade greener and walked else, in event of looping out of the dive, pushed abruptly through the crowd. sharply toward the field buildings again. make one lap of the field. “Important phone call!” he snapped and “Important call to headquarters,” he Ace hoard the new ruling with a sick headed on the double toward the tem­ sang back gruffly. grin. Cries of “Contact” and the snort porary field buildings. Deval had a sudden acute feeling that of powerful engines were already clut­ “Outrageous! Reset the course as Air. all was not well. Studying the Kiwi tering the air. Cloud-blisters were rar­ Tighe suggested,” the colonel ordered Clipper more closely, lie recalled that ing to go. At the side of the field the on his return. lie eyed Deval malevo­ Ace had spent most of his boyhood fly­ army pursuit squadron was drawn up, lently. Not rough! It bad nearly ing kites around those parts. More re­ shaken his rugged Curtiss pursuit to cently, Ace had been seriously inter­ but would not participate. pieces! To say nothing of himself. ested in kiting. Ace noted two fast jobs of the Curtiss “I hope this won’t affect your de­ A ce’s Kiwi Clipper was nothing more pursuit type, three Corsairs, two racing cision on the airport,” Deval said with than a strange kite with a motor! Gee Bees exhibiting for fuel companies. sudden worry. “Solomon love 'me, lie’s going to ride Two Travclair biplanes and a special “Ilm-m-m-ph!” grunted the colonel. the air currents! And I gave him the Wedell job completed the entries. All “Dangerous airs. Should ’a’ been in the idea!” Deval moaned. were fast, rakish, powerful, streamlined preliminary report.” Then Deval laughed. As the new and sturdy. 88 BILL BARNES

T h e Kiwi Clipper had already been Coming onto the mountain leg, Ace under full gun in a dead perpendicular. rechristened The Coffin. shot far outfield again, caught the fast It screamed. It roared. Then it barked. Ace suddenly rushed over to the drafts rushing up the mountainside, Deval shut his eyes. Ace had over- colonel. “Stomach—cramps! You know boiled for ceiling. Deval looked back stressed, was cracking up on his dive! how it is, colonel. And I don’t want to from beneath and followed suit. He was Deval went ice-cold, banked to get miss the race.” not used to riding drafts and fumbled clearance, felt himself skid and wabble. “Hm-m-rn,” said the colonel. “De­ his stick. Ace grinned grimly. T h e Kiwi went beneath him. One wing cidedly unregulatory. But I might de­ Barnstormers had seen the maneuver snapped clear. The ship jerked vio­ lay the start four minutes. In fact. I’ll and headed outfield in a body. The lently with a sickening whine. The walk over with you.” Gee Bees put their noses in toward the other wing ripj>ed. bore back slowly, “I think it must have been that m o u n tain . snapped in twenty pieces. lunch,” Ace said talkatively. “I’ve had “Nice party,” Ace thought. “But In that moment Tom Deval felt like cramps ever since. So have some of the what a surprise you'll get!” He was a murderer. He had known even before other boys. Deval didn’t eat his, so he far above the field. the race that the wabbly Kiwi could wouldn’t know.” Cutting in ahead of the field, the Gee not stand the stress of a power dive. “Deval didn’t cat his lunch?” the Bees were caught in a chaos of hot and But his eyes were glued, fascinated, to colonel nearly choked. He thought of cold lateral and vertical drafts clashing the fuselage of the Kiwi beneath him. unreported wind conditions, no reference against each other from an unseen notch Never before had he seen a wingless to lines of flight into proposed port—a in the mountain. Trying to kick free ship hurtling earthward under power. port divided from his own field in thick into the one-way streams of the hill It. dropped like a meteor. w eath er— a man who didn't, eat his own crests, they ran into sharp inner down “The saints forgive me!” Deval lunch------The colonel was suddenly d ra fts. choked. He fell sick and giddy and seeing the plot. Deval had been trying For a few seconds they stuck it out. nearly kicked into a falling leaf in sud­ to keep him from the race he was to Then dropped, bucked through cross den nausea. Pieces of wood and canvas witness by giving him some sort of pto­ drafts again, found themselves way be­ still tore loose from the Kiwi. m aine. low altitude and hopelessly outdistanced. Then something large whirled off. It Out of the sympathy born of a mutual The two Gee Bees, built for speed and was the motor, prop still whirling in a affliction, he wished luck to the flapping not fight, nosed for ground. shining dive toward earth. It left a Kiwi which attained altitude fast Deval had cut in front of Ace, was pocket in the head of the Kiwi w hich enough, but seemed temperamental gaining fast. He was flying more surely caught wind, threw the ship into mad about its forward progress. The two now with gun on full. Ahead of them gyrations. Deval pulled off into an up- Gee Bees were far in the lead and the was the big pass from Pine Notch to draft to he clear. He lost speed, but rest bunched around the first pylon, E lk to n . stared entranced at the dancing thing w hile th e Kiwi staggered along behind. Ace worked into Deval’s blind spot, going through the air beneath him. Between the first, and second pylons veered course suddenly, took a swift Ace’s ship tore downward in a there was a short dive and a long climb. drop, banked and caught a hot draft drunken, crazy rush, a chicken of the Ace held his breath on the dive. Noises coming out of the valley beyond the air with its head cut off. It was almost which had nothing to do with wind pass. His plane skyrocketed under the atop the field now. White-faced men streams shrilled in his car. There was a tip of Dcval’s wing. and women arose shrieking in their nasty vibration from the right wing. Deval, sweating a grimace at' Ace’s scats. The colonel was scarlet. Why Working outside the field his eyes laugh, banked off sharply. Too sharply. in the devil didn’t the madman hail picked out a landmark. He reached the He skidded, went oil' on one wing, fell o u t? bottom of his dive, worked a few yards into the full force of the upeurrent and Suddenly something white billowed farther out. With a thud and a jolt flipped topside. out behind the Kiwi. There was a deaf­ he was hurtled skyward on the burst of Swearing vengeance, Deval come out ening report as a giant chute snapped hot air from the plains beneath. of it to find he had lost altitude. The open. T h e Kiwi stopped dead in mid- At the second pylon he was above field had passed him. Barnstormers flight, snapped to the top of the chute, the field and evenly handicapped with were gunning toward the last pylon from fell back and spun madly. Its flippers all, excepting the fast Gee Bees still out where they would swing out of the rocky and rudder wiggled wildly, throwing off iu front. The maneuvers of that leg drafts and get smooth diving air. glints of sun. he took easily, saving on stress. His Deval looked for Ace, and his face “He’s mad, utterly nuts! He’s para­ gray eyes were covering the long last blanched. The Kiwi was heading over chuting his ship!” the, colonel bellowed. leg and studying the terrain toward Bald the river gorge, going to risk diving But Ace had only one terrifying Mountain. It was by that sheer pile of down a fast draft almost on top the thought. If his chute held and he was rock that they would get full altitude field. swinging, suppose he landed short of the and make the final dive. The flier hesitated. A power dive finish or swung across the line at the Beneath Ace the Elkton plains down that draft, a loop out through top of a loop—and over the two-hun- stretched smooth and hot under the swift, hot upeurrents, and the wings of dred-foot altitude mark? summer sun. Rolling oil in piling waves, even the sturdy Corsair might go. Then, He knew the next instant. The Kiwi heat tumbled toward the cool, watered face taut, sure that the Kiwi w ould swung down on a great loop, hit the mountains, striking the downcoming break up beside him in mid-air, Deval ground with a thud, bounced, sailed un­ cold drafts, bursting upward with a surge headed toward the gorge. der the very noses of the judges, and of immense force. But those perpen­ crashed in a heap fifty feet beyond. dicular streams of air were narrow and Kicking his stick, Deval felt the swift The gondola had come down after the ran side by side. drop, felt the swifter one and slight ch u te . Running out from Bald Mountain and shock as the draft clutched him. The swerving sharply at the very edge of air was filled with a deafening jumble This was hard on Ace, but much the temporary field was a deep gash in of screams as birdmen put their noses harder on Colonel Cockles, who had been the valley floor, a black, shadowed into iHiwer dives. But Deval had eyes feeling pains in his stomach for a full gorge which sucked down the cold air only for the fantastic Kiwi now above five minutes. Ace collected himself from the high altitudes. and behind him. At least he had elimi­ from the wreckage in a daze and stag­ “ W ell, Kiwi, you can fall at least!” nated Ace Tighe! gered into the colonel’s arms. Ace said to his ship. It assured him But the next second the air beside “Oh-h-h-h-h—darling!” cried Lassie, it: could, with several groans and lurches. him was filled with the Kiwi h u rtlin g running up. AIR TRAILS 89

