Byker
August 5th 15, 03:35 AM
It was intended to carry 600 well-heeled passengers across the Atlantic at a
stately 87 knots. Its amenities were steamship-like — staterooms, ballrooms,
dining rooms, a main salon with a 35-foot ceiling — and arranged on several
levels. For landing it had two gigantic pontoons because an airport of
sufficient size was unimaginable. It was to be propelled by 20 1,900 hp
engines disposed along an auxiliary wing above the main one, and would carry
six spare engines to be swapped in if needed during a two-day trip from
Chicago to London.
Bel Geddes took the precaution of consulting with an airplane designer, one
Otto Koller, who had reportedly worked for the old Pfalz Aircraft of World
War I fame, to ensure that his dream could actually fly. A flying wing
design of moderate sweep and aspect ratio, it was aerodynamically sound and
quite good-looking in a Buck Rogers sort of way. Pfalz airplanes had always
been well-streamlined, and the 4, like the Douglas DC-3 of which it was a
contemporary, clearly took streamlining seriously. Whether it could have
been equipped with all of the luxurious amenities envisioned for it,
however, while remaining within the projected empty weight of 330 tons, is
very doubtful.
stately 87 knots. Its amenities were steamship-like — staterooms, ballrooms,
dining rooms, a main salon with a 35-foot ceiling — and arranged on several
levels. For landing it had two gigantic pontoons because an airport of
sufficient size was unimaginable. It was to be propelled by 20 1,900 hp
engines disposed along an auxiliary wing above the main one, and would carry
six spare engines to be swapped in if needed during a two-day trip from
Chicago to London.
Bel Geddes took the precaution of consulting with an airplane designer, one
Otto Koller, who had reportedly worked for the old Pfalz Aircraft of World
War I fame, to ensure that his dream could actually fly. A flying wing
design of moderate sweep and aspect ratio, it was aerodynamically sound and
quite good-looking in a Buck Rogers sort of way. Pfalz airplanes had always
been well-streamlined, and the 4, like the Douglas DC-3 of which it was a
contemporary, clearly took streamlining seriously. Whether it could have
been equipped with all of the luxurious amenities envisioned for it,
however, while remaining within the projected empty weight of 330 tons, is
very doubtful.