Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-25
AMERICAN AIR MACHINES
READY EARLY NEXT YEAR
Tests Of First Of Standardized Mo.
tors Provo Highly Sat
iSfactory.
ALL DETAILS ARE WITHHELD
Probably Three Distinct Types Of
Service Craft for Army Will Be
Turned Out-Durability and Re-
liability Object OF U. s. Engineers.
Gny Associated Pressl

BY AsSoclat ted Press
WASHINGTON, August 24.-Tcsts OF
the first of the standardized United
States airpIane motors, designed and
built under direction of the aircraft
production board. make it practically
certain that American-made fighting
machines will be available for service
in France early next year. Results
from several tests have been highly
satisfactory, it is learned. although
details Of the design and performance
OF tho engineers are withheld.
Probably three distinct types of scr
vice craft for the army will be turned
out. They will be the small, swift
machines designed for air duels, and
to screen observation and bombing
craft: daylight bombing machines,
slower than the lighting craft, but
still fast enough to minimize the dan
ger from antiaircraft guns, and big
enough to carry observers, photo
graphic outfits. radio and bombs In
addition to their guns. and the still
slower night bombing machines, in
which carrying capacity Is increased
at the expense of speed, because dark
ness protects them from gunfre.
The United States motor, it Is under
stood. was not designed primarily for
speed. Durability and reliability, CO.
ordinated with q high ratio of power
for each pound OF engine weight, was
the object OF the American engineers.
The first motor produced was en-
ployed as a model. from which gauges
and fixtures could be made, so that
numerous factories could be equipped
to turn out in great quantities various
parts Of the engine.
DO NOT ACCEPT VERDICT
OF ALLIED AIR SERVICE
There are indications that American
engineers and military men are not
satisfied to accept without question the
verdict Of the French and British air
services as to the most satisfactory
types of craft for fighting purposes
Many officials hero believe that tho
fighting machines that are winning
fame for individual aviators are not
the most efficient fighting craft They
carry one man and one machine gun.
They are all engines. and every other
consideration has been disrcgarded for
speed. 1t is pointed out that naval
development has tended toward big
ships. Tho super-Dreadnought Is still
the master of the surface Of the sea,
despite the submarine. No other sur
face vessel. whatever its speed or the
size Of its guns. can stand before the
combined armor and armament OF the
battleshp.
Presumably. the same thing would be
true In the air. If machine could be
built that could carry many guns and
light armor. 1t could disregard the
lighting craft of the present, beating
them Off with it's greater gunfire and
proceeding on It's way.
Efforts have been made in Europe to
produce battle planes on this scale
So far. apparently, they have not been
successful. for various mechanical ren-
sons. This has not discouraged Ameri-
can designers, however, to hope that
a way will be found to combine in one
ship such offensive and defensive
power. together with all the equip
ment OF observation and bombing ma
Chimes that would put the swift
fighters Of to-day in the category Of
scouts