“Don’t bother mo—I’ve got to phone,” ommendation for an airport in this val­ “I won an election campaign with it Ace gusped. ley, A ce.” once.” F(K)te chuckled. "Well, I hear W ith a look of commiserate relief, the Ace gave a comprehensive gesture. Lassie up now. You better talk soft. colonel signaled a field car and person­ “We had much in common. At least Ace, and make up for making her faint ally rushed Ace Tighc toward the field the colonel thought so.” that way. Remember now, you got to "I think he would have shot Devul buildings. In that moment the colonel be reliable and careful with women­ if poor Tom hadn't landed and fainted felt that here was the sort of stuff of folk------” from fright,” Foote rambled on. “Say, which heroes arc made. “Like you,” Ace said, and stood up to what was that stuff you sprinkled in grin at a very mud-looking young lady. the colonel’s food at lunch?” “Call me Kiwi,” he said. "I’M DANGED,” said old man Foote "Oh, that,” Ace said innocently. that niglit, “if I see how you got that “That was just some medicine for “Only Ace Tighc could do it!” said old army bulldog to fly you over here in dropsy. Jalap they call it. Try it some­ the local paper next day. It showed a his own ship and then pass on the rec­ tim e.” picture of the new Airs. Tighc.

“I hope so. Fete,” Braid answered. sea. Then Braid whirled. Words hissed CHRISTMAS “Look me up in hell, in case you make through his teeth. (Continued from page 20) it some day.” “Why did you do such a tiling, “ I ’ll b e glad to , old b ea n ,” M a n d e rs Gwen?” he asked. “Your reputation They sal in the gloomy little room at said, grinning again. He put his pith won’t be worth a tinker’s dam.” the Three Widows for an hour, while helmet on his head and went out into She didn’t answer him for a moment. Braid poured out his soul and Manders the glare of the afternoon sun. Then she turned, and tlic light from a listened to a man take off the clothing Braid hunched a little farther over his flickering street lamp lighted her white, that covered his brain. sixth drink. tense features. Her angry eyes sparkled “So you can’t take it?” Manders said, in their sunken wells. a t last. THAT IS where Gwen Huntley found “You ask me why!” she blazed. Then “I’ve taken enough,” Braid said, as him at nine o’clock that night, lie was her spirit seemed to ooze away and a quietly. “T can’t go on. I'll go mad. sitting at a table in a corner with his dry sob escaped her. “It’s Christmas F ete.” head on his arms, asleep. The half- eve, Dean,” she said, in a moment. “I "If you’d leave that stuff alone,” M en­ caste blacks in the room were making —I came to get you because Pete Man­ ders said, pointing at the bottle before jokes about him in high-pitched patois ders has something wrong with him. He them, “it might help.” when she appeared in the doorway. She collapsed at dinner to-night, in terrible “It's the only thing that lets me escape swept the room with her eyes without pain. He may be rushed to the hospi­ from myself,” Braid said. appearing to sec any of the men or tal at any moment. Father and Dr. “You hide behind it,” Manders women at the tables. When her eyes Hamilton arc both working on him. sneered. “O. K. It’s your life, fellah. settled on Braid she started toward him. They haven’t made a decision yet.” But wait until after to-morrow. It won’t Braid’s eyes were bloodshot and “I'll go and see if I can help,” Braid make it any easier for Gwen to know blank, his hair frowzy when he lifted his said weakly. you picked the day before.br Christmas head. For a moment, while the room “ H elp! You, help!” Gwen said, and d a y , to g et riel of y o u rself. I ’m n o t go­ watched him, he stared at her like a the contempt in her voice stung Braid ing to try to slop you. I won’t tell any man who doubts bis own eyes. He like a lash. rubbed a hand across his face and one you told me about it. It’s your “Listen to me, Dean Braid,” she said. business if you find you’re too yellow to blinked at her again. Then lie realized “You can’t help Pete Manders. You that it was Gwen Huntley who stood stand the gaff.” can’t even help yourself. Pete can fight beside him. He saw the whiteness of “Don’t talk to me like that, Fete,” his own battles. No girl will ever put a her face and the agony in her eyes. Braid said, half rising from his chair. white feather in his hatband. He did what many another man would “I'll see Gwen to-morrow, to wish her “But you’ve got to help me. I have been unable to do. lie ran his a merry Christmas. She won’t know haven’t much to keep me going. I have hand through his hair and tried to for a couple of days. I’ll just drop out watched you disintegrate Indore my very straighten his unkempt clothes as he got of sight. I have it all planned. You’ll eyes. This is Christmas eve. Dean. It’s to his feet. For an instant he swayed take care of things for me?” a night I work for lbe whole year round. unsteadily. It may seem trivial to you. lads of “I'll take care of things, old kill,” Then, he stepped from behind the people laugh because I’ve been playing Manders said, and put out his hand. table and smiled at her. He took her Santa Claus to three or four hundred Braid took it. “I won't see you again,” arm and escorted her out of the place, as lepers on St. Helena for five years. But Manders went on. “To-night I play though it was no unusual thing for a they haven’t read the letters I’ve re­ Santa Claus for Gwen. Two big bags girl to shake a white man out of a ceived from there after Christmas day. of stuff to drop over the side to the drunken stupor in such a place. It takes all of my own money and all lepers on St. Helena. They have guts, Braid saw two or three dark forms the money I can raise to make those Braid. They know they’ll go on dying slink out the back door of the Widows people a little happy one day of the day after day, perhaps in agony at the and he knew the grapevine would have year. It may be an obsession, but it’s a end, but they play the game the way life the gossip within a few seconds. Gwen worthy one.” handed it to them. They don’t try to Huntley’s name would be dragged c h e a t.” through the dry volcanic dust of the “ B u t, G w en------” Braid began. “To hell with all that, Pete,” Braid island. “But, nothing,” Gwen snapped. “Pete said. “You can’t get me sore now. I'm He swung to the left as they stepped Manders can’t fly my packages over St. all through. You go along and play out the door and started toward the Helena to-night and drop them for those Santa Claus to the lepers.” water front. The hurricane windows of people. They live from one year’s end “It’s really very kind of you to do the stone business houses were grim to the next for the newspapers, the maga­ this thing, Dean.” Manders grinned. and ominous in the bright moonlight. zines, the little delicacies and presents I "I mean from my standpoint. Now They didn’t speak until they had send them. They have nothing else to Gwen will have a little time for me.” reached the street that ran along the live for. 90 BILL BARNES

