A new and efficient design for rough water, ready assembly and disassembly, inherent stability, wide range of flying speed, waterproof construction of wings, enormous margin of safety, comfort for pilot and three passengers, and a dry, clean place for them to sit, this 1915 model is ideal.
The rough water ability is obtained in two principal ways: first, all the wing attachments are independent of the motor and propeller shaft; and. second, the low centre of gravity. Of special interest are the tapering end floats that never pound or jerk the wings. These taper from three inches wide across the bottom to a foot across the top. The taper has the advantage of reducing the planing surface, which at high speed would be sufficient to pound the wings badly, but when called upon as floats are quickly displacing water at an increased rate, easily combating the heaviest side lurching or listing or yawing tendency.
The removability of the tail for shipment has many advantages in construction and in simplicity of shipment for compactness. The motor remains in the front half of the hull with all controls intact. The control cables going to the tail and rudder all pass through individual leads in a conduit that is made of heavy steel as a protection against the propeller breaking or throwing anything with sufficient force to sever them.
Between the conduit and the controls the cables are supplied with the Jannus type sister hook, which locks the cables together in a permanent fashion quickly, and without additional safety wire or other auxiliary being necessary.
The wings are assembled in their entirety before being attached to the hull and, when on, cannot fail to align properly if reasonable care is taken. Where desirable they can he put on half at a time. To April 1915 the best record showed a total load of 2.200 lbs. carried in flight at 22-55 mph with an indicated 60 h.p.
Tests in the lee of large vessels, along windward shores and in other extreme conditions of gusty wind and treacherous obstacles prove that the new struts and the staggered planes are serious contenders for the inherent stability honors. The pilots reported that in no case was there any rapid inequality developed nor did the machine make any appreciable variation from its course due to these unfavourable conditions.
The tests have been conducted by Mr. Fritz G. Ericson and Mr. Antony Jannus.
The designers did not stagger the planes in this model for other than structural advantage.
The internal construction of the wing is free from ordinary glue and is amply strong without any adhesives, although liquid marine glue is used in all joints to maintain rigidity under severe stress and to prevent rotting. All bolts go on each side of the beams, through end grain blocks that are brass covered outside of the fabric.
The pilot is seated in front, leaving a seat behind for three large passengers. The ample foot space is well above the ribs of the bottom and made in the form of a grating that is removable for cleaning the bilge scuppers or any other purpose.
The motor compartment is segregated from all other parts of the boat, so that no oil or grease can be distributed.