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NO \. 3 1706 025 84894 1

McCOOK F I ELD R E PORT, SERl.4. L N o. 1652

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AVIATION)

PUBLISHED BY THE CHIEF OF AIR SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Vol. III Octobe1 15, 1921 No. 280

PERFORMANCE TEST OF MESSENGER

AIRPLANE EQUIPPED WITH 3-CYLINDER
60 H. P. LAWRANCE ENGINE
( PERFORMANCE TEST REPORT NO. 61 )

Prepared by Engineering Division, Air Service

McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio
April 27, 1921

WASHINGTQN
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1921
;
PERFORMANCE TEST OF MESSENGER AIRPLANE EQUIPPED
WITH 3-CYLINDER 60 H. P. LAWRANCE ENGINE.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS. UPPER WING (INCLUDIN G CENTER SECTION).

Span, 20 feet .
AP HIL 27 , 1921. Chord, 4 feet.
Airplane: Messenger. Area, with ailerons, 79 square feet .
No.: P - 152. Incidence, degrees, 2°.
Span (from center section to wing tip), 10 feet.
T ype: Not listed .
LOWER WING.
Engine: 3 cyl. Lawrance, .64 h. p . @ 1,880 r. p. m. Span, 20 feet.
Propeller: X-23311. Chord, 4 feet.
Equipped as: Single seater messenger. Area, 73 square feet .
Pounds. Incidence, degrees, 2°.
Weight empty (instruments included)....... . . .... 623 Span (from fuselage to wing tip), 18 feet.
Equipment: Parachute ..... .. . .................... 16 AILERONS OR FLAPS.
Crew.. .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Number, 4 ailerons .
Arrangement, two on upper wing; two on lower ,ving.
Gasoline. .. . ..... ... .... . . ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Upper wing:
Oil .. . ... . .. .... .. ... .. . ..... ... . . ... .. ... . ...... 5 Length, 4 feet.
Chord, 1 foot 3 inches.
Weight loaded..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 862 Area, 5 square feet each.
Lower wing:
Weight, square foot: 5.7. Length, 4 feet.
Weight, horsepower: 13.5. Chord, 1 foot 3 inches.
Fineness: 103. 5. Area, 5 square feet each.
Total area, 20 square feet.
Distance from longitudinal axis of airplane to center of aileron, 7 feet LO
Climb. Speed. inches. •
Standard. CENTER SECTION.
altitude Span, 2 feet.
in feet. Time R Rate Flow R Flow Chord (maximum), 2 feet 9 inches.
inmin. .p.m. ft .-min. gal.-hr. M.p.h. .p.m. gal.-hr.
Area, 5.5 square feet.
- - - --! - - - - - - -- - · - -- - - - - - - · -- - STABILIZER.
0 0 1,640 700 ··• · • · · · 96. 7 1,880 . .• .. . . .
12. 0 1,620 410 ..•••••. 90.6 1,810 .. . .. .. . Span (maximum), 6 feet 8 inches.
6 500
10;000 22. 8 1,605 250 ••• . .... 86. 0 1. 767 ..... .. . Chord (maximum), 1 foot 10 inches.
15,000 Area, 11 square feet.
20,000 ELEVATOR.
25,000
1 13,400
Span (maximum), 5 feet 8 fnches.
2 15,600
Chord (maximum), 1 foot 9 inches.
Area, 10 square feet .
1 Service ceiling. • Absolute ceiling. Distance from leading edge of elevator to center of gravity of airplane,
10 feet 10 inches.
RUDDER.
Endurance, full throttle at 10,000 (including climb), 2
hours 20 minutes. Height (maximum), 3 feet l ! inches.
Chord (maximum), 2 feet 1 inch.
Minimum speed at sea-level (lowest throttle), 45 m. p. h.
Area, 5.75 square feet.
Landing speed, 41 m. p. h. pistance from rudder hinge to center of gravity of airplane, 11 feet.
}'IN.
DESCRIPTION OF AIRPLANE. Height, 1 foot 11 inches.
Width (maximum), 2 feet.
DIMENSIONS. Area, 2. 75 square feet.
Over-all span, 20 feet. FUSELAGE .
Over-all length, 17 feet 9 inches.
Maximum cross section shape, 2 feet 11 inches.
Over-all height, 6 feet 9 inches.
Maximum cross _section area, 2 feet.
Height at bub of propeller above ground:
Maximum cross section height, 2 feet 11 inches.
In flying position, 4 feet 4 inches.
Maximum cross section.depth, 2 feet .
At rest, 5 feet.
Distance of maximum section from leading edge, lower plane, 7 inches.
WINGS.
Wing curve, U.S. A . 6. LANDING GEAR.
Sweepback, none. Number of wheels, 2.
Dihedral, degrees, 1° 30·. Tread, 4 feet.
Stagger, 1 foot 6 inches. Sh ock absorbing system, rubber cord.
Gap, 3 feet 10 inches. Braking device, tail skid.
Total area, including ailerons, 152 square feet. Wheels ahead of center of gravity,6.75 inches.
66541-21 (3)