" You," Gwen went on, lier voice rising He fitted his feet into the rudder stir­ breath. For a moment he thought the a trifle, “have nothing to live for. That’s rups and waggled the stick back and wings were going to be torn from the the reason you’re going to fly Pete’s forth and to the right and left. When fuselage. He felt the nose coming up plane over St. Helena to-night and drop he found the starter he primed the radial and up, and he knew that lie must level those packages.” engine. The blast of the motor after it off. He m ustn't come over on his back. Braid heard her voice going on and caught frightened him. His hands were 11c laughed madly as he thought of on, but he didn’t hear what she was trembling so that lie could hardly con­ Gwen’s packages tumbling around him. saying. He could feel cold perspiration trol them. His body was hot and cold He kicked bis rudder ever so lightly coming out on his forehead as she talked. in turn as he gradually warmed up the as he brought the nose up in a climbing I le could feel his whole body twitching motor with his eyes on the tachometer. turn. Then he leveled off and knew that at the thought of trying to take a plane It took him a quarter of an hour lo he was flying away from St. Helena. into the air. accustom himself to the thousand things He brought the ship around as the Then he began to laugh, as a thought he didn’t know about modern planes. whole sky was ripped open by terrific flashed through his mind. .The humor He had to experiment until he found streaks of lightning and deafening claps of the thing appealed to him. He out how to work the amphibian gear. of thunder. The ship dropped four laughed until tears ran down bis cheeks. Then be wasn’t sure. hundred feet. Gwen Huntley brought him back lo his At last be kicked the rudder and tax­ He studied bis compass while he senses when she slapped him sharply ied slowly over toward the jetty. In a fought the controls. Then he shrugged across the face. few minutes they had wedged him into his shoulders. He didn’t know where he “But, Gwen,” he protested, “I never his seat with packages all around him. was and he didn’t give a damn. His learned navigation. If was just coming One of the black boys showed him how whole body was beginning to ache. His into practice when the War ended. I to work the little parachutes attached to head was ringing from the beating he couldn’t find St. Helena in the night. the packages. hud been taking I know nothing about aerial naviga­ “Get right over the town before you Then he found himself singing. He tio n .” release them,” Gwen shrieked at him. found himself improvising songs about “They burn great bonfires to guide the “Get down low Be careful of the sides the little black ship as it rode that storm. plane,” Gwen answered. “It. is only fifty of the crater.” He sang about its courage and its dura­ miles away. Once you get into the air He waved a hand over his head and bility, and about his own courage and and headed in the .right direction you pushed bis throttle open. The little ship what he could do with a ship like this can’t miss it.” leaped ahead on the calm waters of the one. He didn’t ask her how he would find roads. He wondered whether lie would He found that his old touch had come his way back to Torrigua. He had no know when to take it into the air. He back to him. He stretched one hand in intention of trying to find his way back. had never taken a plane off the water front of him in the. dim light and saw He would stick the nose of the little before. lie wondered if the tail would that his fingers were not trembling. He amphibian due east and hold her there lift in the same way the tail of a land breathed deeply of the rain-cooled air until she ran out of petrol. That would plane lifted. The geysers of water leap­ and bellowed at the top of his voice. be easier thun the great cliffs along the ing skyward on each side blinded him. lie was fighting the storm when it shore of Torrigua. He eased back on the stick as he felt the ended, as abruptly as it had come. He “Is the stuff aboard the plane?” he tail lifting. scanned the sea again for the fire on St. asked, quietly. He took the roaring ship into the air Helena. He brought the plane around “It’s down on the jetty.” she told him. in a long, low climb that would have in a sweeping turn. “Two of my black boys and a policeman done credit lo Pete Alanders. But as are watching it. You’ll have to taxi Far off to his right he could see a soon as he tried to level off, he found the plane in close tp the jetty and they faint glow. He stuck the nose of the that the little ship was a hundred times slup on it and opened bis throttle again. will load the stuff aboard. All you more sensitive than the planes he had have to do is release the stuff when you As he got nearer and nearer, the glow flown during the War. He kept telling get over St. Helena, over the colony. became a leaping flame that stretched himself that flying a plane was like rid­ The parachutes will lake the things its tongue toward the heavens in long ing a bicycle. Once you knew how, you licks. d o w n . I — I ------” always had a sense of balance. But lie Gwen Huntley stopped talking and be­ He knew that the island of St. Helena found himself trying too hard. Tic gan to sob. Dean Braid might have was only the mouth of an extinct vol­ wiped the damp perspiration from his taken her in bis arms then. But he cano. It was one huge rocky formation face while lie fought his way out of a didn’t. He tried to straighten his shoul­ rising out of the sea. Ships dropped flat spin. ders and stand the way lie had been their anchors a quarter of a mile from taught to stand twenty years before. He circled upward and studied the its shores and people were landed in “Well,” he said, as casually as a man three compasses in front of him. Three small boats. When they had gained might suggest going for a stroll in the compasses! He gave that up and began access to the rocky land they had to moonlight, “let’s get going.” He knew to scan what he thought was the hori­ climb up the side for three hundred those few steps be would take out to zon for some sign of the great bonfire feet. A stairway was the only means the end of the jetty would be the last Gwen told him he would see on St. of reaching the peak. And once there, a ones he would ever take. A smile flashed Helena. When he couldn’t find it lie laid person had to go down another stairway across his face as she fell in step beside the nose of the ship on a NE course and into the mouth of the crater. At the him. ITe touched her hand for an in­ opened the throttle. bottom was the leper colony. There stant as they walked side by side. If He was just about to gain a little was only one small town and it was she felt it, she gave no sign. confidence in himself when the storm called Bottom. He rowed the little dinghy out to the hit him. Tt was kicked up out of no­ The first time Braid took the ship amphibian. Its black surface shone where, in the way of tropical storms. over the mouth of the extinct volcano brightly in the path of the moon. He One minute the moon was a golden he had two thousand feet under him. climbed in and fumbled around until lie pathway across the sea below him and He knew the downward currents of air found a light. He stared at the twenty the next minute the storm was on him. over such a place might grab him and or thirty dials on the instrument panel He fell the nose of the ship drop and slap him into the side of the crater. as a child might stare at a book on knew it had taken him into a dive. Hr As lie circled back he experimented at higher mathematics. jerked the stick back and held his a thousand feet. lie could see the three AIR TRAILS 91 or lour hundred people who inhabited And in those days the orders were to the island around the great lire. He bring back your ship. It didn’t matter eased the ship lower and lower until he whether you came hack with it or skimmed the peak of the crater. whether you were full of bullet holes. Then he decided to give the lepers on They could get another man to take St. Helena a real Christinas eve. Sliding your place, but it took a long time to open a window, lie decided he would give build new airplanes. them something to talk about besides He taxied the amphibian up until he the newspapers and magazines ami little was only a few feci away from the jetty. presents that had to keep them con­ He didn’t wait for them to bring the lit­ tented for a year. tle dinghy to him. He killed his motor, He got a little altitude and he. dived climbed oul on the nose, threw out the the black amphibian straight at that sea anchor and dived into the black great, leaping flame. At the bottom of water. A dozen strokes hrought him to his dive he yanked back on the stick the steps. He was laughing when he and threw a half dozen of his packages pulled himself up the steps. And lie overboard. The nose of the little ship was babbling like a baby. Page after page shows new streamline came up, hung there for a moment and “I found it, Gwen!” he was saying. trains, new and advanced features cleared the peak of the crater by inches. “I found it! 1 could feel life coming such as the realistic air whistle, Twelve times he dived that ship into back to me as I fought that storm. It m odel high speed track, remote con­ the very month of hell. He laughed gave me new life. It did something to trol reverse, six wheel drive steam- while he did it when he remembered that me. You know the last tunc I Hew type locomotives, etc. All of Amer­ he had told Pete Atanders to look him before the Armistice 1 was shot down. ica’s famous streamliners have been up in hell. The blood raced through I never went up again. I have had that reproduced by American Tlyer— his body as it had not done in eighteen fear in my mind all these years. To­ they are models you will be proud to years, lie did tilings with that little night I----- I----- ” own. Select your fun-making auto­ ship he would never have dreamed of He stopped then because Gwen was in matic signals, stations, bridges, etc. trying during his maddest days in liis arms and lie had to use his lips for Dads, too, make railroading a hobby. France, during the War. something else than talking. When he [—American Flyer M fg. Co. SEND FREE—1 He could hear the voices of the scream­ lifted his head he was looking into the ; 2232 S. Halsted St.. Chicago, 111. TRAIN BOOK ! I I ing, cheering people below him even grinning eyes of Pete Manders. He • N a m e ...... 1 above the roar of his motor. Something looked down at the sobbing Gwen and i I ' Address...... j about those voices, rising and falling, then he looked at Manders again. i I made him understand why Gwen Hunt- “I thought you were about to be ley attached so much importance to her rushed to the hospital,” he said. “Gwen Chrislmas-eve party for the lepers. told me you might not live until morn­ He circled above the crater and waved ing.” his arms as he banked around. It "Who can tell?” Pete Manders grinned. seemed to him that a thousand hands “You—you framed me!” Dean Braid reached into the air below to wave him stuttered. HRA8RAISE______RABBITS FOR US WE PAY YOU UP TO S5 0O EACH. ALSO POT YOU IN TOUCH WITH MARKETS EVERYWHERE. Lanr* good-by. “We knew it would kill you or cure I I nitrated hook undr»·»: g. ■ !·<» copyof U>· A M E R IC A N J T ^ S R , r a b b i t F A R M E R and monthly market ball· tin nbowicg He saw Gwen Huntley and another you.” Pete said. “Let’s go up to my names of buyer« in emnou* parta of America who eoo· tinnocaly bay all rabbita vfTexcd them . Ail fo r 10 cents. A d d ra a · figure standing in the moonlight on the place and have a drink. I need it.” OUTDOOR ENTERPRISE CO.. i 4 2 Main S t.. Holm «a Park. Mo. end of the jetty when he set the little Dean Braid touched Gwen’s fingers amphibian down on the water in the again, and this time she let him know roads and taxied in. that she knew it. She wrapped both ONLY BENJAMIN H A S THE GENUINE SA F E His light to stick the nose of the little her hands around his and smiled into his COMPRESSED ship toward the open sea had only eyes. AIR PISTOL lasted for a few minutes. He found “A very merry Christmas to you, sir,” Amazing Maximum Velocity Safe. Singlu ^ Shot w«tn Bolt Action-Hammer Flru Hair that he was hack in his youth again. she said. ‘ ‘ ' — — r BIl Price 17.50. Ilol- ______.jS h o t A ir Ηι Πο β $7 .GO- , Singl·· Shot BB A ir Rjflo $C.0T-Z.rj Shot Hit H eneater A ir \ Rifle T7.50—at Dealer or Dlroct—No llrcmio requir·.!— SASK. The Only Genuine Compressed Air Pistols & Rifles On feet (ns it never is), the only sensations the Market. Full Details -Targets-Free -Write Today for Intro­ ductory Offer. FLYING FUN noticeable at all to one with closed eyes BENJAMIN AIR RIFLE CO., G41 N. D'way, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.A. would be the increases and decreases in (Continued from page 24) weight due to centrifugal force. maneuvering the ship around the sky In all kinds of acrobatic maneuvers, it F eaturing Hull’s in an apparently erratic and entirely un­ is presumed, of course, that parachutes New Flying Scale: Stearman planned fashion. To an onlooker it are used, that the plane is built for such would seem that the pilot was simply use. and that all is done according to pitching the plane around pointlessly. regulations. A passenger, however, would probably The pilot with a feeling for the ma­ catch the point if lie should shut his ture joys of flying looks at acrobatics eyes and realize that he would hardly differently from the novice, who is hunt­ he aware of movement if he didn’t know ing for thrills, wants snap rolls done he was being carried through a zigzag faster and more violently, upside-down sky path. That is. if the pilot is almost flying, tremendous dives and quick pull­ Here’s a model equally desirable for be­ impossibly good—if his sense of balance outs, loops and rolls close to the ground ginners or experts. Simplified construction. All material Included, and a tine Klít for and his skill are very highly developed. —in other words, violent motion and any model builder. the sensation of danger. The mature All Balsa cut to size, all parts stamnrd For the point is, of course, in keeping out. carved propeller, formed utru part?, * tlnlshcd wheels, colored tissue, rubber, cel­ 25 I he plane perfectly balanced, through pilot of gentlemanly instincts who enjoys luloid. cement, dope, correct Insignia, full p lu n 10 c size detailed plaits and rompletc Instructions. p o s t a g e shallow banks and steep ones, zooms, acrobatics does so for entirely different Send 3c Stamp for Complete Catalog of dives, chandellcs, horizon eights, what­ reasons. Instead of seeking violence he HL’B Supplies. We carry* a full line of Has Model Supplies. HUB Model Airplane & Supply Co. ever he does. If the execution were per- tries to achieve the opposite—grace. 475 B rook Avenuo Dept. BI2 New Y ork City 92 BILL BARNES

