Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-24
j. s. MOTOR TEST
PROVES A SUCCESS
American-Made AirpIanes Will
Be Available for Service
in France.
ENGINES UP TO STANDARD

Tests of the frst of the standardized
United states airplane motors designed
and built under direction of the air.
craft production board make it prac-
fighting machines will be available for
service In France early next year. Re-
suits from several tests have been
highly satisfactory. it is learned. al
though details of the design and per-
formance OF the engines are withheld.
Probably three distinct types of serv-
ice craft for the Army will be turned
out They will be the small swift ma
chimes designed for air duels and to
screen observation and bombing craft ::
than the fighting craft. but still fast
enough to minimize the danger from
anti-aircraft guns and big enough to
carry observers. Photographic outfits.
guns. and the still slower night bomb
ing machines in which carrying ca
pacity is increased at the expense Of
speed. because darkness protects them
from gun Are.
The United States motor. IT 10 un-
derstood. was not designed primarily
for speed. Durability and reliability
CO. ordinated with a high ratio power
for each pound Of engine weight was
the object OF the American engineers
who worked out the plans.
First Built Used as Model.
The first motor produced was en-
ployed exclusively as a model from
which gauges and fixtures could be
made so that numerous factories could
be equipped to turn out in great guam
titles various parts OF the engine. The
progress of this element Of the work
indicates an early supply Of the mo-
Meanwhile the engineers are making
every effort to improve the design
and incorporate new features. As
rapidly as important improvements are
developed they will be incorporated in
subsequent motors. the same efforts
toward quantity production being
made each time the design is altered.
There are indications also that
American engineers and military men
are not satisfied to accept without ques-
British air services as to the most
satisfactory types Of craft for fight
ing purposes Many ofncials here be-
lievs that while the lighting machines
aviators are spectacular and therefore
have strong hold on the aviation
personnel, they are not the most EN-
client fighting craft
They carry one man and one machine
gun. They are all engines and every
other consideration has been disre.
garded for speed. The machines make
a speed OF as much as 100 miles an
hour. while the observation machines
which spot artillery FIRE. are rated II
little more than 100 miles and the big
bombing machines are even slower.
Tendency Toward Big Airplanes.
1t Is pointed out that naval develop
ment has tended toward big ships
The superdreadnaueht 10 still the mas
ter of the surface OF the sea, despite
the submarine. No other surface yes.
sci. whatever its speed or the size OF
its guns, can stand before the combined
armor and armament of the battleship
Presumably the same thing would b
true in the air. If a machine could b
built that could carry many guns and
| light armor It could disregard the fight.
ing craft of the present, beating them
off with Its greater gunfire and pro.
ceeding on its way without regard ia
the wasps OF the air.
Efforts have been made In Europe Ia
produce battleplanes on this scale. Sc
far, apparently. they have not been
successful for various mechanical rea-
sons. This has not discouraged Amsri.
can designers, however. to hope that q
way will be found to combine in one
ship such offensive and defensive pow.
er. together with all the equipment OF
observation and bombing machines, that
would displaee the swift fighters Of to-
day and put them in the category oil
scouts