Talk:DN-1

The Significance of DN-1

The significance of the DN-1 is not that it was first, but in the utter failure of the project and the effect it had on USN airship development. It could be the poster child for dense aerospace procurement failure. On exception was that the contractor took a haircut instead of the taxpayer as is the norm in the 21st century. That is why I expanded the article and added citations.

Mark Lincoln (talk) 18:13, 2 October 2016 (UTC)

Specifications: Engine(s)

Though the DN-1 was constructed with 2 engines, in that configuration it was too heavy to fly. To remedy that defect one engine was removed. In it's single engine configuration it could, just barely, fly. Thus I have changed the specification.

Mark Lincoln (talk) 21:27, 1 October 2016 (UTC)

The airspeed of the DN-1

The speed given in the article, 35 mph, is patently absurd. The original specification was for 35 mph. The optimistic pre-flight article in Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering (Aviation Week) gave it's estimated speed as 25-30 mph. One engine had to be removed halving it's available horse power. I have not been able to turn up the test reports and could not use them as they would be "source material" which is curiously (to a trained historian) forbidden by Wikipedia. Still Shock made it clear that failure to achieve the needed speed was one of many deficiencies reported. The only speed reported (shock) was 35 mph and that was in a dive which would not qualify as a true maximum speed which is normally determined in level flight.

Mark Lincoln (talk) 16:01, 2 October 2016 (UTC)