UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

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An aerial camera on the gun mount of a DH-4 1053779



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1923

6 February Transfer of the Aeronautical Engine

Laboratory from the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., to

the Naval Aircraft Factory was authorized by the

Secretary of the Navy, thereby clearly establishing the

Naval Aircraft Factory as the center of the Navy's aero-

nautical development and experimental work.

12 February The Bureau of Navigation informed the

Commandant at Pensacola, Fla., that two year's service

in an operating unit subsequent to graduation from

flight training was no longer a requirement for desig-

nation as a Naval Aviator.

18-22 February Aviation was employed in a U.S.

Fleet Problem for the first time as Problem I was

worked out to test the defenses of the Panama Canal

against air attack. Blue Fleet and Army coastal and air

units defending the Canal, were assisted by the opera-

tions of 18 patrol planes of Scouting Plane Squadron 1

based on the tenders Wright (AZ 1), Sandpiper (AM

51) and Teal (AM 23). The lack of carriers and planes

for the attacking Black Fleet was made up by desig-

nating two battleships as simulated carriers. On the

approach one of these, Oklahoma (BB 37), launched a

seaplane by catapult to scout ahead of the force (21

Feb.), and early the next morning a single plane repre-

senting an air group took off from Naranyas Cays,

flew in undetected and, without either air opposition

or antiaircraft fire, theoretically destroyed Gatun

Spillway with 10 miniature bombs.

21 February Tests of aircraft handling were made

aboard Langley with Aeromarines operating in groups

of three. Results showed that it required two minutes

to prepare the deck after each landing; and in the best

time for the day three planes were landed in seven

minutes.

21 February In recognition of the fact that the

newer aircraft engines offered advantages of longer

life and lower cost, the Bureau of Aeronautics issued

guidelines that severely restricted the repair and reuse

of engines over two years old. Through this means,

the Navy was able to expend promptly its residual

stocks of World War I engines and equip most new

aircraft with newer engines. More importantly, freed of

the millstone of stocks of obsolescent engines, the

Navy could aggressively sponsor the development of

improved aircraft engines to meet its various require-

ments.

7 March Navy participation in aviation fuel research

and development was indicated in the Aeronautical

Engine Laboratory report on systematic tests, conduct-

ed by the Bureau of Standards, on mixtures of alcohol-

gasoline and benzol-gasoline. Industrial and govern-

mental research with fuels, of which this was a part,

eventually resulted in the development of tetraethyl-

lead as an additive for aviation fuels and of iso-octane

as a standard for antiknock characteristics.

10 March The aircraft model designation system

was modified by reversing the order of letters in the