Page:Aeronautics and Astronautics Chronology 1915-1960.pdf/22

 tube, developed and patented a ramjet engine later modified and used in the V-l Flying Bomb.

During 1932: Robert H. Goddard developed component of modern ramjet engine with construction of a rocket fuel pump at Clark University.


 * Capt. John R. Poppen (MC USN), began experimentation with animals on physiological effects of high acceleration, proposing as a result of his studies that an inflatable abdominal corset be developed for use by fighter pilots.


 * Junkers Ju-52, German trimotor transport of great success, first produced.


 * Control mechanism for variablepitch propellers developed under the direction of Frank Caldwell.


 * NACA published derivation and characteristics of the first systematic family of NACA airfoils.


 * JATO-type rockets first used in the Soviet Union, according to Moscow historians.

January 21: Institute of Aeronautical Sciences (IAS) held its Founders Meeting at Columbia University under Jerome C. Hunsaker, president, and Lester D. Gardner.

February 25: Aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ranger (CV-4) launched at Newport News.

During February: Boeing 247, first "modern-type" airliner, first flew.

March 11: Macon dirigible christened at Akron, Ohio, and made first flight on April 21 with 105 persons aboard.

March 28: Aircraft engine manufacturers granted permission by the Aeronautics Branch, Department of Commerce, to conduct endurance tests on their own equipment.

April 4: Rear Adm. W. A. Moffett, Chief of Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, killed along with 72 others in crash of the dirigible Akron at sea off the coast of New Jersey. He was replaced by Rear Adm. E.J.King (USN).

May 14: American Interplanetary Society Rocket No. 2 successfully fired, attaining 250-foot altitude in 2 seconds, at Marine Park, Staten Island, N.Y.

July 1-August 12: Gen. Italo Balbo of Italian Air Force led flight of 25 Savoia-Marchetti S-55X seaplanes in mass flight from Rome to Chicago and return.

July 9-December 19: Col. and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh made 29,000-mile survey flight in their Cyclone-powered Sirius seaplane from New York to Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Europe, Russia, the Azores, Africa, Brazil, and return.

July 15-22: Lockheed Vega, Winnie Mae, piloted in first round-the-world solo flight by Wiley Post, 15,596 miles in 7 days 18 hours 40½ minutes. Airplane contained new type of radiocompass developed by Wright Field engineers.

During July: Douglas DC-1 first flew, forerunner of the famed DC-3.

August 17: First Soviet liquid-propellant rocket successfully fired.

September 30: Russian stratosphere flight in Army balloon USSR attained a reported altitude of 60,695 feet, G. Prokofiev, K. Godunov, and E. Birnbaum as balloonists.

November 20-21: Lt. Comdr. T. G. W. Settle (USN) and Maj. Chester L. Fordney (USMC) set official world balloon altitude record of 61,237 feet over Akron, Ohio.

During 1933: Collier Trophy for 1933 awarded to Hamilton Standard Propeller Co., with particular credit to Frank W. Caldwell, chief engineer, for development of a controllable-pitch propeller now in general use. (See Appendix D.)


 * NACA assisted Army, Navy, and industry in the development of reliable retractable landing gears, controllable pitch propellers, more efficient wing sections, and wing flaps.


 * Harry W. Bull of Syracuse, N.Y., developed small liquid-propellant rocket engine.


 * Fred E. Weick and his associates at NACA's Langley Laboratory designed and constructed the Weick W-l airplane which incorporated such novel features as tricycle landing gear, pusher propeller, and interconnected ailerons and rudder for simpler and safer flying.


 * Eugen Sanger of Germany published his classic Rakatenflugtechnik, which dealt with rocket motor design and high-speed flight in the atmosphere.


 * British Interplanetary Society organized.

January 10-11: Six Navy Consolidated P2Y-l's flew nonstop from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 2,399 miles, in 24 hours 56 minutes.

January 30: Russian balloon reached 73,000 feet, but aeronauts Felosienko, Wasienko, and Vsyskin perished in free fall of gondola.

February 19: Under Presidential order the Army Air Corps started flying domestic airmail.

During February: Lockheed Electra first flew, featuring introduction of twin fins and rudders.

April 6: American Interplanetary Society renamed the American Rocket Society (ARS).

April 11: Comdr. Renato Donati established altitude record of 47,352 feet in Caproni aircraft, at Rome, Italy.

April 18: Baker Board, appointed by the Secretary of War to investigate the Army Air Corps, held its first meeting.

May 1: Lt. Frank Akers (USN) made hooded blind landing in an OJ-2 at College Park, Md., in demonstration of system intended for aircraft carrier use. In subsequent flights, he made takeoffs and landings between Anacostia and College Park under a hood without assistance.

June 12: Air Mail Act of 1934 signed by the President.

During June: Baker Board recommended purchase of War Department aircraft from private manufacturers, instead of building them in Government factories, by means of negotiated contract, by competitive bids, or by purchase after design competition.

July 1: Name of the Aeronautics Branch changed to the Bureau of Air Commerce in the Department of Commerce.

July 24: Air Corps began aerial photographic survey of Alaska under Lt. Col. H. H. Arnold.

July 28: A 60,613-foot altitude was reached in Air Corps-National Geographic Society balloon, Explorer I, by Maj. W. E. Kepner and Capts. A. W. Stevens and Orvil A. Anderson.

August 18: Jeanette and Jean Piccard flew Century of Progress balloon from Dearborn, Mich., to an altitude of 57,579 feet.

During August: Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory expanded with completion of engine research laboratory, a vertical tunnel for testing spinning characteristics, and a 24-inch high-speed tunnel (700 mph).

September 9: ARS Rocket No. 4 launched to 400 feet altitude, at Marine Island, Staten Island, N.T.

September 15: Aeromedical Laboratory founded at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. 30