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In 1919 Loening built some M-8 planes for the Navy and Major R. W.  Schroeder established an altitude record of 29,000 feet, carrying two passengers, with one of the Army planes at Dayton, Ohio. Caleb Bragg also flew an M-8 on floats to 18,500 feet [[strikethrough] on [[/strikethrough] above Long Island. [[strikethrough] Following the M-8 [[/strikethrough] Loening next began the development of his [[strikethrough] famous flying beat designs, first with the pusher 5- seat flying yacht [[/strikethrough]] "Air Yacht" in 1921, powered by a World War I Liberty-12 engine. This was a 43-foot span, externally  braced high wing monoplane [[strikethrough]] with flying boat hull [[/strikethrough]]. On August 16, 1921, a [[strikethrough]] Flying Yacht was flown to [[/strikethrough]] Air Yacht established a new world altitude record of 19,500 feet on Long Island, carrying 3 passengers. Many notable records were later made with these planes and several were sold to wealthy sportsmen for their private use. A commuters' airline between New York and Newport, Rhode Island, was operated for some time using Air Yachts. In 1921 Loening received the Wright Award for the outstanding development of this craft, then later was awarded the Robert J. Collier Trophy.

[[strikethrough]] Following this development [[/strikethrough]] Loening next started work on an amphibian. [[strikethrough]] , hoping to devise a plane to operate as either a land or water machine. The size and arrangement of the DH-4B wings seemed ideal for his purpose so he made them to these specifications, using a new [[/strikethrough]] A military airplane produced in quantity in America during World War I was the British-designed D-Havilland-4. Loening decided to use similar wings for his amphibian but made his with an improved wing section and [[strikethrough]] an improved detail [[/strikethrough]] stronger construction. [[strikethrough]] for his first machine. [[/strikethrough]] These wings worked so well that he obtained a contract to make several sets for the Air Mail Service's [[strikethrough]] on their DH [[/strikethrough]] De Havilland planes, which have them higher air speed, lower landing speed, higher ceiling and much improved no-stall characteristics. [[strikethrough]] Following the Air Mail experience [[/strikethrough]] The U.S. Marine Corps also ordered some of the new wings for their De Havilland machines.

During this time the Loening factory facilities were moved from Long Island City to 31st and the East River in New York City, with hangars and a ramp for docking planes. The first completed Loening amphibian was tested in June, 1924. It used the new DeH biplane wings, a novem new flying boat hull with fully retractable landing gear, and was powered by a tractor inverted Liberty-12 engine driving a 4-blade propeller. This amphibian was a success from the start, having 123 m.p.h. top speed and a higher ceiling and slower landing speed than the military DeH. The history of these planes is impressive, the development and production of them 

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