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File D 52.1 /0. H. M. 2/ 2

AIR SERVICE INFORMATION CIRCULAR

(AVIATION)

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

Vol. IV November 1, 1922 No. 386

PERFORMANCE TEST OF
·U.S. MAIL DH-M2
( PERFORMANCE TEST REPORT No. 89)

Prepared by Engineering Division, Air Service

McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio
July 18, 1922

Ralph Brown Draughon

LIBRARY

APR 25 2013
Non-Depoitory
Auburn University

I •
I

. WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1922
 CERTIPICATE: By direction of the Secretary of War the matter
contained herein- is published as administrative information and is
required for the proper transaction of the public business.
(2)
 OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE TEST OF U.S. MAIL,

SUMMARY OF RESULTS. Center of gravity (distance from wheels in flying posi-

Airplane, U . S. Mail. No. 255.

Date, May 5, 1922. I tion), 16.8 in aft of center line of axle.
Provisions for special equipment not canied during test.
Type, DH-M2. Engine, Liberty "12." PILOT'S OBSERVATIONS .
.Propeller, Dwg. No. 34555. Equipped as mail plane.
FLYING QUALITIES .
Pounds.
Weighty empty (including water) ...... . .......... 3, 190 Taxying : Easy to taxi.
Armament and equipment (600 pounds ballast in Take-off : Response to controls good. Takes off easily
mail pit)..... ................................ . 633 with the usual run for this type.
Crew...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Landing: Easy and slow. No tendency to spin on the
Gasoline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 653 ground. Very good glide.
Oil....... .. ........ .... ... .. . .. ... ..... .. . ...... 56 Stability: Lateral; very good. Longitudinal; adjust-
able stabilizer 0 . K . Stalls very slowly, but on stalling
Weight loaded .. .. .. .... ... .. ............... .'.... 4, 712 falls off to the left slowly .'
Weight (square foot), 9.4 pounds (500 square feet). Maneuverability: Ease of control, good. Response to
\.Veight (horsepower), 11.35 pounds (415 horsepower at control, good. Handles easily in maneuvers for this type.
1,750 R. P. M.). Holds steep banks well and turns within a short radius.
Fineness, 103.8; Ae 14.5. Do not recommend this airplane for any stunting whatever.
VISIBILITY,
Climb. Speed.
0. K. except forward and downward; the visibility is
Standard alti-
cut off by the lower wing, making it a little difficult in a
Time l FlowRate Flow
tude in feet. (gal-
(feet) (gal- forced landing.
~- R.P.M . in
lons M.P. H. R.P.M. lons
MAINTENANCE.
utes. min- per per
utes. hour). hour).
______ ___ , - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - This airplane, during the time flown on test, gave very
0 ... . ... . .•. .. .......... I 1,570 900 .... ... 121. 7 1,750 ...... .
little maintenance trouble. Recommend the engine
6,500...... .. ..... 9.03 1 1,555 560 ....... 117.8 1,695 ...... . mounting be strengthened, as well as the center section

~it:
15,.500 service
ceiling ......... 42.7
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1,500 100 ..... 101.7 1,535
fittings, struts and cables. Recommend gas system be
changed to syphon pump or wind-driven pump, ·
SUMMARY.
17,400 absolute
ceiling ..... _.... .. ... ·I 1,480 0 83. 5 1,480 The flying qualities of this airplane are very good, having
plenty of reserve climb and stalling very slowly.
Endurance, full throttle at 10,000 feet (including climb), The wheel is too large, which results in the cockpit being
4-t hours. · very crowded. Recommend a smaller control wheel be
Minimum speed at sea level (lowest throttle), 63.3. used. The pilot's seat could also be changed to give the
Landing speed, 59.9 M. P . H. pilot more comfort.

DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHTS. DESCRIPTION OF POWER PLANT.

