The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-26
BAD ROADS FACTOR
IN AERO PERFECTION
Small Light, Powerful Motor
Required to Drive Cars in
Mud and Sand.
By CHARLES z. DURYEA.

Each mechanical advance. no matter
in what line, helps other lines forward
This has never been better illustrated
than in the relations of the motor yc-
hicle 10 the aeroplane. Mechanical pro-
pulsion on bad roads-American roads
in particular-requires so much power
that light and powerful motors had to
be designed.
II was not possible for American
pioneers to use the small and heavy
motors used by early automobile max
ers abroad, so they had to design and
build lighter and moro powerful ones
The knowledge of and possession OF
such motors makes flying possible, and
it may be said with some degree OF
truth that the improvements made
necessary By the bad roads OF this
country were more or less directly the
cause of the problem OF aerial naviga-
ton being solved by Americans.
The same motor made both possible
and having seen the automJ bile fur
nish the motor for the flying machine
We now see the flying machine point
ing out the lines for tho motor vehicle.
Motors Are Lighter.
Visitors to the fifteenth national
l.
ace, New York. January 20, will note
not only that motors are being made
much lighter with smaller bore and
longer strobe than in former years. but
will sec the influence of the aeropIane
pointing out the lines for automobile
bodies. Boats and airships use smooth
stream lines in their bodies and ex-
posed parts, that they may move with
less friction and disturbance OF the air
or water.
In this respect the automobile has
been a sinner, as the constant
clouds of dust in summer too often
prove. but 1915 reveals a marked i'm
provement In bodies Designers are
rapidly adopting the stream line body,
sal. II not only adds to the looks of
the car, but to the speed and comfort
of road travellers, and jewellers along
the road as well.
Beginning at the front. the flat radia-
tor and projecting dash have almost
completely given way to the curved or
pointed radiator. back of which the
hood slopes slightly outward and up
ward, until II blends into and becomes
a part OF the cowl. Then, the wind
jecting as they were I'm past years.
Some of these windshields are inclined
50 as to offer less air resistance. and
the tops also have been considered from
this wind-resistance point of view.
Only a few years ago mudguards often
were seen projecting upward into the
air as If TO catch as much wind as pos
sibe. but TODAY the ovaled or crowned
fender is largely in evidence. and is
a thing of beauty. Being rounded on
top, il does not offer a platform for Girt
and mud as heretofore. and II is not
liable to be used as a work bench with
damage to its brilliant en-
amel 1t turns down in front Of the
wheel. and not only catches anv mud
thrown to the front to be blown back
in the drivers face, but it shields the
top of the wheel from the air, thereby
lesseninG the wind resistance.
Power Is Saved.
Many people do not consider that The
top of the wheel travels twice as fast
as the vehicle and its mudguard, and
so offers four times the wind resistance
but such is the fact. in theory at least
BY molding the guard so as to lessen
this resistance, power is saved and
speed gained.
The smooth sides - the vehicle al
low the wind to stream past with only
slight resistance, while the absence of
boxes, tires. etc. on tie running boards
adds to this desired factor. Smooth
or drip pans are a further
factor in speed not often considered by
buyers because sncy are not seen easily.
Even the rears OF the bodies are fol-
lowing the shapes of the aeroplane
shells and are pointed or extended TO
cause less vacuum as the car speeds
This lsSsened vacuum IS so much power
added. not to mention the smoother and
l..