High Altitude Problems: One of the Subjects Dealt with at the I.Ae.S. Meeting

THE report provided by PROFESSOR KLEMIN of the papers read at the annual meeting of the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences is of particular interest on account of the fact that it contains an extended summary of one by PROFESSOR YOUNGER on “Structural and Mechanical Problems Involved in Pressure (Supercharged) Cabin Planes.” This is of topical interest to English readers because on April 21 PROFESSOR YOUNGER is to give a lecture entitled “High Altitude Flying” before the members of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and it is not unnatural to suppose that some part at any rate of that lecture will be devoted to these particular problems. The experience gained from the researches dealt with in the paper has been used by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in the design of the substratosphere passenger research aeroplane built to the order of the Army Air Corps. Actually, all the research and experimental work referred to was carried out by the Corps at its experimental station at Wright Field, the results being communicated to the Lockheed stall for use in the work of designing and constructing the aeroplane. No details have yet, so far as we are aware, been released of the machine, so that PROFESSOR YOUNGER'S paper contains the first information as to the features that are, presumably, incorporated in it. This machine is, of course, of considerable importance because it is the first to be built expressly fitted to carry passengers at altitudes which involve the incorporation of special provisions for the safety and comfort of the occupants.