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ERNEST JONES
4527 - 49th st nw
Washington DC
11 February 1929

PERSONAL

Brigadier General B.D. Foulois
Office Chief Air Corps, 
Washington. 

Dear General Foulois:

Here is a scheme which I ask you to consider with a view to making a definite trial thereof pronto, while we have the fog. It involves two kite balloons with winches, electrical equipment, gas tanks and personnel. 

I believe we can insure landings in fog by the utilization of two or more balloons,illuminated from within or without, stationed along a known side of the field at its extremities (a known distance apart, obviously), and maintained manually or automatically above the fog layer during its prevalence. A row of electric lights, or other system, at the balloon would indicate, by the number of bulbs lighted, the exact altitude of the balloon above the ground. The distance apart would, of course, be known. By setting an earth inductor compass to zero along a line parallel to the row of balloons, a pilot should be able to circle and begin glide at a suitable distance from the near side of the field to come in over the field in the fog on the course shown by the compass. It is believed that the ground could be seen in time to assure good landing. 

It is also suggested that the cut-off level of the floodlights might also serve to show distance above the ground when the cut-off level of the light is reached in the descent. If the floodlighting does not so serve, the pilot, still keeping the ship on the zero course, could swing up and make a new try, with the lights shut off. 

For the purpose of trial, the balloons could be handles by observers in the basket, with telephone to ground and also trying radiobeacon and phone equipment on the NY-Atlanta line, the Bureau of Standars has such a ship, and doubtless the Army has. 

If the tests were successful, the Air Corps would have added another bit of laurel to the crown - if not, nothing lost. I believe the attempt is worth trying. 

In definite operation, I imagine a hygrometer could be hooked up with the make and break system to start and stop the windless and do the work automatically. The cost of such balloons and equipment in practice would be small as the Goodyear Co. sells advertising balloons and windless for something like $350.