THE CHECKLIST

摘要

In 1934, the Army Air Corps wanted what would today be termed a "fifth generation" bomber to fulfill Billy Mitchell's ideas. On July 18,1934, the Corps released US Army No. 98-201 specification, which called for a multiengine, four-to-six place land airplane with high performance. The bomber was to have a 250 mph top speed, 220 mph cruise, and 10 hours' endurance at cruise. The mandatory service ceiling was a lofty 25,000 feet with an initial climb rate of 2,000 feet per minute. One "killer spec" was the requirement to maintain a 7,000-foot altitude with "any one engine cut out." The specification called only for a "multiengine" aircraft, but Boeing Airplane Co. asked if a four-engine aircraft was acceptable, and the Army said y es. B oeing assembled a great team for the project including its president, Clairmont L. Egtvedt, and engineers Charles N. Monteith, Robert J. Min-shall, and Edward C. Wells.