Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-29
ABREAST OF EUROPE
America in Field With Air.
Cooled Aero Motor.
TRIAL FLIGHT A SUCCESS
Paul Peck the Aviator Who Demon.
strates Practical Utility Of
the Engine.

Tue LuSluS.
America is at last in the field with an
air-cooled motor that promises to put
aviation In this country abreast of the
art in Europe. There was a flight made
at College Park Sunday by Paul
Peck, the Washington aviator, that prov
ed the American air-cooied engine is
here. The fight was intended to try out
the endurance Of the engine and in this
respect was thoroughly satisfactory, since
the motor ran for an hour and forty
two minutes. stopping only when the fuel
was exhausted.
1t Is not probable there will be any
more endurance trials of the engine be-
fore spring, but the result is considered
by aviators as one Of the most important
that has been achieved In this country
since the first power-driven flights were
made by the Wright brothers at Kill
Devil in 1903.
Importance of Motor.
1t is not generally understood by the
public how much Of human fight depends
on the motor. Mechanical flight was not
possible at all until the light and power
full gasoline engine developed to drive the
power plant Of a flying machine. The
early motor used by the Wr.Shts was a
simple four-cylinder engine. stripped
down and lightened as much as possible,
consistent with safety. When Wilbur
flights In France in 1908 the experts there
declared that much of his success was
due to having a reliable motor
This original motor developed only
about sixteen horsepower when it was
first started, and this fell off to twelve
horsepower when the motor was warmed
up. But the engine was developed and
improved till now 1t has an output Of
from thirty to thirty-five horsepower and
Is decidedly reliable
During the early days of aviation in
Europe every possible type of engine was
tried. All Of them were water-cooled and
all were SO heavy that there was. a very
small margin between the ability to fly
and not to fly. Some of the makers of
light motors In Europe actually went to
building aeroplanes to exploit their en-
gines. There were some very good flights
made. but still the distance was incon-
siderable and the motor heavy and un-
reliable.
Advent Of Air-Cooled Engine.
Then abroad there came a sudden
change. An air-cooled engine was intro
duced In which the revolving cylinders
aided the cooling process. 1t took a good
many seasons to develop this engine, but
when once it was done aviation abroad
advanced amazingly and every one who
could got this revolving type of motor
1t was a rather interesting fact that this
revolving type of motor was an Ameri-
can invention, and the base patents on
which the European motor was Quilt
came from this country More inter
esting still to Washington is the fact
that when the revolving cylinder motor
was first brought out years ago-for
most OF the patents are now run out
the inventor came to Washington to es-
tablish factory. He was given scant
encouragement, and one piece of ground
after another that he selected had the
price put up on him, till finally he went
west in disgust. and has been manufac-
turing his revolving motors there ever
since.
The success of the French air-cooled
engine was so great, and there was such
a demand for 1t on aeroplanes, that the
French government finally took over the
entire output Of the factory for two
years, and the motor became increasing
ly hard for aviators to get.
Several Failures Recorded.
There were several attempts made in
this country to turn out a light and pow
erful air-cooled motor able to compete
with the French product. Several times
makers in various parts of the country
thought they were on the verge of sue
cess. Then there was some mechanical
trouble, and the engine never could be
made to stand up to its work to the
limit Of its fuel capacity without heating
and losing power.
1t is for this reason that the flight of
Paul Peck Sunday Is considered SO sig
nificant. II America can turn out an
air-cooled motor equal to the best Frencl
type there Is no reason why aviators in
this country should not make records
equal to those now being made abroad.
Schemes for Air Resistance.
There is a great deal of designing
being done in America this winter on
the forms of wings and machines best
adapted to lessening air resistance and
producing faster and more powerful
aeroplanes that will fly with a less ex-
penditure of power. 1t is impossible
yet to say definitely what will be ac-
complished, but both the War and Navy
Departments are watching the develop
ments closely and will next summer pro-
cure the best American machine or
motor that can be produced.