1930

From The Space Library

NACA made confidential recommendations to industry and military services for best location of engine nacelles, with engines faired into leading edges of the wing, a report based on 1928 research of Donald H. Wood and others which influenced design of all multiengine aircraft thereafter.

Sound-locator acoustic system for detection of aircraft in flight was developed.

Sperry Gyroscope developed the "Gyro Horizon."

An increase of 300 percent in paid passengers on commercial airlines was recorded this year.

Frank Whittle, RAF officer and engineer, obtained British patents for turbojet engine.

Allison Division of General Motors began development of V-1710 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, the only liquid-cooled engine of U.S. design to be produced throughout World War II, which was increased in 17 years from 750 hp to 2,000 hp.

First vertical wind tunnel for study of airplane spinning was placed in operation at NACA's Langley Laboratory.

Robert Esnault-Pelterie of France published his classic work on L'Astronautique; he had begun his mathematical work on astronautics in 1907.

Science fiction story written by Hermann Oberth titled "In A Rocket to the Moon" appeared in Soviet magazine Around the World #15

The Spring issue of Wonder Stories Quarterly publishes an English translation of The Stone from the Moon a science fiction story by German rocket pioneer Otto Willi Gail. The same issue includes An Atomic Adventure by co-founder William Lemkin.