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File D 52.1 /3 71 McCOOK FIELD REPORT, SERIAL No. 1768

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AIR SERVICE INFORMATION CIRCULAR
(AVIATION)

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

Vol. IV March 15, 1922 No. 327

COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE TEST OF X. B. l.-A EQUIPPED

WITH HIGH COMPRESSION WRIGHT MODEL "H"
AND PACKARD 123 7 ENGINES

( PERFORMANCE TE.5T REPORT No. 67)

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Prepared by Engineering Division, Air Service
McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio
August 11 , 192 l
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WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1922

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CERTIFICATE: By direction of the Secretary of War, the matter contained herein is published as administr11,tive
information and is required for .the proper. transaction of the public business.
(2)

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COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE TEST \ X . 13,./ 1.-A.
EQUIPPED WITH HIGH COMPRESSION~ -WRIGHT
MODEL "H " AND PACKARD 1237 ENGINES.

OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE TEST, SUMMARY OF AUGUST ll, 1921.

RESULTS. Airplane: X. B. I.-A.
AUGUST 11, 1921. • No.: P- 180.
Airplane: X. B. I.-A . Type: X.
No.: P- 90. Engine : Packard 1237.
Type: X. Propeller: X - 24705.
Engine: Wright, model "H, " high compression. Equipped as corps observation :
Propeller : X ~24705. Weight empty (including water): 2,305 pounds.
Equipped as corps observation. Armament and equipment: 611 pounds.
Weight empty (including water): 2,155 pounds. Crew: 360 pounds.
Armament and equipment: 6ll pounds. Gasoline: 1 638 pounds.
Crew: 360 pounds. Oil: 1 74 pounds.
Gasoline: 1 598 pounds.
Weight loaded: 3,988 pounds.
Oil-: 1 67 pounds.
, Weight loaded: 3,791 pounds. Weight per square foot: 9.8 pounds (406 square feet).
Weight per square foot: 935 pounds. Weight per horsepower: 11.4 pounds (350 horsepower at
Weight per horsepower: 10.50 pounds (360 horsepower 1,900 revolutions per minute).
at 1,870 revolutions per minute ). Fineness: 106 Ae- 2 10.6.
Fineness: 108 Ae- 9.8.
Climb. Speed.
Climb. Speed. Standardl- - -~ -- - ~ -- - 1- -- ~ - -- 1
Standard ·- - -- - -- - -- ~,- - - -- -- -- , altitude Rate
altitude in feet . Time in R.p.m. feet per M. p . h. R.p.m.
in feet. Rate minutes.
feet per M.p.h . R.p.m. minute.
minute. 1- - - - 1 - - - - - l - - -- ------------
0 1, i60 940 125. 0 1,900
0 0 1, 730 I, 035 129. 5 1,870 6 500 8. 5 1,727 610 121. 5 l 850
6 500 7. 5 1, 708 715 127. 5 I, 845 10:000 15.3 I, 708 434 us. 0 1: 810
. )5,000 32. 8 1,680 180 109. 5 1, 740

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10: 000 13. 7 I, 695 540 124. 7 I, 825
15,000 25. 6 I, 675 295 117. 8 I, 785 20,000
20,000
25,000
I, 646 48 101. 0 I, 685 25,000
116,550 ::::~i:
1 18 950
2 21:000 ::::~~-:~:: ···u~ri- ····i1·r ·i~:f """Ellf '18,500

1 Service ceiling. 'Absolute ceiling.

1 Service ceiling. 'Absolute ceiling.
Minimum speed at sea level (lowest throttle) : 66 m. p. h.
Minimum speed at sea-level (lowest throttle): 62 m. p. h . Landing speed: - - - .
Landing speed: - - - .
1 Endurance, full throttle: ! hour at ground and 4 hours at 10,000 feet ,
1 Endurance, full throttle: , honr at ground and 4 hours at 10,000 feet. , P - 180 has a larger radiator than P - 90.
90773- 22 ( 3)

