Document Type: Technical Research Report Authority: Government Military (authoritative reference) Document Number: Technical Orders No. 27 [Air Service Information Circular (Aviation and Aerostation) Vol. IV, No. 377] (dated July, 1922).

Scope: Compilation report prepared by Engineering Division, Air Service, McCook Field.

Contents: Contains short but detailed summary information on all activities of the U.S. Army AIr Service Engineering Division, as well as a survey of developments in aeronautics and aviation writ large, especially military aviation.

Chapters include: - NEW DESIGN -- Airplanes -- Balloons and Airships -- Engines -- Armament -- Equipment -- Design Awards -- April Competitions -- Transcontinental Flight - RESEARCH -- Resumé of Engineering Division Serial Reports - FOREIGN DEVELOPMENT -- Breguet 19 A-2 Airlplane (French) - NEW BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS -- Latest Documents on Aeronautics

Related to aircraft engines, the report includes information on the following water-cooled type: Almen "A-2" 375 h.p. 18-Cylinder; as well as a short article on superchargers.

NB: the issue contains an article titled "Non-Stop Transcontinental Flight: New York to California" which reads: "The Chief of Air Service has given his approval for a non-stop transcontinental flight between Mitchell Field, New York and Los Angeles, California. It has been decided to use one of the new Fokker F-IV transports for this purpose. Considerable investigation is being made to determine the requirements for this trip and the necessary modifications to the airplane.

The air route covers a distance of approximately 2700 miles. The time required to cover this distance, as based upon the performance of the airplane, will approximate thirty-two hours of continuous flight.

The principal modifications to the airplane will include an increase in fuel capacity to 725 gallons, and the installation of dual controls. An auxiliary fuel tank of 410-gallon capacity will be installed directly behind the regular 130-gallon tank in the center section of the wing. Another tank holding 185 gallons will be placed in the cabin of the fuselage. Extra tanks for oil and water will be provided also.

The controls to be placed in the pilot's cockpit will be used for piloting the airplane at night or under adverse flying conditions when good visibility is required forward, while those in the cabin will be used for guiding the airplane in straight-away flight during the day. An opening will be provided in the wall separating the cockpit from the cabin to permit the pilot to enter the cabin for rest while the airplane is being piloted from the cabin controls. In this way it will be possible to guide the airplane from either set of controls and permit the pilots to alternate.

The normal weight of the airplane with full load is about 8,000 lb. The proposed changes will increase this to approximately 11.000 1b. In view of this increase in weight, the wing was subjected to deflection tests which were carried to a loading factor of four at low incidence conditions of spar failure. The results were considered satisfactory.

It is contemplated making this flight in the early part of October."