The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-19
NAVY Plane
TOMAKE BIG
OCEAN TRIP
-.
D. s. "Giant Boat to
Wing Way Across Pa
cifc This Summer.
Ry HAROLD d. JACOBS.


nrrited Press Staff Correspondent
lCopyright, 1921. by the United
Press.)
New York, April 19.-The United
states navy, first to make a trans
Atlantic fight, will send a giant
,saplane winging across the Pacific
late this summer or early next
spring.
The tri-plane, which will be
known as the Giant Boat" has been
under design and construction for
more than year. The wings and
"hull" are being made at the naval
aircraft factory, Philadelphia. The
motors and nacelles, or bodies, are
being turned out by the Gallaudet
Aircraft corporation at East Green
vich, Conn. The propellers are
being built in Baltimore by the
American Propeller company.
The time OF the flight will depend
upon when the craft is completed
and upon the results of the ex-
hsustive tests to which the Giant
Boat" will be subjected. 1t is
planned to begin assembling the
plane in June or July.
The tentative route is:
San Diego, Calf, to Honolulu,
Hawaiian islands, 2,100 miles.
Honolulu to Wake island, 1900
miles.
Wake island to Guam, 1,100 miles
Guam to Manila, Philippine is
lands, 1000 miles.
This is total of $500 miles
whether the plane would continue
to the Asian mainland has not YET
bsen determined. The longest single
hop" Of the historic NC-4 in 1915
VA from Nova Scotia to the Azores
Z distance of 1,100 miles.
The general public had its first
opportunity to marvel at the size
ef The great seaplane today when
one Of its huge 1S-foot, three-bladed
popellers arrived in New York
The propeller was brought here
from Baltimore, enroute to East
Greenwich, where it will receive
~ initial test at the Gallaude1
works.
Arriving at an East river pier. the
propeller was to be transferred BY
motor truck to a New England
tastal steamer for shipment tc
Nst Greenwich.
1900 Horsepower.
The Giant Boat" will have &
wing spread of 167 feet and will
have three propellers, each driver
y three 400-horsepower motors de-
'eloping total Of 5000 horsepower
The most radical departure from
previous seaplane construction
WI be the arrangement of tn,
nosors and propellers. Each Of tn,
@fee nacelles will contain the Gal
asoet gear drive, making possibl,
y connection Of three motors will
aen propeller. Any motor may b,
ceaensaged without interfering Will
" operation OF the propeller.
Inc motors will be placed in al
aeloaed area. giving the mechanic,
Ypoftunity to make any repair,
Msaout danger or inconvenience
ihe nacelles are torpedo-shape,
uUoles and the propeller in each il
sa9ated somewhat behind thei
I'0ole and aft Of the planes. Thi
@s me added effect Of reducing
smo friction to a minimum.
4 u'al seaplane driven by a singl
aosor under this new type Of con
ssucuon recently made the phe
aomenai sped of 1928 miles al
IVY aOs,; 1t was driven by Lieuten
su s@ =. F. Stone, who was one Of tn
Mes OF the NC-4. The plan
Moed 200 feet in 10 minutes. Tn
want Boat" will probably be abl
smsks !l0 miles an hour. It viii
e hung capacity Of 5000
wsnos ssn and cruising radius O
sw miles without fuel replenish
ma. ~ The crew probably vii
~rslSt OF at least II men.
.oanae the transatlantic fiigh
en three planes took Oft simul
easously, the attempt to cross tn
uI n,S. 1t Is understood, will b