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PILOTS' OBSERVATIONS. · oi1: 74 .
Weight loaded: 3,988.
The comparative tests conducted between the high
Weight on front wheels (tail skid on ground ) : 3,515.
compression Wright and Packard engines install~d in
Weight on tail skid (tail skid on ground): 473.
type X, X. B. L - A airplanes, demonstrated that .owing
Weight on front wheels (flying p osition): 3,732.
to the lighter weight per horsepower and lower fuel
Weight on tail skid (flying position): 256.
consumption the airplane equipped with the Wright engine
Center of gravity (distance from wheels in flying posi-
gave the better performance.
tion ): 13.1 inches.
The test was cond ucted with a full military load, the
Distance center line of wheels to p oint of supp ort of tail
longitudinal balance being corrected by use of the af
skid: 200 inches.
justable stabilizer. Antiknock compound No. . 1 was
Provisions for sp ecial equipment not carried during
used in both engines during the test to prevent preignition. test.
This fuel stains, leaves a gummy residue, and the exhaust
DESCRIPTION OF AIRPLANE.
fumes are rather disagreeable to the pilot.
, The Packard engine 'operates with little vibration, has a DIMENSIONS.
' quick acceleration, and cools well during climb, but
could be operated with a smaller radiator, which would .Over-all span: 39 feet 4/,, inches .
improve the performance. Approximately 100 revolutions Over-all length: 25 feet 6 inches.
perm~nute were lost during the climb, and when attempting Over-all height: 9 feet 91 inches.
to increase the revolutions per minute the altitude control Height at hub of propellor above ground:
was found to be so sensitive that there was danger of In flying position: 5 feet 7!inches.
cutting the engine. At rest:
The Wright engine has an efficient a ltitude control, AIRPLANES.
good acceleration, cools well, and shows a loss of 70 revolu-
tions per minute in climb. The engine is steady at high Wingcurve: R. A. F., 15.
speed, but has considerable vibration at low revolution Sweep back: None.
per minute. A great improvement was noticeable in the Dihedral: 3° 30'.
performance of this engine as compared with the low- Stagger: 1 foot 6 inches.
compression Wright 300. . ' Total area, including ailerons: 405.6 square feet.
No trouble of a serious nature was encountered with Gap: 5 feet 5 inches.
either engine during the test, but the endurance has UPPER PLANE.
not been determined.
0. G. KELLY, (Including center sect ion .)
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: / First Lieutenant, A. S., Test Pilot. Span: 39 feet 4/, inches. .
Lours G. MEISTER, Chord: 5 feet 6 inches.
Test Pilot. Area, with ailerons: 202 square feet.
DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHTS. Incidence: 2°.

X. B. l.- A, P- 90.
LOWER PLANE •.
(By pounds.)
Span: 39 feet 4i\, inches.
Weight empty (with water): 2,155 Chord: 5 feet 6 inches.
Armament and equipment: 611 . Area: 202 sq uare feet.
Crew: 360. Incidence: 1° 45'.
Gasoline: 598.
Oil: 67 . AILERONS OR FLAPS.

Weight loaded: 3,791. Number: 4.

Weight on fr.ont wheels (tail skid on ground) : 3,396.
· Weight on tail skid (tail skid on ground ) : 395.
Weight on front wheels (flying position) : 3,591.
Weight on tail skid (flying position) : 200. ·
Center of gravity (distan ce from wheels in flying posi-
tion): 10.8 inches.
Distance center line of wheels to point of support of
tail skid: 200 inches.
Provisions for special equipment not c:uried during
test.
X. B. l. -A, P- 180.
(By pounds.)
Arrangement: 2 upper ; 2 lower.
Upper length : 7 feet 1ft inches.
Upper chord : 1 foot. Hi\, inches.
Upper area: 13 square feet .
Lower length: 7 feet 1ft inches .
Lower chord : 1 foot lli\, inches.
Lower area: 13 square feet.
Total area: 26 square feet. .
Distance from center of ailerons to longitudinal axis of
airplane: 16 feet t inch .
CENTER SECTION.

Weight empty (with water): 2,305. (Upper.)

Armament and equipment : 611. Area: 4 feet 3/,, inches.
Crew: 360. Dimensions: 4 feet t inch .
Gasoline: 638. Contents: Gravity gas tank.

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STABILIZER . Air intake: Led into slip stream , below fuselage .
Area: 22 .5 square feet . ., Mixture control: Standard.
Setting: ~djustable. Effect to altitude: - -- .
Remarks: - - -.
ELEVATOR. RADIATORS .
Area: 23 square feet. Make:---.
Distance from leading edge of elevator to center of gravity Type: Honeycomb.
of airplane: 16 feet 11 inches. Number: 1.
Position: Nose of fuselage.
RUDDER.
Frontal area: 4.8 square feet.
Area: 4 feet 2~ inches. Depth: 5 inches.
Distance from leading edge of rudder to center of gravity Length: 41 inches.
of airplane: 16 feet 8 inches. Width: 28 feet.
FUSELAGE.
Radiator surface: 235 square feet.
Temperature adjustment: Shutters.
Maximum cross-section shape : 3 feet 51 inche~. Water capacity: 64 pounds.
Maximum cross-section area: - - - : Flow, gallons per minute: 68 at 33 pounds at'. 3.3 pounds
Maximum cross-section dimension: 2 feet 8 inches. per square foot.
Distance of maximum section froJil leading edge, lower Thermometers , make: - - - .
plane: - -. Weight: 122 pounas.
LANDING GEAR.
Type: ,C ellular.
Number of wheels: 2. Water capacity of whole system : 108 pounds.
Tread :' 5 feet 6 inches.
EXHAUST PIPES.
Shock absorbing system: rubber cord.·
Braking device: Tail skid . Description: Short individual stacks to each cylinder,
Wheels ahead of center of gravity: 1 foot 3~ inches. leading to manifold extending to rear as far as front
FIN.
cockpit.
LUBRICATION.
Area: 10.3 square feet.
Capacity oil tank: 23 quarts.
DESCRIPTION OF POWER PLANT. Dimensions oil tank: - - -.
F.NGINE. Oil used (brand): Liberty.
Make: Packard. Oil pressure: 60.
Factory No.:-- -. Oil temperature: - - - .
A. S. No.: · 94603. Type pump: Gear.
Type: Vee-12 cylinder. Wet or dry sump: Dry sump.
Number in plane: l. , If wet, capacity: - - -.
Location: Nose of fuselage. Description lubrication system: Standard. Pump
Rated h . p.: 300.
forces oil to main bearings, cam shafts, and by splash to
Rated r. p. m. ·: 1,800.
cylinder walls and wrist pins.
Bore: 5-inch.
Stroke: 5f-inch .. FUEL SYSTEM .
Compression ratio: 5/.'5 to 1.
Weight dry: 738 pounds. Number of tanke: 2.
Gas consumption: 0.515. Location: Main, to rear of engine; -reserve , center sec-
Oil consumption: 4.1 pints per b. h. p. hr. tion upper wing.
Weight of water in engine: 39 pounds. Capacity , main, pounds: 81 gallons , 486 pounds.
Remarks: - --. Capacity, reserve, pounds, - - - .
IGNITION. Material: - - - .
1 Battery of magneto: Magneto. Gauge:--- .
Make: Dixie. Description of fuel-supply system: StandardX. B. 1.-A
Number: 2. system, using sylphon pump.
Advance: 26° . ENGINE CONTROL .
Gas interrupter: 0.020.
Distributor: Carbon brush contact. Description: Rod and lever.
Plugs, make: A. C.
Type: Metal body porcelain insulator. PROPELLER.
Gap: 0.015. Make: Engineering Division.
Remarks: - - - . Number of blades: 2.
CARBURETORS ..
Make: Zenith. Diameter: 8 feet 8 inches.
Type: Single Venturi Duplex Packard Zenith . . Pitch: 6.41 feet. .,.
Number: 1. Tips: Terneplate.
Setting jet: 165. Clearance:---.
Choke: 31 m. m. Mfg. No.:--.
Compensator: -·--. A. S. No.: 109447.
Gas drains: 1. Remarks: x- 24705, 01202.

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