University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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AVI A T 1 O N THE SCHOOL OK AVIATION IS NOW ENTERING il third year a a depart nn-nt « f tin- I'niversity Miami. Kach Micceeding session lias seen sonu new development upon the original plans, which called for a ground-school to acquaint the layman, to some H extent, with the technical workings of The regular curriculum of the lecture course now embodies the study of aerodynamics, aircraft design, navigation, meteorlogy. engines, rigging and theory and history of flight. Thirty-eight students were | enrolled in this course during the year. ■ The department under the upervi ion of Ln-iga l-red II. Given. I'.S.N.R., who ha- been engaged in various phases of aeronautics for some twenty years. Ilis first flying venture was in a Bleriot type monoplane of his own construction, and like other pioneers, he was his own flight tutor. He went through the war as a pilot and instructor in the Royal Flying Corps, and U.S. Navy and has to his credit nearly 2.500 hours in the air. More recently he has held positions in commercial aviation and before coming to the University of Miami was connected with the Fairchild Corporation. He was instrumental in securing for Miami the I'.S. Naval Reserve Aviation Unit, which was installed here in May 8, 1930, but which was recently removed to Opa Locka because of the proximity of the Navy Flying Field. Laboratory work is carried on in a completely equipped and spacious shop which contains wood and machine lathes, a welding outfit, bench and band saws, a machine drill, planer and paint spraying outfit. Aircraft and engines now in the shop include a Commandaire biplane. Heath Monoplane, which is being converted into the late model of the Lanier plane, PT-2 glider, PT-i, steel tubing, glider, two Curtiss OX-5 motors, one Dayton Hear, one Hispano-Suiza and a Salmson. This year much experimental work of importance to the embryo aviation engineer has been undertaken and completed, a new wind tunnel and three radical experiments that will revolutionize aerial transportation and that are proving a success have been refined for commercial use in the aviation shop. A wingless aeroplane has been redesigned by Mr. Given, using the Lanier patent cellule, which was successfully tested at the Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, in 1930, as a basic principle. This plane can perform all the functions of a plane and parachute combined, is small enough to be housed in the average garage, and can be constructed and sold cheaper than any other plane on the market today. It can take off quicker in almost vertical assent and land slower than any other plane so far constructed. Its performance has the same features as the auto-gyro, which has won the admiration of all for its safety features, but all the disagreeable mechanical

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THE UNIVERSITY ON THE A1JH “AND WITH THE STRAINS OF “THE SPIRIT OF MIAMI u” we bring to a close another program originating in the studio in the University Building in Coral Gables. The University bids you adios, hasta manana! ” This was the closing signature of the University Hour, a regular weekday feature of station WIOD, Miami, since the opening of the remote control studio November twenty-fourth. The programs were under the direction of Franklin I). Harris, actual broadcasting in the studio was supervised by Don Henshaw, instructor in Public Speaking. Evelyn Plagman Jones, student of the University Conservatory of Music, was selected as studio pianist, and Gilbert Brom-aghim was given the post of student announcer. These programs were a part of the work of the Extension Department of the University. Realizing the growing importance of the educational service possible through the medium of radio, the department decided to place an educational program on the air. Through the co-operation of the staff and officials of WIOD. room 284 was equipped as a studio. Walls were padded with sound-proofing material, acoustics were tested, microphones and panel installed, direct wires laid to the main studio, and on the morning of November twenty-fourth Dr. B. F. Ashe dedicated the new department. Feature broadcasts included a series of Music Appreciation Lectures by May Brigel, Florida botany and zoology presented by Dr. A. H. Gilbert and Professor E. M. Miller, Florida history as compiled by Professor K. R. Close, and a series of piano lecture-recitals on modern music and composers by Julian de Gray. Regular classes in aviation, public speaking and English were broadcast, students carrying the most of the presentation. In addition to the regular educational lectures and programs, a series of travelogues were given by students. In these, the student was interviewed by the announcer, the outline of the questioning following the journey and its highlights. The Music Department provided talent for musical programs and features. Robert Topping, Sara Requa, Robert Bostwick and Helen Flanagan gave vocal recitals, the Conservatory Trio and students gave instrumental selections. Rho Beta Omicron, public speaking fraternity, presented a weekly hour over WQAM. The speakers were all students of the University, and preference was given to public speaking students. As a special feature, these programs were audited by professors of various colleges, who sent in criticisms of the various speakers. There was at least one sketch of the life of a famous orator or speaker on each hour, and an interest ing feature was a dialogue on Campus Chatter of the week. An indication of the popularity of this broadcast was that it was given one of the best hours of the evening. Fan mail was heavy and generous in compliments for the students. A broadcasting team, under the direction of Don Henshaw, gave play-by-play accounts of all home football games. The games were at night, so there was no interference with national hook-ups. and the added receptive qualities of night programs made these games the biggest advertising feature for the University. Letters acknowledging reception of these broadcasts were received from all over the sourh, east and middle west.

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features are absent as there are no moving parts other than the regular propeller. This remarkable performance is due to a partial vacuum developed in the hollowed cell, that lifts much more per square foot than the common wings and therefore can be constructed much smaller, and again due to the same feature the pull of gravity causes it to act as a parachute when the forward motion of the plane has ceased, as in engine failure. The plane just completed is the third experimental plane built around this idea, and it is expected to be even greater in performance, than the previous ones, due to new aerodynamic improvements. This ‘Vacuplane', as the Lanier idea is called, heralds the dawn of a really safe aeroplane that everyone can learn to fly in as short a time as is takes to become familar with an automobile; it will cost no more than a popular priced car and can take off and land from a 50 x 50 back yard. “Dry Gas”, another decided aviation, as well as automotive, improvement, also developed in the aviation shop, more than doubles the mileage per gallon received through the old carburetion system in use. The manufacture of a perfectly dry gas from volatile liquids has been accomplished with amazing results, of greater power, no carbon deposit, no dilution of lubricants, less radiant heat, elimination of carbon monoxide in the exhaust and above all, a perfect gas of nearly 100r : efficiency—nearly doubling the cruising range, and the entire elimination of all carburetor troubles that form 50% of the gas engine troubles and engine failures. With the Alarie-Valve motor, adapted to aeronautical use by the aviation department, last year; the Dobbs 'Dry Gas’: and the newly designed Lanier Vacuplane; the University Aviation Department places before the public three of the greatest improvements that aviation has seen since its inception and they will go far in making air transportation as common as ground travel is today. The large wind tunnel recently completed and put into operation should be a boon to enthusiasts and engineers in the South as it is the only one of its size south of Virginia. It will handle models up to 42 inches and the wind velocity will be controlled by a gas engine capable of developing 160 miles per hour. That the Aviation Department has developed these ideas with the many handicaps that accompany experiments is due to student cooperation and Fred Given. 30281 LIBRARY University of Miami