New Britain herald., 1922-08-21
NAVY FINDS MOST
 ECONOMICAL MOTOR
Fuel Record Unequalled, 300
 Hour Test Establishes

Washington, Aug, 2l,--As the re- sult of a S00-hour test of a new air ship engine, experts of the Naval Blu reau Of Aeronautcs said that they
 were able to announce that 1t had established worlds record for tueI economy which had never been equallel by any other engine.
 The engine was designed for use in the fleet airship 2R-l, now under con struction al the Naval Air station al Lhkehurst, x, J. IL was built by the Packard company Of Detroit on spe- ciications furnished by the Bureau of Aeronautics,
 These specifications were prepared with view to securing two main teatures in the airships power plant; first, dependahility and endurance, and second. economy of fuel. The test, it is declared by the experts, demonstrated that the engine had fulfilled every expectation along these lines and would prove the best power equipment for airships ever develop ed.
 Officials of the bureau said that the engines to he installed in the ZR-l would be able to establish the lowest figure for fuel consumption yet recorded in airship operations. This means the assurance of a max imum cruising radius for the airship.
 In laying down specifications for airship engines, it was explained, one Of the prime considerations was low fuel consumption Airships of the type now under construction might be required to remain in the air for weeks at a time, and in this case the fuel carried would exceed the weight Of the engine itself, For this req son 1t was more desirable 10 obtain fuel economy than lightness of con- struction in order to decrease the to- tai weight to be carried. IL was also specified that the engine should in- corporate features which would facil- itate the making of major repairs in the air, During the test the prac- ticability of making such repairs was demonstrated to the satisfaction of naval inspectors.
 The 300-hour test was divided into two period of 100 and 900 hours each and was made in runs of from aigN to ten hours, with continuous runs of thirty and forty hours recorded to- ward the latter part of the test. At the end of the 1oo-hour period the entire engine was taken down and examined for wear in the running parts and the general condition of the fuel. water and ignition systems. All parts were found to be in excep tionally good condition.
 The engine was then reassembled and a 200-hour period was completed. At the end of this severe test it was reported by inspecting officers that the engine could have continued on a test duplicating the one just finished.
 The new fleet airship will carry six of the engines and will have a rated horsepower of 1,S0o When cruising at 5000 feet altitude the engines are required to develop an average of 250 brake horsepower each and turn up a speed of 140O revolutions per min ute. The engine tested exceeded these requirements with wideopen trot i tie. a horsepower of 37o was record | ed, and the average horsepower de- | veloped was 256. at an average speed | of 1,412 revolutions per minute.
 The fuel economy record estab- f lished in the test is represented by the amount by weight ot gas con- f stunned per brake horsepower per hour. This expenditure was record ! ed as 436 pounds over the engine-test | period.
 Twelve engines will be provided for the ZR-1-six to be installed and six others to be kept as spares