Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-13
U. SOON TO HAVE BIG FLEET OF
HUGE BATILEPLANE, SWlF'1E1
IN WORLD, FIGHTING PRUSSlANS

AAVYDA1AAsO
washington, Sept. 13.--The Liberty
Motor, the arplai1e engine upon when
the United States is. relying to- 7
|lish definite air supremacy over n
Germans over the battleaelds OF
France has passed its Anal test and Is
a complete and gratifying success,
Secretary Baker announced YESTERDAY.
Ina carefully worded announcements
Secretary Baker told how al. tina pest
brains and business of American mo-
|tordom had contributed its secrets and
achievements to the government 70
produce the Liberty Motor, which IS
Ito carry thousands OF American air.
planes over Germany
1.-THE United States aviation engine
has passed its fipal tests says h an
|IloEncement. They were successful
and gratifying. The new motor, des-
Liberty Motor is now the main re-
lance Of the United States in the rapid
production in large numbers Of high
powered battle planes for service in
the war. In power, speed, service abtl-
.ity and minimum weight the new ems
CINE invites comparison with the best
that the European war a produced.
A Remarkable Story.
1T regard the invention and rapid
development OF this engine as one OF
the really big accomplishments Of the
United States since its entry In the
war. The engine was brought about
through the corporation Of more than
a score Of engineers, who pooled their
skill and trade secrets in the war
emergency, working with the encour-
agement of the AIRCRAFT production
board, the war department, and the
bureau of standards.
1.-THE story Of the production OF this
ehgine,i is a remarkable n Probably
the war has produced no greater single
achievement.
zone Of the first problems which
confronted the raj department and
the aircraft production board after the
declaration Of hostilities was to pro-
duee quickly a dependable aviation
1.-TWO Of the best engineers in the
country, who never before had seen
each other, were brought together at
Washington, and the problem Of pro-
ducing an all-American engine at the
ed to them.
Behind Locked Doors.
These two engineers were, fgura-
lively, locked in a room in a Washing
ton hotel and charged with the de-.
velopment of an %airplane motor. For
five days neither maj left the suite Of
rooms engaged for them. Consulting
engineers and craftsmen from various
parts of the country were brought to
washington to assist them.
can inspiring feature Of this work
was the aid rendered by consulting en-
gineers and motor manufacturers who
gave UP their trade secrets under the
emergency of, war needs. Realizing
eminent design and nc firm or indi-
vidual would reap selfish benefit be-
cause Of Its making, the motor manu-
facturers, nevertheless, patriotically
revealed their trade secrets and made
available trade processes Of great COM
merciaA value. The industries have
also contributed the services Of APP
proximately two hundred Of their best
craftsmen.
government, II given an opportunity
they would design a satisfactory en-
CINE before a working model could be
brought from Europe. go
A Notable July Fourth.
"a remarkable American engine
was actually produced three weeks be-
fore any model couldstYhave been
brought from Europe. It was prom
fsed that this engine would be devel-
oped before he Fourth of July. Twen-
ty-eight days after the drawings were
started the new engine was set up on
July 8.
Tn order to have the engine in
Washington and in actual running
order at the nations capital on Inde.
pendence day the perfected engine
was sent from a western city in a
SPECIAL express cal. The journey was
made n 81 hours and four young men
guarded the engine enroute to wash
.ington and personally attended to it's
transfer from n railroad to another.
Parts Of the first engine were
turned out at IL different factories To-
Gated all the way from Connecticut to
California. When the parts were as-
sembled and adjusted the performances
OF the engine was wonderfully gratify-
ing.
Tested on Pixies Peak, Also.
Not only did this country furnish
ideas through celebrated Consulting
engineers, but the representatives IN
the United States of England France
and Italy c~o-operated in the deyelop-
ment Of this motor.
Both the flying and altitude tests
Of the new motor have been gratify-
80 SScS VICE QCElOrI10Q at H1k6'Sk
Peak, where the United States ayiat;on
engine performed satisfactorily at this
high altitude. One OF the engines. in
an airplans' broke the American alti-
While itNis not deemed expedient
to discuss in detail the performances
and mechanics Of the new motor IL
may be said that STANDARDIZATION ID q
cnleL factor IN b Development OF the
governments MOTOR go
IN connection with this conservative
oIictal announcement by ,Secretary
Saker. The Herald takes the liberty
= from It's issue Of three
gay g portions Of special article
prepared by It's washington cores
nde and which was the frst de-
Of the tests Of this wonder.
nouncement by Secretary Baker beara
out every detail Of our correspondence
enthusiastic writing which was IN part
as follows: