The mirror., 1923-12-06
COMING: THE STEAM AIRPLANEl

The possible use of steam as a motive
power in aviation is forecast by the report
from Germany of the development there
of a steam-driven airplane. A contributor
to The Popular Science Monthly (New
York; says that although this craft is still
in the experimental stage, accounts of its
performance and the description of its op-
Grafton have been received by American
aviation engineers with tremendous inter-
est. In fact, some profess to see in it the
first step in the solution of the problem of
furnishing an absolutely dependable motor
for the commercial aircraft of the future.
We read:
The steam plane is constructed through
out of duralumin, the extremely light al
uminum alloy which has been used sue
cessfully in airplane construction in this
country. The engine is an adoption of
the Diesel engine, now extensively en-
ployed in the United States Navy. 1t
burns combination of crude oil and other
oils, which is broken up under a forced
air feed and sprayed against the boiler.
Here it ignites, giving terrific heat con-
sidering the relatively small quantity of
oil consumed in the operation. Ten gal
Ions of oil are said to be sufficient to run
the planes 7sO-horse-power engine for
eight hours. American aviation engineers
are inclined to question this statement, as
we'll as the report that only 1000 pounds
of water are used in flight of ninety-fve
hours, although they agree generally that
the principles employed in the new plane
are sound and are likely to lead to i'm
portant developments.
The steam turbine and boiler are said
to be considerably lighter than other en-
gines capable of developing equal horse
power. 1t is claimed also that the new
plane will carry much less weight in oil
and water than the weight of gasoline
carried by an ordinary airplane of the
same size, equipped for flight of equal
duration.
The water used to generate steam in the
new plane is carried in the metal wings,
in compartments so arranged that the
water may be shifted to 'trim ship" if
desired. The steam is condensed after
exhaust and conveyed back to the wings
in the form of water
George w. Lewis, executive officer of
the National Advisory Committee on Aero
nautics, says that the U. S. Government
has done considerable experimental work
on steam power for airplanes, but has met
with only partial success because of the
problem of condensing water without the
use of heavy equipment. For the heavier
than air machine he believes steam power
does not look encouraging at this time, but
ultimately it will be of considerable use
in the propelling of rigid dirigibles. Lewis
and other aeronautical engineers in the
Navy agree that steam is the apex of
efficiency, and that its thorough reliability
under practically every condition makes
it fertile field for experimentation.
The recent rd-breaking long distance
flights of the Army .aviators, Lieuts.
Oakly G. Kelly and John A. Macready,
who flew from coast to coast without stop,
indicates, the writer thinks, that while the
body of the modern sairplane is sound, its
heart-the power plants weak and con-
stantly giving trouble. He goes on:
Navy department statistics show that the
Liberty motor must be overhauled after
approximately seventy-two hours of flight,
$500. The Navy is now concentrating its