The Washington times., 1925-06-09
CRUDE OIL
IS FUEL
USED
AeronauticaI Committee Has
Finally Eliminated Faults
of Gasoline Motors
By FRED J. WALKER.

AS q dramatic climax TO more
than four years of experimentation
by q distinguished group of scien-
lists, the principle of the crude
oil airplane engine without spark
plugs has been found practicable,
It was learned today.
The revolutionary motor, sought
by engineers since airplanes first
few, is now being completed by
the National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics, it was an
nounced. -
Admitted By Scientist.
Although qualifying his announce
ment with scientific caution. Co. w.
Lewis. director Of aeronautical re-
search. today said that the COM
nittee constructing the engine "sees
/ daylight ahead after years Of la
borious study.
The new engine eliminates wide
variety of unreliable equipment
which has contributed to the dangers
Of flying heavier-than-air craft Lewis
said.
Spark plugs and the present types
Of ignition systems used in airplane
and automobile engines are entirely
done away with, being supplanted
BY heavy compression and cylinder
heat.
Causes Automatic Explosion.
Instead of the accustomed spark
ignition with gasoline vapor in the
cylinder. the engine heat, combined
with 1000 pounds compression causes
an automatic explosion.
The same rough principle Is
known to motorists whose engines
are full Of carbon "Pre-ignition, y
CT an explosion ahead of the spark,
caused by the glowing carbon, was
Sthe explanation given by the aero-
nautical engineers of the new sys-
TEN.
The greatest feature of the en-
CINE, however, according to Lewis,
Ia the fact it uses ordinary crude
oil. Should q plane crash, crude
oil would not immediate ignite and
envelop the pilot in roaring flames
before he recovered from the shock
Of the fall.
In many cases, Lewis pointed
out, pilots are not seriously injured
by falls. but are consumed by
flames before they have a chance
TO get away from the burning
wreckage.
Crude oil will not burn as does
gasoline unless vaporized and in this
point engineers see a great contri-
button to the safety Of heivier-than-
air craft.
Jets Replace CarburetOrs.
Elimination of ignition troubles is
seen as one Of the main problems
confronting the aircraft industry,
a. spark plugs frequently go
dead" on pilots, making forced
landings necessary.
4 A number Of small jets of crude
oil supplant the familiar carburetor
In the aeronautical committee's en-
CINE. Perfection of this method of
forcing crude oil into the cylinders
Il the only problem holding back
the complete success Of the power
plant, it was said.
The work is being carried out at
the Langley Field Laboratories of
the committee.
Members of the aeronautics com,
naittee are:
Charles D. Walcott, secretary;
David w. Taylor, Joseph S. Ames,
Johns Hopkins University: George
<. Burgess. director of the Blu
- .eaG Of Standards; Major John F.
Furry, chief, engineering division,
eir service; William r. Durand,
professor Of mechanical engineer.
ing, Stanford University; Captain
Emory S. Land, bureau of aero.
nautics, Navy Department; Charles
r. Marvin, chief of the Weather
Bureau; Admiral William A. Mof-
fett. chief Of the bureau of aero
nautics, Navy Department: Major
General Mason NJ. Patrick, chief
Of the army air service; s. w.
Stratton, president, Massachusetts,
Institute Of Technology, and Or
Vile Wright. famous pioneer
aviator.