AERONAUTICS: Slim Pickens

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Skillful Skid. NYRBA Line's flying boat Porto Rico was late leaving Porto Rico for Havana last week, delayed by laggard passengers. To make up time, instead of skirting the Cuban coastline Pilot H. Sewell elected to cut across country 50 mi. between Cienfuegos and Havana. Nearly across this—the only stretch of land on the company's 8,000-mi. routes—the plane's gas feed line became airbound, cutting off both motors. Pilot Sewell thought fast, acted skillfully. After the steward had thrown the luggage of the 15 passengers overboard to lighten the load, Pilot Sewell chose a smooth hillside, guided the flying boat down, "skidded her in" to a safe landing. Damage was slight, all luggage retrieved.

Cosmic Plan. Dr. Auguste Piccard, professor of physics in Brussels University, last week ordered a 2,000-volt dry battery as equipment for a specially constructed free balloon with an airtight cabin. He announced he would ascend 52,000 ft.† over Augsburg, Germany, next month to study the "cosmic ray" believed to originate in interstellar space.

Ankle. Over Washington, D. C. last week Capt. Ira Eaker, famed army flyer, parachuted from his spinning plane, landed near St. Elizabeth's (Government hospital for the insane), was treated there for a sprained ankle.