smoothness, rhythm. A loop close to maintained throughout. The chandelle, when you are seeking perfection of skill, the ground could not possibly be more the good old chandelle, on which mili­ the ultimate is always ahead of you. attractive to him than one at 3,000 feet, tary students often stick or wash out. is beckoning you on with renewed enthusi­ for it is the excellence of the loop, not one of the most satisfying of all maneu­ asm, and each new advance gives you the danger of the spectncular aspect of vers for the pilot interested in good more enjoyment Ilian the last. An air­ it, that lie is interested in. He is very flying and not in showing ofT. Perfectly plane is like a violin: it can never be anxious not to drop into his safety belt done, it requires a fine sense of balance absolutely mastered. at the top (even though it does cause a and careful judgment throughout. (The T have barely touched the vast subject funny feeling) because it means he went chandelle is simply a sleep climbing turn of the “grown-up” joys of flying. There into the loop too slowly, or pulled up too of 180 degrees in which the plane is al­ is the sense of calm exaltation that comes slowly, or so fast that he squashed and most but never stalled at the top. Tt from merely being high and lifted up lost speed. As to snap rolls, the chances involves keeping the plane balanced per­ above all the earth. There are the pleas­ are he doesn’t particularly care for them. fectly throughout a sliorf dive, swift ures of really looking, with open eyes, It does require a lot of skill to stop the turn and climb, with the speed, and the at the awe-inspiring panorama of moun­ roll just exactly right every time, but degree of control required, changing tain, plain and river spread out below; the snap, like the spin, is not naturally very quickly from fairly high to very the wonder of flying in sunlight and see­ a smooth or graceful maneuver. It in­ low.) ing three thunder showers at once, amt volves being, for an instant at least, out One could go on valuing various knowing that each one. to the people of control. A pilot who likes perfection maneuvers according to his own ideas by on the earth in the center of it, is a of control may not care for it. these standards, but each flier, once he whole world of rain. Upside-down flying, too, is more or learns how pleasurable acrobatics from But it is not necessary to point out all less graceless, more of a stunt than a the standpoint of skill rather than thrill these things. The important thing is to skillful maneuver, though I have seen can be, will rate them for himself. How­ cultivate the grown-up viewpoint among pilots in Diesel-powered planes do quite ever, I want to [mint out that one fine the fliers of the present and future, so remarkable upside-down flying. The thing about any phase of flying, ap­ they will look for and find these gen­ slow roll is a maneuver through which proached with the grown-up attitude, is uine pleasures for themselves, and let balance and smoothness can be main­ this: as you go on, flying becomes more the cheap and dangerous thrills of avia­ tained most of the way—and definitely tion’s salad days slip away, together more satisfying than the snap roll. The interesting rather than less so. If you Immelmann is a military pursuit maneu­ go diving for thrills, you have to keep with the coughing OX-5 and the syn­ ver, more useful when needed than grati­ diving closer to get the same thrill. It’s thetic hero with bools, taper wings, toil fying from the pilot’s standpoint, though like drinking hard liquor or taking dope. horsepower and no brains, into the well- one in which control, if not balance, is The thrills arc always decreasing. But lost past where they belong.

