Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-19
FIRMS ANNOUNCE
HUGEFLY|NC BOAT
AND SUPERENC|NE
Ocean Transport Craft
Weighing Nearly 100000
Pounds Is Built.
PAN AMERICAN LINE
ORDERS rs OF PLANES
Giant Machines, Powered by 5000
Horsepower, to Fly
Atlantic.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,

Hard on the heels of the War De-
partment's announcement Friday of
completion of the worlds largest mill
tary a1rplane, cotton Boeing bomber.
Pan-American Always today an
nounced the development, also by
Boeing, OF an ocean transport fying
boat more than twice the size of the
bomber, weighing between 10000 and
100000 pounds.
At the same time, with the authori-
zatlon Of Pan American, the Wright
Aeronautical Corp. announced COM
pletlon OF a new 1,5O0-horsepower
engine for the new flying boat. This
Is by far the most powerful motor for
aircraft so far developed, it was said,
except for short-lived racing types.
TWenty-six Of the new engines have
been ordered for Pan-American as
power plants for a feet of the huge
"superclipper" flying boats. Each of
these giant flying boats will be
powered with four of the new engines.
giving total of 5000 horsepower. The
new Boeing bomber has a total of
1000 horsepower
Development Was Secret,
The giant superclipper, like the
bomber, has been under DEVELOPMENT
as a secret project. The great flying
boat has been in process of construc-
ton since last year. 1t was designed
especially for transatlantic transport
operation to Pan-American specifica-
tons.
Orders for a feet Of six Of these
flying boats were placed nearly a year
ago after the international conference
IN washington, at which an agreement
was reached between the United
States and Great Britain for the
establishment of trans Atlantic air
service. Final details of the inter-
national agreement were worked out
and signed early this month, covering
establishment of ocean terminals in
Canada and at New York.
Officials of Pan-American and
Roeing have declined to make public
information as TO specific details of
the new flying boats. They said they
will follow the general lines Of the
clipper flying boats which now are
operated by Pan-American across the
Pacific.
Size of New Boeings.
The new Boeings, however. IL was
pointed out, are approximately twice
the size of the big Sikorsky-type clip
pers and half again as large as the
Martinique clippers which now are
the largest transport airplanes in the
world.
The new flying boats, according to
Boeing engineers, will have a ca
pacity for 70 passengers and a crew
OF eight. Holds will be provided, in
addition, for 5000 pounds of cargo.
With its total of 5000 horsepower,
the big boats are expected to develop
maximum speed of close to 200
miles per hour.
The big boats will have many fea-
lures never before incorporated in an
airplane. There will be three decks.
The top deck will be devoted to
flight bridge, with posts for six flying
officers. This deck will be Just be-
meath the huge monoplane wing.
Just back Of the bridge and the
captains compartment, which will be
within the wing, are sleeping and
living quarters for the crew. includ-
ing a separate galley Aft OF the
officers quarters is big cargo COM
partment, itself larger than the en-
tire passenger cabin on present-day
transcontinental transport airplanes.
Cabins ON Main Deck.
Running the length of the ship.
| beneath the flight deck, is the main
deck, on which the passenger cabins
are located. This deck will include,
in addition to regular cabins, private
Staterooms both fore and aft and a
dining and lounge cabin. Forward
on this deck is the galley, which will
be equipped with all facilities for
cooking. Hot and cold running water
will be available throughout the ship.
The bottom deck, or hold, where the
heavy cargo will be carried is series
of water-tight compartments, run
ming the length of the ship. Fuel
tanks capable Of carrying normal
| supply OF o,O0O gallons OF gasoline
| weighing IS tons-are located in the
wings and the stub lower wings or
sponsors, also known as sea wings"
Indications are the new Pan-Ameri-
can super clippers will have cruis-
| ing range Of nearly 5000 miles.
The engines are double-row radial
types with IA cylinders each and are
OF new design. While no details
concerning engine performance have
been given out, 1t is said they will be
nearly twice the size" of the big
engines which power present clipper
ships.
For the first time in airplane con-
struction, access is provided to the
mechanical plant and to each Of the
four engines from a companionway
| inside the wing