libertyl12a

Critics had claimed that the bomber would roll all the way to Dayton before it ever took off, but the aircraft became airborne after a 13-second, 960 ft (290 m) take off run. The flight lasted 28 minutes and reached an altitude of 2,000 ft (609 m). On 3 October 1924, the aircraft set a duration record of 1 hour 47 minutes for an aircraft "with 8,820 lbs (4,000 kgsuseful load". It also set a record in the same class for altitude with 4,470 ft (1,363 m). Although capable of carrying a 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) bomb load, it was soon discovered that the aircraft was seriously underpowered, and performance was disappointing. The overly complex structure of three wings and their accompanying struts and bracing wires created so much interference drag that the six engines could barely compensate. Fully loaded, the XNBL-1 had a range of only about 170 miles (270 km) with a top speed of 96 mph (155 km/h). In contrast, the "short-range" Martin NBS-1 had a range of about 450 miles (725 km) and could carry a 2,000 lb (900 kg) payload at the same speed. On a flight from Dayton, Ohio to a scheduled appearance at an air show in Washington, DC, the Barling Bomber failed to fly over the Appalachian Mountains and had to turn around.

This photo was published in the New Britain Herald. July 30, 1923, Page 9 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1923-07-30/ed-... From the caption: "Official Photo, U. S. Army Air Service" "Photo gives splendid indication of the real size of the Barling Bomber, world's largest air plane, soon to take the air at Wilbur Wright Field, Dayton, O. Note the height of the wheels compared with that of General Mitchell. Left to right: Walter H. Barling, designer of the plane, General William Mitchell, assistant chief, Air Service; Major Martin, Major A. W. Robins, Mr. Carisi. Lieutenant Dichman and Lieutenant Blackburn." The Evening Star. August 19, 1923, Page 4 chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1923-08-19/ed-... has a description of the aircraft. See also www.earlyaviators.com/eschobe5.htm

This took a full day of research, but I have identified each and given them a Wikidata entry, if they lacked one already: Walter Henry Barling (1890-1965) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107577357 General William Mitchell (1879-1936) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q863201 Major Harold Smith Martin (1892-1961) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107580274 Major Augustine Warner Robins (1882-1940) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4821225 John Carisi (1884-1960) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107577822 Lieutenant Ernest Wyckham Dichman (1892-1955) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107579240 Lieutenant Thomas Welch Blackburn (1892-1964) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107580412

Navy-Curtiss NC-6, BuNo. A-5633, circa 1922.