., 4

DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHTS.
Pounds.
Weight empty (instruments included ) ..... . . . .... . .. 623
Equipment.... . ............. .... ... ...... .. .. .. . .. 16
Crew .... . ...... . ____ .. _.. . . . .. . . ... . . . . . . . ... . . ___ 162
Gasoline.· ·· · ···· · ······· · ··· ··· · ······· ·········· 56
Oil.. · ········ · ··········· · ····· · ·· ·· ···· ··········
Weight loaded . . ........ . . . . . .. ... . . ... .... . . ...... 862
Weight on front wheels (tail skid on ground ) . . . _.. . .. 748
Weight on tail skid (tail sk-id on ground ) .. .. . . . ..... 114
Weight on front wheels (flying posit ion ) ............ 803
Weight on tail skid (flying position) . ... . .. . ... . . .... 59
Center of gravity (distance from wheels in flying
po1rition) . .................... ... . .. . ... . inches .. 10
Provisions for special equipment not carried during
teE\t.
DESCRIPTION OF POWER PLANT.
ENGINE .
Make, Lawrance. Factory No., 35. A. S. No. , 94569 .
Ty pe, 3-cyl. Radial. No. in plane, 1. Location, nose of
fuselage. Rat ed h. p. , 50 (normal h . p ., 56.5). Normal
r . p . m ., 1,600 (rated r. p . m. , 1,500). Bore, 4.25.
Stroke, 5.25. Weight dry, 147 .4. Gas consumption,
0. 512 pound (at normal b . h. p. ) . . Oil consumption,
0.0404 pound (at normal b. h. p .) . Weight of water in
engine, none. Remarks: Air-cooled engine rated at 50
h . p . but dev elops 64 h. p. at 1,880 r. p . m .
IGNITIO N.
Battery or magneto, battery, open circuit. Make,
Phillips-Brinton . Number, 1. Advan ce, degrees, L.
D.-34° B. T. C., R. D .-32° B . T . C. Gap interrupter,
0.009. Distributor, 2 used. Plugs, m ake, A. C.; 2 p er
cyl. Type, steel body , porcelain insulator . Gap, 0.020
inch . Remarks, two distributors furni sh ed, L. H. dis-
tributor-340 spark advance; R . H . distributor-32° spark
advance.
CARBURETORS.
Make, Stromberg. Ty pe, Venturi, l :Finch size. Num-
ber, 1. Setting jet, 30 drill size. Choke, 1.312 inches.
RADIATORS.
Make, none used .
EXHAUST PIPES.
D escription, individual exhaust for each cylinder.
LUB RICATION .
Capacity oil tank, 3 quarts. Oil used (brand), Liberty.
Oil pressure, 12 pounds per square inch. T ype pump,
gear. Wet or dry sump, wet . If wet, capacity, 6 quarts.
D escription lubrication system, pressure feed.
FUEL SYSTEM .
Number of tanks, 1. Location, rear of engine, in fuse-
lage. T en gallons. Capacity, main, 60 pounds.
4
MOTOR CONTROL .
Description, rod and lever.
PROPELLER.
Make, Engineering Division. N umb er of blades, 2.
5 Diameter, 6 feet 6 inches. Pitch , 4.81. A. S. No. 108996.
PILOT'S OBSERVATIONS.
The flyin g qualities of the Messenger airplane are very
good . It is an exceptionally smooth and easily handled
airplane. Although remarkably small, there is a feeling
of solidity and strength in the appearance and the
handling in flight of the airplane that lends confidence to
the pilot.
The airplane is easily taxied even in a strong wind, is
steady and easily controlled for so small an airplane, and
has a quick get-away and good climb , considering the
comparatively low horsepower of th!) engine. The controls
a,re responsive and normal in action. Little effort is re-
quired to maneuver quickly, smoothly, and effectively.
The airplane is well balanced. It side-slips and stalls
normally both with and without power. The pilot sits
very comfortably with excellent visibility. Instruments
and engine <;ontrols are within easy reach .
A number of maintenance troubles were en countered on
both the engine and airplane, the experimental three-
cylinder Lawrance engine causing the majority of the
difficulties. The bolt in the master b earing, weaken ed by
drilling out to lessen the weight, broke, with a resultant
breaking of the master bearing and all connecting rods
Vibration of the engine cracked the engine mounting
bracket. A stronger mounting of new design effectivel y
replaced the one which failed .
Both the mixture and butterfly controls installed in this
airplane have disadvantages. They are composed of
flexible wires running through tub es, a condition per-
mitting of uncertain control. This condition could be
remedied by rigid rods giving a positive action.
The Philbrin ignition system did not fun ction satis-
factorily, ca,using constant trouble throughout the tests.
1 With the exception of the present ignition system , all
parts of the airplane are acces.;ible and easily repaired.
The maintenance is simple on both engine and airplane.
The engine mounting gives easy access to plugs, carbu-
retor, etc.
Some trouble was experienced with cracked fittings.
A tendency for the center section and landing gear
to weave b ecause of looseness of the strut sockets could
be corrected by cross brace wires in the center section and
landing gear, instead of the present diagonal tub es, or by
some other means that would compress the struts into the
sockets. '
J . A. MACREADY,
First Lieut., A . S., Test Pilot.
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