The.distance traversed has been vari­ conventional monoplane with low-placed RUSSIA'S W INGS ously computed as between 5,400 and wings. The Russian motor, carrying the 5,753 miles. (The official world record designation M-34-R, was especially (Continued from page 31) made by Rossi and Codos, August 5-7, adapted by the Frunze factory to meet efficient. The new motors will all be 1933, New York to Raiyak, Syria, is the conditions of long-distance flight at mounted in the leading edge of the 5,657.38 miles.) During this perilous wide variations in temperature. Tt is of wing and will develop 1,200 h.p. each. flight the Russian ship ran into an arctic the V type, is liquid-cooled and features And now at last we reach the plane cyclone near North Land, and for more a longitudinal rigidity that results in ex­ on the cover. The A. N. T. 25 is a sin­ than five hours the intrepid pilots flew treme strength. It is adjusted to run on gle-engined, all-metal, low-wing mono­ by instrument through the blinding an unusually thin fuel mixture to add to plane with which Soviet aviation en­ storm at an altitude of 12,000 feet. Dur­ its economy. It develops 950 h.p. at thusiasts hope to capture the world ing that time they were bucking head­ 1.950 revolutions and weighs 1.430 long-distance flight record. It was built winds that frequently reached a velocity pounds. The propeller, a thrce-bladed. in 1933, and now incorporates most of of 45 m.p.li. Learning from radio re­ fixed-pitch metal air screw, was espe­ the latest developments in Russian aero­ ports of subsequent impossible weather cially designed to lift the plane’s gross nautical design. Its maiden effort was a conditions and considering that the weight of 11 tons off the ground at the record endurance flight in September, A. N. T. 25 had fulfilled her mission, take-off and yet work efficiently during 1934, when it covered 7,700 miles in 75 Ordjonikidze, chief of the aviation ad­ all phases of the flight. hours over a triangular course. During ministration, radioed pilot Chkaloff to Probably the most interesting feature an attempt last fall to fly from Lenin­ land. At the conclusion of this brilliant of the ship is the unusually high aspect grad to San Francisco via the north flight, the fuel tanks of the plane still ratio of the wings. They measure 111.52 pole, the oil system failed and the flight contained upward of a ton of gasoline, feet across, with a ratio between the had to be abandoned. Various altera­ sufficient to cover another 1,550 miles. span and chord of about 18. In design­ tions were made, including a reduction Let’s take a look at this remarkable ing the wings of the A. N. T. 25, the in the size of the radiator and the sub­ plane. The A. N. T. 25 has been de­ engineers were confronted with a num­ stitution of a three-bladcd metal propel­ scribed by its designer, Tupolev, as a ber of interesting technical contradic- ler for the olcl wooden one. On July 20lh of this year, the rebuilt Λ. N. T. 25 look off from the airport at Moscow, headed north into the arctic, then cast toward the Siberian coast, over Siberia to the Kamchatka Peninsula,· turned west toward the Asiatic main­ land again, and after a hazardous, stormy flight, landed during the night of July 22nd on the beach of the tiny island of Udd, near the city of Niko- laevsk. AIR TRAILS 93 lions. The wing must he large in area machine to be provided with retractable The A. N. T. 2.5 is probably the most and yet light. The problem demanded landing wheels and oleo shock absorbers. efficient airplane as yet produced by the extensive research. Finally a faultless The gear is retracted electrically—an­ Soviets. The unusual and yet practical theoretical calculation was evolved and other innovation for Russia. In order to features embodied in the design reflect a successful wing built. One unusual fea­ provide for the safety of both ship and the utmost credit upon Professor Tupe- ture of the design is the manner in crew on long over-water hops, a flotation lov and his assistants. In record-break­ which the large fuel tanks, 21 feet in system consisting of balloons of light, ing flights under the most difficult and length, have been incorporated into the rubberized fabric is concealed in the hazardous conditions, their sturdy and wings and under the opening of the mo­ wing structure. Their position and beautiful monoplane has demonstrated weight neutralizes to a large degree the tor cowling. Tests on a model one anew that in the fields of mechanical upward forces working on the wing dur­ twenty-fifth actual size demonstrated the ing flight, thus permitting a considerable efficiency of this arrangement. The efficiency and human courage, Russian lighter Structure. wings were painted red for visibility in planes and Russian pilots are second to The A. N. T. 2.5 is the first Soviet ease of a forced landing on ice or snow. none.

This is important. The concave part of shaft. If one blade is heavier than the INDOOR PROPS the blades is carved first. A sharp knife other, sand it with $10-0 until the prop may be used until the edges are reached, is perfectly balanced. Cement the shaft (Continued from page 59) then a sharp razor blade must be used. in place and put on two flat washers, (2) the area, (!i) the rubber size you Cut the* camber in with a razor and, one of which should Ik: cemented to the prefer to use. This last condition may with rough sandpaper, take out ridges hub. be clarified as follows: you may take a caused by it. Sand progressively with MAKING A MICROFILM PROP plane of a certain area and fly it with finer and finer grades of sandpaper and rubber and a prop of 28" pitch, or then polish the face with $10-0. The most successful prop—one of you might fly the same plane with After finishing the concave sides of microfilm—takes only one hour to build. rubber and a prop of 33" pitch. Which­ both blades, turn the prop over and An accurate scale capable of weighing ever way you fly it is a matter of per­ “hack” away at the convex side till the to .0001 of an ounce must be employed, sonal preference. blades are about 1/ 4" thick. A razor because in order that a propeller be per­ Next in consideration is the blade should then be used to bring the blades fectly balanced, the material which goes shape. This is an important point, and down to 3/ 32" thickness at the hub and to make Doth blades must weigh the all experts are in accord in placing the •Vc/' thickness at the tip. followed by same. widest portion of the blade at about 35 rough sandpaper to smooth the blades A microfilm propeller is made on a to 45 per cent, of length from the lips. to almost the required thickness and to former. 'The former is merely a piece of However, the width at the tips and the take out all the ripples of carving. Draw woofl of proper dimensions, carved in hub is, at present, also a matter of per­ the blade shape on one of the blades, such a way that the microfilm pro]) blade sonal prejudice. Most modelers cut cut the shape out with a razor, smooth made on it has the projjer angle at any back the leading edge at the hub, the the edges with fine sandpaper, and trans­ position along its radius. A typical 1.5" purpose of which is to increase the pitch fer that shape to a sheet of paper. Cut prop might be made on a block 7'/oX lx by “flailing” the blades out at the start. out a template of the blade and transfer 15/ 8". The former should be made by This cuts down the sudden burst of the shape to the other blade. Cut of! drawing a diagonal on the wide face and power. the excess balsa and then, with rough carving the convex side of the blade up The final decision in making a pro­ sandpaper, cut down the thick edges of to the diagonal line. Draw the hlade peller is the construction method to be tips and the hub. Finish the blade with shape on Vic" sheet balsa and cement it used. That is, is the propeller to be finer and finer degrees of sandpaper and oil the former. Cut slots and V’s on the built up, or is it to be solid? Built-up then polish the blades with $10-0. leading and trailing edges of the 1/ lc" props are, of course, between one half When sanding, never put the blade sheet at about every inch, perpendieu- and one third the weight of solid ones. down on a surface and sand, but sup­ lar to the leading edge. These slots are However, they are much harder to bal­ port the blade with the fingers of one merely spacers for the ribs and hold ance, they are harder to make run hand while sanding with the other. them perpendicularly. smoothly, and they are much more diffi­ Never sand more than two inches at a The leading edge should be sliced from cult to handle. Tt is worth your effort time, unless you want to carve a new '/ n " sheet balsa, λ/ λ·" wide at the hub to build one, but you must be painstak­ prop. to Van" at the tip. The trailing edge is ing and patient. Push a pin through the exact center stripped from 1/ 3o,/ sheet balsa, 3/ 32" and insert the shaft. Balance the prop tapered to This strip should be CARVING THE PROPELLER by allowing it to revolve freely on the long enough so that it can be bent com­ If you have to use a wood propeller, pletely around the tip to meet the lead­ the block from which the prop is to be ing edge. Wet the trailing edge strip carved must be selected with the utmost and pin it flat to the former. Heat the care. It is useless even to consider a The August Contest trailing edge (still pinned to the former) Tin· following readers were winners block of balsa of over 5 '/o -lb. grade, In the AuKUSt ‘'G ullible's T ravels" con­ until it just begins to turn brown. Pin test with the inilieikteil number of allow­ the leading edge in place and cement as a prop carved from it will be too able, correctly picked errors: the ribs, which have been cut from 1/ (!4" heavy. The wood must also be straight­ First prize. $.5—William 1.. Jackson. grained and free from knots and worm Reading, Fa., 110. sheet balsa, in position. The ribs can Five prizes of S- -F. Hidwoll, U. S. S. he made all the same length; where a holes. Mineral spots (discolorations) Huolutiutn. Mare Island. Cailf.. DU t harm only the appearance of the finished Charles Hussey. lr.. Greenland, X. II.. smaller rib is necessary, one-third of the il l : Anselm Kickhtish, Owosso, Mieli.. prop and do not detract materially from SO: Philip W. Shew, Grand Rapids. excess can be cut from the leading edge its quality. Mich., 7N : Frank Drugos, New Itriins- and two-thirds from the trailing edge. wiek, N. .1.. 71. Two blades exactly the same should he The block may lie cut into a prop Five prizes of SI—.lames Hetllnger, blank (cut to the diagonals for the heli­ Huron. S. 1».. (14; William Tuerek. Jr.. made in this way. I.aurelton, N. y „ (13; R ichard Mow. cal type, etc.) with any sharp knife, but Manatee, Fla., 5,7; Thomas Stewart, Cut off at the hub end of each H ew lett, N. Y\, .54; Jaek London, Sioux lilade and cement them to a hub made make sure that the leading and trailing City. Li.. 03. sdges of the blank are true and sharp. of Vic" balsa, 1/ 2" long, trimmed in 94 BILL BARNES thickness to the depth of the hinde at it on the former. Twist the balsa-cov­ angle of one blade must be changed, it the huh. The grain of the hub should ered microfilm frame to the same angle can be done by holding the blade at the he parallel to the length of the blade. as the prop, lay it on the blade and leave required angle about one foot above a After cementing the blades to the hub, it to dry completely so that the blade gas stove whose flame has been turned the shnft should be inserted and ce­ angles remain correct. Cut the excess so low that it almost goes out. mented into place, and the blades cov­ film oil with acetone. Treat the other Your first microfilm and carved props ered. blade similarly. are likely to be pretty Crude. Don't be In covering, make a frame οΓ 1 / \{" Balance the prop, if necessary, by put­ discouraged, however, by your first at­ square balsa abouL 10" long and 3" wide ting a drop of cement on the lighter tempts. Remember that old adage, and cover it with film. Wet the leading blade, in order to have a successful “Practice makes perfect,” holds in this and trailing edge of one blade and place prop, it must run smoothly. If the as well as in other things.