Pounds. ENGINE.
Weight empty (with water) ...................... 3,.190 Make, Liberty . Factory, No. 1716. A. S. No. 31315.
Armament and equipment (600 pounds ballast in Type, 12 cylinder, vertical 45°. Number in plane, 1.
mail pit) ....... ....... .. ..... ................ . 633 Location, front of fuselage. Rated horsepower, 400. Rated
Qrew .............. . . . ... ....... ......... . .. -.... . 180 revolutions per minute, l, 700. Bore, 5 inches. Stroke,
Gasoline ........................................ . 653 7 inches. Compression ratio, 542 to ,L Weight dry,
Oil. . ... .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . . ..... . . .... . ... . ........ . 56 845 pounds. Gas consumption, 0.496 pound horsepower
Weight loaded ................................... 4,712 per hour. Oil consumption, 0.032 pound horsepower per
hour. Weight of water in engine, 45 pounds.
Weight on front wheels (tail skid on ground) ...... . 4,144
IGNITION .
·Weight on tail skid ( tail skid on ground) ... . ..... . 568
Weight on front wheels (flying position)......... , .. 4,351 Battery or magneto, battery . Make, Delco. Number,
Weight on tail skid (flying position) .. .. ,. ........ . 361 Advance, degrees, 30°. Gas interrupter, - -- .
14331- 22 (3)
 4
Distributor,---. Plugs: Make, B. G. Type, metal Dihedral, degrees, 3°.
body, porcelain insulation. Gap, 0.020. Stagger, 8 inches.
Total area including ailerons, - - -.
CARBURETORS.
Gap, 5 feet 6 inches.
Make, Zenith . Type, double jet, double venturi. UPPER PLANE.
Number, 2. Setting jet, 1.65 m/m. Choke, 36 m /m.
Compensator, 1. 70 m/m. Gas drains, % tubing leading out (Including center section .)
of fuselage. Air intake, straight scoop. Mixture control, Span, 48 feet 8 inches.
manual operated. Chord, 5 feet 6 inches.
Are:t, with ailerons: Total upper and lower, 500 square
RADIATORS. feet. ,
Make, B. Type, ribbon core. Nuinber, 1. Position, Incidence. degrees, 3°.
nose of fusel_age. Frontal area, 5.9... Depth, 5 inches. LOWER PLANE.
Length, 49 inches. Width, 29 inches. Radiator surface, Span, 48 feet 8 inches.
312 square feet. Temperature adjustment, .shutters.
Chord, 5 feet 6 inches.
Water capacity, 81 pounds. Flow, satisfactory . Ther- Area, see above.
mometer: Make, Boyce. Weight, 179 pounds, full.
Incidence, degrees , 3°.
Type,---. Water capacity of whole system, 131 pounds.
Allows full , climb without boiling when ·temperature is Aif,ERONS OR Fl,Al'S .
approximately 75- 80° F. . Number, 4.
A•r rangement, - - - .
EXHAUST PIPES. Upper length,-- -.
Description: , individual stocks for each cylinder merging . Upper chord,---.
into manifold for each bank. Upper area, 36.6.
Lower length, - - -.
, LUBR_ICATION. Lower chord,-- -.
Lower area, 36.6.
Capacity oil tank, 7 gallons. Dimensions oil tank--- .
Total area, 73.2.
Oil used (brand), Liberty. Oil pressure, · 34 .' Oil tem-
Distance from center of ailerons to longitudinal axis of
perature, no oil thermometer. · Type pump, gear. Wet or
airplane, - --.
dry sump, dry. If wet, capacity - - - . Description
lubrication system: Force feed to all main bearings, con- CENTER SECTION.
necting rods, and earn shafts, spray to cylil).d er walls and Area,---.
wrist pins. Dimensions,---.
FUEL SYSTEM . Contents, - --.
STABILIZER.
N um ~er o~ tanks: 1 main; 1 gravity. Location, between
mail compartment and _cockpit. Capacity, main pounds, Area, 37.2 square feet.
103 gallons. Capacity, reserve pounds, 9 .gallons. Mate- Setting, - - - .
El,EVA1'0R.
rial, ter.ne plate. Gauge, 18. Description of fuel-supply
syAtem , air-pre3Bnre system. · Area, 23.fi square feet.
Distance from leading edge of elevator to center . of
ENGINJ: CONTROL. gravity of airplane , - - - .
Description, rod and lever. RUDDER.

PROPELLER.
Area, 15.8 square feet.
Distance from leading edge of rudder to center of gravity
Make, Engineering Division. Number blades, 2. Di- of airplane, - - - .
ameter, 9 feet 2 inches. Pitch 6.98'. Tips, terne plate. FUSELAGE.
Clearance,---. Dwg. No. 34555. A.' S. No·. 74608.
· Maximum· cross-section shape, - - -.
DESCRIPTION OF AIRPLANE. Maximum cross:section area, - - - . ·
Maximum cross-section dimension, - - -.
DIMENSIONS. Distance of maximum section from leading edge, lower
Overall span, _48 feet 8 inches: plane,---.
LANDING GEAR.
Overall length, 30 feet 2t inches.
Overall height, lffeet 5 inches. Number of wheels, - - - .
Height at hub of pri>peller above ground - ·- - . Tread, - - -.
In flying position, - -- . · · Shock-absorbing system, - - - .
At rest, - -·-. Braking device, - --.
AIRPLANES. Wheels ahead of center of gravity,-- -.
Wing curve, R. A. F. 15. FIN.
Sweepback, none. Area, 5.6 square feet.
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