"Power Control and It's Effect Upon Economy" [by Robert E. Johnson, Chief Field Engineer, Wright Aeronautical Corporation], 1941

Document Type: Report (Technical).

Purpose: Technical Reference.

Authority: Author's Expertise and Company (Manufacturer).

Scope: Paper discusses improvements in both procedure and equipment as related to the cruise phase of flight.

Content: From page 1: "During the past few years considerable attention has been given to the study of engine operation, particularly in regard to methods of power control in relation to economy. While the basic problems remain unchanged, progress in this field has been realized, (1) by education of personnel in the fundamentals of engine operation, (2), by some improvement in automatic controls, (3) by expanding and improving the instrumentation related to engine operation, and (4) by basic improvement in the engine itself or the fuel it uses.

It is the purpose of this discussion first, to review some of the fundamentals of the problem for the benefit of those who are not familiar with this phase of engine operation; and then to review the progress which has been made during the past several years, as indicated above, in engine design, fuels, instrumentation and automatic controls, in order to present the operation picture as it appears today.

Before proceeding, it should be emphasized, however, that the proper understanding, on the part of the pilot, of methods of power control cannot be emphasized to too great an extent; for, once an airplane has been delivered, the life of the engine or airplane-engine combination lies chiefly in the hands of the operator. Regardless of how much time and care have been spent in the design and development of the engine, and no matter how many improvements are made available in installation through research, the man at the controls will, in the long run, determine the life of the engine and the efficiency of operation."