MATERIAL I strip of bamboo Several inches of light wire for wing BIRD W IN G Fuselage (C ontinued fro m pane-31) hooks Center section ·? χ χ / " When balanced for flying, the leading t longerons 1 fcx1 kxSO" 8 238 234 edge of the wing was about 8 ' / ο " back I pieces '/Řxíýxá 1" for bracing Elevator am) Rudder from the front tip of the fuselage. I -nose block 1 ν8χ%χ2Λ/1(;" I motor stick 14x:lsx23" SPECIFICATIONS •2 spars 'V32 x V:t-‘x I I piece 7/κ ιχΙ1/κι·χ 1 W' f°>' fuselage ■2 spars Λ x Λ/α ·2 x 7Y ‘i" Span ...... rear lip 1 s" flat balsa for outline Wing area...... ISO square inches I strip bamboo 7'/á" length << It *‘/ i sheet for rib Elevator area...... ;!8 l pair l % " diameter x ·’·*" balsa wheels “ “ Rudder area...... 22 I fool f i H wire for tail skid, shaft, PaOl’ELLEli Propeller pitch...... 20 inches axles, rear hook Wing incidence...... I block l::sxl--sxl.7" ...... V." •2 pieces 1/ 111xlx5" for balsa rear of Several cup washers and flat washers (tips washed out to zero incidence) fuselage E le v a to r incidence...... 1 free-wheeling device or ~ /g " length of 1 piece iiLxP/tx.)" for rear stick support brass tubing WEIGHTS . . . . .70 ounces Wing and center section Wix« MISCELLANEOUS Stick, 14 strands 1/ sx l/ 30" rubber, propeller...... 4 spars y8xy8x‘2oy2" 30 feet of Vg" flat rubber Elevator ...... 25 “ ■2 leading edges %χί4χ17%" 4 large sheets of tissue Fuselage, landing gear, rud- 2 trailing edges %χ%χ8" 2 ounces of cement der ...... Vir," sheet balsa for ribs 2 ounces of banana oil.

T o ta l R. T. F ...... 3.20 “ Yg" flat balsa for trailing edge and tips ----- G. S. L.

