Evening star., 1941-03-30
S,OOO-Horsepower
Engine Is Foreseen
By Army AirCorps
Such q Power Plant
Would Drive Cruiser
At Stondord Speed
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.


Although the recent development
Of a 1000 horsepower aviation en-
rne has been hailed as a major
aeronautical triumph which is max
ing possible the construction of the
worlds fastest airplanes, the Army
Air Corps already is looking into
the future, where 1t foreseeS engines
which will deliver as much as 5000
horsepower.
A single 8,000-horsepower engine
would drive 10000-ton ocean liner
at present standard speeds. 1t
would, unaided, provide sufficient
horsepower for the 82-ton Douglas
Bio bomber. the worlds largest
airplane. which now is nearing
flight test stage.
Development OF the 5000 horse
power engine, or even of a 1000
horsepower engine would make pos
slble the development of speeds and
performance just limited at in the
most advanced aircraft of today. in
the opinion of aeronautical engi-
neers.
So confident is the Army Air
Corps Of the development of the
super aircraft engine that new
power plant test equipment now
being assembled at Wright Field.
Dayton, Ohio, the home of the Air
Corps Materiel Division, is designed
with the 5000 horsepower engine
in mind.
Prepare ut Wright Field.
1T may be several years away,
but Army Air Corps research ex-
perts at Wright Field are already
looking forward to the day when
airplane power plants, delivering
four times the power of the big q
000-horsepower engines now being
tested for the Nations newest war
planes, will be ready to go on the
test stands, it is reported by Wright
Field authorities.
When the big engines are ready
the equipment at Wright Field will
be heavy enough and strong enough
TO perform the necessary tests.
The power delivered by the en-
gine, together with its size and
weight, are the main limiting fac
tors in the design of any new air.
plane, 1t was pointed out. Mile
stones in airplane development
were those established, not by air.
plane design so much as by engine
developments.
Aviation has been built upon the
need for higher speeds and greater
load carrying characteristics in
commercial and military aircraft.
AIR lines and the military services
have consistently sought larger
engines to make possible these fast
er and larger airplanes.
Gradual Development.
The more powerful engine has
been a gradual development. made
possible by new foundry methods,
new designs for crankshafts, cylin-
der heads. superchargers. carbure-
ton. fabrication systems, reduction
gearing and cooling systems New
alloys have been needed to tighten
engines without curtailing strength
and safety. Fuels and oils have
been improved.
The first airplane few with a 12-
horsepower engine. Bleriot flew the
English Channel behind a 28-horse-
power engine. The World pres
sure pushed engines up to $50
horsepower in England and the
United States, while in 1917 Italy
came out with the famous Caproni
triplane bomber, made possible by
development of the 1,000-horse-
power Fiat engine. BY 1886 engines
producing LOO horsepower had
been accepted in this country as
standard military and airline equip
ment.
Now the 2000-horsepower engine
Is available 1t has made possible
a new Navy fighter said to be the
fastest of its kind in the world; the
sensational new Martin B26 med
ium bomber, which can fly away
from most of the pursuit airplanes
now fighting in Europe, and now the
giant Bio Douglas, by far the
worlds largest airplane.