Up to the time that the United States entered the war, American aeroplane procurements were confined to machines intended for training purposes. This Aeromarine biplane was fairly typical of U.S. trainers at the time.
Specifications from “Practical Aviation,” by Charles Hayward, 1919
Performance. The Aeromarine trainer has a top speed of 90 m.p.h., and lands at 42 m.p.h. It can climb to 6,000 feet in 10 minutes. In 1918, one cost $8,250.
Planes
The span of the upper plane is 37 feet 3 inches, the lower 33 feet, while the chord is 6 feet 3 inches, and the gap 6 feet 6 inches. In the construction of the wings, the … the usual I-beam type, the webs being cut away to lighten them, and they are reinforced between web openings to prevent shearing at these points. These ribs are spaced about 1 foot apart, but they are not depended on to take the drag of the wings, two special struts in connection with the usual wire bracing being employed for this purpose.
The wing covering is linen weighing about 4 ounces to the square yard and is placed on diagonally, the seams being covered with linen tape to protect them from the weather.
Fuselage
The overall length is 25 feet 6 inches, the fuselage proper measuring 22 feet 6 inches with a maximum depth of 3 feet 6 inches at the pilot’s cockpit. It’s greatest width is 2 feet 6 inches. A detachable streamline covering is used for the top while the cloth sides are laced on so as to be readily removable, a training machine always receiving such rough usage that frequent inspection of all parts and bracing is necessary. The landing gear is of conventional pattern but is so designed that all parts can be replaced easily on the field, since this is one of the essential parts of a training machine that usually suffers most.
Power Plant
The motor employed is an Aeromarine eight- cylinder water-cooled V type. Its dimensions are 3.5 by 5 inches and it is rated at 100 h.p. As the cylinder dimensions are small, a high r.p.m. rate is necessary to develop this output, normal speed being approximately 2200 to 2400 r.p.m. The prop which measures 5 feet 4 inches in diameter, is accordingly driven through gearing with a ratio of 7 to 4, which gives it a normal speed at maximum power of about 1400 r.p.m.
The motor, including a Delco electric starting and ignition equipment, weighs 450 pounds, or 4 1/2 pounds per horsepower. With this motor, the machine has a speed range of 78—42 miles per hour and can climi) 3500 feet in ten minutes. The complete machine weighs 1200 pounds and can carry a useful load of 700 pounds.