SURFACING itself influences the flight in much the THE DART For championship flying a highly pol­ same way as the rudder. ished surface is necessary. However, all Changes in the setting of any of the ( Continued from patjc 60) that is necessary for every-day flying is three surfaces will definitely affect the TAIL a rub-down with fine sandpaper, followed flight of the model. Getting the glider by a coat or two of banana oil or dope adjusted so it recovers at the top of the The elevator is cut in one piece. In and then a second treatment with fine climb is a tricky job. There are no defi­ the drawing, however, only half the sandpaper. nite rules to be observed. The success elevator is shown. After tracing out the you’ll have is largely dependent on your shape of one half, turn over the pattern FLYING own perseverance rather than following and complete the other side. The wing and the elevator should be any definite procedure. But adjusting The elevator is cemented to the top mounted flat. That is, a straight edge the model for simple straightaway glid­ of the fuselage, and the rudder is ce­ laid flat along the bottom of the wing ing is easy. The finished glider is certain mented on top of the elevator. The should also fit flat against the bottom to deliver flights, a condition that does rear edge of the rudder should be flush of the elevator. When trimmed for fly­ not hold for any other type of model. with the rear tip of the fuselage. The ing, the glider should balance at the MATERIAL elevator is cemented about :l/ s" forward point indicated on the wing pattern— Fuselage—1 piece medium balsa 1/.1x of the rudder. about 23/ s" back from the lending edge of the wing, measured along the fuselage. 1x18" Wing—2 pieces 3/ 10x3 x ll" CABANE SECTION You can balance the model by inserting pins into the front of the fuselage or by Elevator—1 piece 1/ 8x21/ 2xl0" The wing is mounted above the fu­ wrapping pieces of solder wire around Rudder—1 piece 1/ 1{,x2,/ox23/ / ' selage on a cabnne section. In this posi­ the nose. Cabane Section—1 piece 1/4x l 1/.,x3" tion the glider seems to show better In any airplane, the effect of the rud­ Construction material—sandpaper, knjie. recovery after the initial climb. This is der, elevator, and wing are so closely small brush, pins, cement, banana especially noticeable after hard launch­ related that any change in the setting of oil. ings. when quick recovery at the top of one will affect the action of the other Cost of material: 3.20. the climb is necessary for long flights. two surfaces. For example, suppose you Construction time: 30 minutes. The cabane section should be cut to a warp the wings until Ihe model goes DATA streamlined shape and cemented in the into a steep bank. It's likely that the Wing area ...... 52 square inches notch in the top of the fuselage. The model will not hold the bank and will Elevator area...... 1ÍL5 “ wing is then cemented to the top of the go into a spin, unless you change the Rudder area...... 7 “ cabane section. Naturally the two rudder and elevator settings. When the Wing incidence...... zero degrees halves of the wing should be firmly model is steeply banked, the rudder acts Elevator incidence joined before attaching them. partly as an elevator, and the elevator G. S. 1.. AIR TRAILS 95 Class D Stick CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY 1. Milleniu Abzilg 1:12 MODEL MATTERS 2. Larr.v Low 1:12 An opportunity to contact a large ( Continued from fnr/e 63) 3. George Brown 1 :00 field on a sm all lineage. R ate 10c per word (Minimum 20 words). Cash ■Practically perfect weather produced Class C Fuselage with order. Address: 1. Alan Ortlioff 1:07 some high times. Cups, trophies, plaques, 2. Louis Milowitz 1:01.5 AIR TRAILS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING medals, and model kits made up the 79 Seventh Avenue, New York City prize list. Class D Fuselage 1. Louis Milowitz 1 :14.3 Model Airplanes Stick Model Event 73* ru itT IS K HOMIN' Ml. Rubber twwcred, 11.75 Junior T. A. M. B. E. MEET postpaid. (las powered, $2.UU postpaid. Full size plans, ,T 27.-Ϊ dope» spool a I cement, etc. Dealers, write. Complete line George DeLaMatcr, Oneontn of »·.;«.< model supplies. Woburn Model Airplane Shop. Palsy Fitimniio. Syracuse a οι. π Henry Struck, 19, of Jackson Heights, 236 Main, WobUUi, .Mas·. Robert Dillman. Syracuse 2 43.« Charles Brennan. Syracuse 1 •11.3 was high-point winner at the third an­ DKALICKS. Manufacturers: Japanese Tissue, 22 colon. Bill Kogers. Syracuse 42.0 Also Itainboo tissue. l’aul*0*Wina Propellers. Celluloid 1 nual meet of the Airplane Model Build­ Motors. Write on business letterhead for prices and quantity discounts. Whit Held Paper Works, Importers. Senior ers Exchange of New York City, held at 12-11 \ * I V St., Now York City. «>»> m.fi FLYERS 20 tpald. Two for 35c. Boeing Leonard Zeldow, Binghamton Marine Park, Brooklyn, Sept. ti. He F ilt I. Spad. Monocoupe. Ileli Diver. Howard Ike. Ed Gutli. Syracuse in 50.2 Bristol, Fighter. Full sized plana, all parts stamped. Ira Fralick. Syracuse 7 17.0 won the speed event with a ship that Send dimes carefully wrapped. Dudley Model Airplane Joseph Caliolo. Albany 7 00.0 Supply Co., 235a Dudley St., Roxtniry, Mors. Marlin Dotsko. Binghamton (l 27.0 was clocked at 48 tn.p.h. over the 88- fool course. He took the cabin fuselage For Sale Fuselage Model Event event with 3:41. And to clinch the title NEW Aeroplanes, $08.00; Motor«, $19.08· Propellers, Junior $2.98. Send 25c for data. Information. llibbs. Fort Worth. Texas. Carl Moody. Horncll 7 •ΙΠ.0 of champion, lie took fourth place in the George DcLn.Mntcr, Onconta 2 IS.o stick event and third in the glider event. George Kcsel. Liverpool 20.3 Instruction Koherr Nicholson. Geneva 1 53.4 Morton Kaufman of Brooklyn won the GOVKRXMENT JOBS. S tu n $105 In $175 month. Richard Oldom, Syracuse 1 52.0 Itftpid increase. Men- -women. Prepare now for next hand-launched glider event with 4:18. announced examinations. Short hours. Influeneo tin nercRxary. Common education usually sufficient. Full Senior Earl Glanz, also of Brooklyn, won the particular« and Hit position« FREE. Write today sure. Ira Fralick. Syracuse :::: in .2 stick event with a flight of 2:54. Hurry. Franklin Institute. Dept. SI9, Rochester. X. Y. Joseph Caliolo, Albany IS 30.4 Martin Dotsko. Binghamton 11· Otl.O The 300 contestants were hampered Bruno Marchi, Medford, Mass. 1 37.0 Leighton Weliíi, H ornel 1 2 39.(1 by a strong wind which crashed many models, but the attractive prize list BE A PILOT-FLY A SHIP Glider Event- If you are stumped at the hioh cost ot traininu to stimulated competition. Slop watches, qualify for a license and a pood future In Aviation, Junior write immediately, enclosing stamp for informa­ Raymond Wells, Auburn 14.4 gold trophies, medals, and merchandise tion on opportunities r.ow available for Approved Pnts.v Fhimnno. Syracuse 38.0 orders were the prizes. Judges were Ir­ Training under our . . . George DeLaMatcr. Onconta APPRENTICE PLAN 27.« win S. Polk of the Metropolitan Model Carl Moody, Horncll Mechanix Universal Avialion Service. Inc. Senior League, David Lynn, director of the ex­ Strathmoor Stn. Dept. T. Detroit, Mich. Colin Edwards. Oswego G .tn.-i change, Arthur Lcsselbaum, president, « ■ ■ ■ ■ H i Bruno Marchi. Medford. Mass. 1 27.0 and others. Richard Barber. Utica 1 22.0 James Zimmer, Syracuse 1 00.0 Charles Qtiimby, Rome 54.2 JACKSONVILLE CONTEST COLT 45 CAL. Gasoline Powered Event AUTOMATIC n™. .in Milton Myers won first place in the Ed (iiith. Syracuse •12 Colt 45 Automatic pistol model k it $1.00 Joseph Caliolo, Albany 23 49 annual summer meeting of the Jackson­ Thompson Sub Machine Gun kit $1.00 .Tames Young, W illiamson IS 45 ville Model Airplane Club. His gas Alfred Towle, Syracuse IS 39 Beautiful k it complete, model disappeared after traveling four FREE OFFER hest basswood, all parts 1 Colt 25 automatic cut to shape. Iteguirc Exhibition Scale Models miles. Contestants were entered from pistol model kit only short time to tlnlsh. FREE with order for Sent postpaid In TJ.S.A. 1. Louis Cnsale. Syracuse 99 points Georgia and Florida. The contest was $2.00 or more. Send for FREE illUK- 2. Max Sokol, ltnintrumck, Mich. 97 trated pamphlet. 3. Charles Cole, Liverpool 94 “ arranged and directed by William I.. 4. .lean Chadwick. Syracuse 90 “ Timpone, N. A. A. contest director and CUN MODEL CO., Depl. W-12, 2908 N. Noniica Ave.. Cbi«to Γ». Harold Deboll, Geneva 87 u director of the Jacksonville Club. Senior Point Winner Myers’ winning model weighed 3% Joseph Caliolo pounds, had a 0-foot span and was pow­ World War Souvenirs 1914-1918 For l»c in stamps I will mail you an im­ ered with a Baby Cyclone. It is a high- Junior Point Winner ported Gnome ltI5 piston ring used on Nicu- wing job and followed closely the design port 2S Pursuit plane. Useful paper weight. George DeLaMatcr »Send 3c for colored lisť authentic imported of Joe Kovel, present record holder. war souvenirs; cylinders into lamps, gears into desk ornaments, etc. HYDROPLANE RECORD TRIALS This club was organized about two years ago and has been active in advanc­ Marvin A. Northrop Aeroplane Co. Minneapolis, Minnesota Drizzling, gusty weather made an ap­ ing model building in Florida. Pulaski propriate setting for hydroplane-record Broward, Jr., represented (lie club at the trials held in Van Cortlnndt Park, New last national meet in Detroit. York City, Aug. 2Í) by the New York AGENTS S$I4 a DAY Junior N. A. A. Chapter. The times Everybody needs food. NEW RECORDS AT J. A. L. Our unique plan gives made are listed below. you opportunity for The hydro tank was made by laying Two new open-age records were set amazing profits. Both men and women wanted out a 4x12-footrectangle of %x2" up at the summer contest of the Junior at once. Make up to Aviation League of Boston, held Aug. 29. $14.Od in a day. New boards. This framework was covered Forti Tudor Sedan given with oilcloth nailed at the edges and Captain Brown, club director, set a new ns a bonus In addition to your rash earn ink*. No outdoor record for Class B liand- experience or previous patted down inside the boards to form training required. 250 liiunclied gliders of :33.1. Everett famous ZANOL Prod­ a shallow tank. Water was transported ucts--all fast seller* Tasker flew his Class C tow-line glider Ten. Coir«·»·. Foods. with steel wheelbarrows. The models Soups. (Meaner- - fo r 4:25. Other results: other things needed had no trouble taking ο(Γ. daily in the home. HI« orders. I send everything. You Class C Stick Gliders «lon’t risk a penny. Write quick for free 1. Lnrr.v Low 2 :0 0 1. W oodman (class B, h. 1.) 0 39 fa«·:*. 2. Mnleoln Ab/.ug 1:48 2. Phillips i class C. t. 1.) 1 :24 ZANOL PRODUCTS CO., 3. George Brown 4 :07.5 3. Durup (class B. h. 1.) :24.8 «774 Monmouth Ave. Cincinnati. Ohio 96 BILL BARNES

