Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-09
GUN SHOOTS BOMBS
Device May Make AeropIane
Deadly Machine.
Il Has Been Predicted That II Would
Make the Miahtiest Destructive
Force Known to Modern
Warfare.

New York.-Ever since the aero
plane has been developed into prac-
teal flying machine it has been pre-
dicted that it would be the mightiest
destructive force known to modern
warfare. But not until practical
gun for use on aeroplanes had been
built, it was realized, would the power
of the aeroplane as an aggressive rae
tor in war be recognized.
This gun has now been invented
and is at present being tested by us
designer, Lieut. Riley Z. Scott, west
Pointer and expert Mathematician
who has spent years Of time IN trying
to solve the problems that would pro-
duce perfectly accurate bomb nurl'
ing apparatus. G4
AS soon as men learned how to op,
crate a flying machine they began TO
practice, throwing imitation BONES at
objects hundreds OF feet below them
on earth. Bat!eships, drawn TO the eS'
act scale Of a dreadnaught, have been
whtewashed on aviation fields ana
the aviators have thrown oranges at
these targets to see how nearly they
could come to hitting the make De-
iievc warships in a vital spot
Glenn II. Curtiss, in July . year ago,
made some Of the first bomb throwing
tests. A floating target in the shape
OF q battleship was constructed on
Lake Keuka, Hammondsport, \. \. IN
the presence OF number or army ana
navy officers who had been assigned
to watch the experiment, Mr. Curtlss
flew his biplane over the lake ana
more than a score Of times hit the TAR
get with small bags Of sand represent
ting bombs. The military authorities
present took accurate measurements
and carefully examined the targets
after the tests, with the result that
they proclaimed the test highly sue
cessful.
With Lieutenant SCOTS new aerial
gum the shooting of highly explosive
projecties from the heavens on to
cities, forts or warships at sea, be.
comes simple matter. The accuracy
a gunner acquires in the navy or
army can now also be put into opera.
ton from an aeroplane. Heretofore
aviators have been laughed at because
they either aimed BADLY or their aim
was spoiled by the speed at which the
aeroplane was travelling through the
air, or the falling bomb would be de
fected By strong wind current.
To obviate these difficulties, Lieu
tenant Scott has constructed his aero
plane gun in such way that the
speed OF the machine, the velocity OF
the wind and the distance from the
earth are all calculated automatically
and with reasonable accuracy. In APP
Dearance the Scott gun resembles
somewhat q ships compass.
The aviator must first sight the OBJ
iect at which he intends to lire
through telescope that is attached
to the gun. In orde. TO attain the nec-
sary accuracy when dropping the
bombs tits of first Importance for the
gunner to know the speed at which he
is travelling and the height from the
ground. The speed is determined By
the use or stop watch attached &c
the gun in conjunction with the tele-
scope. IN addition tables have been
prepared to be used by the aviator In
making his measurements.
The GUN is to be tested from riot
monoplane." which has beer built by
Alfred Noisant, brother Of the late
John Moisant. The monoplane will
have room !or passenger and the
gun. One Of the interesting features
Of the gun Is that no conclusion will
be felt b. the shooting OF the projcc'
tile. It is simply dropped at the
nroper instant and finds its way to
earth by itself.
Mr.. Moisant is very much interested
in the new gun, ard in aviation circles
il is generally understood why be
should be. His brother, John Moisant.
II has often been said, took up flying
with the object OF using the aeroplane
in war. President Zelaya of Nicaragua
encouraged him to take UP aviation
with that very definite purpose.