New-York tribune., 1920-11-28
U. S. Warplane
In 1876 Miles
An Hour Dash
Observers Believe Vacuum
Caused by Terrific Ncloc-
ity Can Re Overcome and
Greater Speed Will Result
New Record for America
Captain Hartney III Scout
Machine Forces Engine
TO Exceed Limit in Test

Captain Corlss C. Moslcy, in the
United States army's Vcrville-Packard
battleplane, brought the American
speed record up to 1856 miles an hour
in a series of test flights at Mitchell
Field Mineola. l.. J., yesterday, but
failed to establish new worlds rec
ord In order to bring the coveted rec
ord to this country the battleplane will
have to sdd another ten miles an hour
TO this speed
Although the plane failed to realize
the expectations of army officials, the
flights yesterday brought to light an in
teresting problem, which, when solved,
may bring to this country premier
speed honors Of the world.
During each of the six tests made it
was observed that upon the ground the
powerful horsepower engine was
turning over at the rate of $50 revolu-
tions minute. The moment the bat
tleplane took the air, however, the
motor speed rapidly fell, until it was
200 revolutions minute lower than
the ground speed. Careful adjustment
of the carburetor to overcome this con-
diton at the end OF each test failed to
produce any different results.
Speed Creates facuum
Colonel j. G. Vincent, designer of the
engine, who was watching the expert
ments, after careful examination ex-
pressed the opinion that the terrific
speed resulted in a vacuum being
caused at the back of the carburetor,
which prevented that instrument from
producing the proper gas mixture to in
sure the full power Of the engine.
While the general design of the re-
markable battle plane is verE clean. the
tests also showed that further stream
lining can hc accomplished, partlcu-
larlv about the engine cowling and the
windshield before the pilots cockpit.
Immediately after tho conclusion of
the tests. it was announced that the
battle plane would be shipped to the
experimental air station at McCook
Field Dayton, Ohio. There the carbu-
rotor VIII be placed in the expert
mental wind tunnel and subjected to
the approximate air conditions for g
speed OF eco miles an hour. Careful
observations will be made during this
test in an effort TO solve the mystery
SuIFCulNlHE us PEI duCe IN tnc re-
cent flights.
When this has been done the battle
plane viii be sent over a measured
course again for the purpose of win
ning for America the speed record of
the world. Technical officers Of the
army air service are convinced that if
the carburetor trouble can be over
come, their pet viii make more than
200 miles an hour.
Plane Exceeds Speed Limit
Although the army air service failed
IN its major expectation, the service
achieved signal satisfaction in the won
derful performance Of q stock Thomas
Morse scout equipped with 300-horse-
POWER Wright motor This is the identi-
cal machine that won second place in
the Thanksgiving Day race. Captain
Harold t. Hartney, the famous Ameri-
can ace, was the pilot on both occa-
slons. Yesterday ne succeeded in press
h.g this machine, which was designed
for speed Of $50 miles an hour, up to
,71.25 miles an hour over the meas
ured course.
At the conclusion Of his flight the
same machine was taken up by Cap
tain st. Clair Street, Of Alaska fame,
While at low altitude some minor
defect caused the machine to go into
steep nose dive. With admirable self
control Captain Street brought the ma
chime out just as it was about to crash