Stick H. L. SAN DIEGO lo w in g club records have been recog 1. Capo (class D) 2 :34 n iz e d : 2. Walhrstein (class D> 2:25.4 The aviation Advancement Club of 3. Sulkln (class <’) 1:32 San Diego, Cal., held a meet Aug. 23, Fuselage (R. O. G.) Ju n io r iiOCfon P ark 10:24 Fuselage (R.O.G.) with events open to Class C stick and ►Senior Daniel Halary 8 :0 U 1. Sulkln (class C) G :7>G fuselage models. Fog blanketed the fly­ 2. WnlliTStein (d u se D) 1 :17 Stick H. L. 3. Phillips (class 0) 2 :UU ing field until about 7:30, when the fly­ Ju n io r Horton Park 22 :3rt ing actually began. The weather was Senior Robert Holland 2 :31 The tliird ami final 1936 summer out­ fair, hut only two thermal flights were door meet attracted a large audience turned in. Summaries: Glider T. L. and many contestants oil Sept. o. Frank J unior Robert Carlson G :55 Barrett, Jr., was the meet champion, Senior Daniel Salary 1 3 : 5 ' winning a first and two seconds. Results: Locton Park S :17 Glider H. L Kobert Holland 2 :S1 Alan ITcins 1 :10 Junior William Moser iěS Gliders Senior Daniel Jlalary :51 1. ISarrott (class B) :38.1 2. Mazo (class 11) :20.2 3. Sulkln (class li) :18.li Fuselage Flying Scale Daniel Hillary 8 :01.0 .] unior George KfjHy :36 Robert Holland 3 :1<5.4 Senior Frank Walther ;ij3 Stick H. L. Alan IIouiH 2 :f»7.1 1. Sulkln (class C) 2:47 2. B a rre tt (class (.') 2 :3 1 Gas Models 3. Sebrlng (class C) 1 :l>3 The A. A. C. is an active club in Senior Klbert Weathers 1« :20 Fuselage (R. O. G.) model and real aviation. It has spon­ Indoor Stick 1. Sampson (class C) 3:03 sored two gas-model contests, and n third 2. Barrett·(class C) 3:07 Ju n io r William Moser :30 3. Goodin (class C) 2 :2tl.G is on deck for the near future. The fol- Senior Daniel IIalary 1 :13

edges first and then to the lower pat­ thin balsa covering. Thinned lacquer is ARCTIC FLIER tern with cement on a space at the recommended; use a coat of thin, clear rear of each rib, because the pattern will lacquer first. (Continued from pane 42) only touch the ribs at the rear while The fuselage, tail surfaces, and propel­ with the fuselage. Alake the center- pinned to the hoard. Pin the rear of lers are gray or aluminum. The cowl, section spar, the trailing edge, and the each rib firmly to the lower pattern. Be landing gear, tires, cabin windows, and two leading-edge parts and mark the rib sure the first rib has the right angle to small lettering, black. The wings are spacing on them before cementing them obtain the 2" dihedral. red from fillets to tips, with aluminum to the fuselage. Now cement the remaining |airtions of or gray URSS letters \ x/> ’ high on the Cut six of the whole center-section the ribs toward the front and along the top of the left wing and bottom of the ribs and two of the partial ribs. Cement leading edges. The scraps that remained right, and N025 on top of the right and the two outer ribs on first to line the from the rib cutting will come in handy bottom of the left. Trim the pilot’s spar and edges up, and then add the to wedge the bottom pattern up to the cockpit shield with gray or aluminum. other ribs. raised leading edges and rib bottoms. Fit the model with the remaining de­ The landing gear must be attached at Note that the first rib leading edges are tail. this time. Fit the parts as shown be­ high, while those at the. tips are low. FLYING THE MODEL tween the outer ribs and then attach The wash-out is essential in this model Power the model with 8 strands of the 1/a" aluminum tube and braces. to prevent the addition of weight to the V s" Hat, lubricated rubber. To get the Dowel rods, bearing the double-wheel nose. rubber into the model, bind the rear axles, arc trimmed to slide tii/k tly in the Trim the lower pattern along the cen­ end of the motor and insert an “S” aluminum tube. When the flying pro­ ter of the tVx%" strip when dry. To hook. Hold the nose of the model up­ peller is used, tiie dowels can be ex­ apply the top cover pattern, cement its right, and drop the rear of the motor tended to allow for the long blades, and trailing edge to the lower trailing edge, into the fuselage and fish for the rear forced back when the scale propeller is sparingly. When dry, apply cement to hook. Glide the model in tall grass, or desired. The metal fenders or fairings all ribs and leading edges and press the wind the motor just enough for it to are made from .550 sheet aluminum as covers on firmly, using pins where neces­ take olf. If the model has a tendency per drawing # 4 . sary. When dry, remove from the board to stall, especially on a glide, add inci­ Cover the center section, from outer and true up with fine sandpaper. dence to the stabilizer. to inner ribs with sheet and add Assemble the tail surfaces in the same the rear fairings for the wheel trucks. manner as the wings. MATERIALS Carve the dummy tail wheel and fairing 1 1 % x2 x3 1/ , j" cowl block PROPELLERS assembly and cement in place. Cement 3 %xl i/2x4" prop blocks the celluloid windshield patterns on the Two views of the scale prop blade 1 nose block cockpit and over the relief pilot enclo­ are shown on drawing #3. Three are 14 sheets 1/(i4x2xl8" inserted in the scale spinner. sure. Make the exhaust stack and heater 1 “ V ;,2 x 2 x 1 8 " units from dowel rod and cement The flying propeller is also thrcc- 2 “ V , 0x2x18" bladed, and very wide to provide suffi­ them in place. The cahin windows may 4 sq. xl8" he cut out and fitted with celluloid, or cient thrust. Blank the blocks as per front view and cement them together, 2 V 16x? /8 x 1 8 " just painted black when coloring the 1 oz. cement model. then carve to obtain the spinner and diminished huh. Insert the shaft, in the y> “ graylacquer WING AND TAIL usual manner, and provide several wash­ % “ red “ The wing panels and tail surfaces are ers to cut down friction. 1 “ clear “ of unusual construction. On drawing 2 drams black lacquer # 1 the cover patterns and ribs are com­ COMPLETING THE MODEL 2 oz. thinner plete. Cut a pair of each rib and cover. Cement the wing panels and tail sur­ 4" Vs alum, tube, 1x3 .005 sheet alum., Alark the rib spacing on the lower cover faces in position on the fuselage. 1x3 celluloid bamboo, 4" Yu dowel rod. patterns and on the -nrxVs" leading When coloring the model, do not use thread, #12 music wire, alum, edges. Cement the ribs to the leading dopes, because they are apt to warp the tube, 80" flat rubber. During This Offer:

and the cost is only

i 1 5 0

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