The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-29
VALUE OF AEROPLANE
TO AMERICAN NAVY
Secretary Meyer Declares 1t v ill Be Used as
Aid in Scouting and Explains Policy of
Department in It's DEVELOPMENT

developed ut San Diego, Cal. and at
liammondsport. y. Y, by Glenn Cur
tiss. while In cordial CO. operation with
tho navy, meets this demand fairly
well. but is regarded as capable of
further improvement In respect to the
practicabil!ty of using 1t in tho COM
paratively rough water &c harbor.
Its principal uses for tho present will
be confined to training and expert
expected that this training will event
ually proceed as regular routine
from the ship as base. .
one of our latest requirements for
THIS machine Is u self-stnrting attach
ment that will enable 1t to be started.
without difficulty, In decp water. and
the combination OF an electric self
starter with the power plant of wire
less telegraph equipment gives fair
promise of success.
4 recent experiment at Hammonds-
port, n. Y, has demonstrated the prac-
! ticability of sending this machine In
Hight from ship over a single wire
cable stretched from either tho bow
or the stern to>thc superstructuro OF n
battleship. Tho wire cable can be rig
! Eed and unrigged for this purpose In
very short time. But 1t Is antici-
patcd that further experiments, which
arc contemplated. will demonstrate
the practicability OF n plan which will
be even more convenient than this.
VIII Dc Equipped with Pontoons.
The use of the hydroplanc attach
meut IS not always necessary, and 1t
is undesirable under certain circum-
stances because t adds considerable
weight and resistance, thereby cut
ting down tho speed. When these
machines are actually used in service
work at sea they VIII probably be
equipped with light pontoons only.
these being already supplied with tho
ono now owned by the navy.
Tho chief aim of the experiments in
contemplation Is not to obtain n high
speed at the expense OF safety and re-
liability. but to proceed alol conser-
vative lines towards obtaining the
greatest factor of safety and cfticienc y
in architecture combined with the most
reliable and efficient propolling power
1t is desired TO test and compare diff
fercnt makes OF motors and propcllers
not only on the block ut the engineer
ing experiment station. at Annapolis
but In the aeroplanes themselves ut
the acrodromc already established
1t is not intended to mako any large
purchases OF aeroplancs for the navy
until we arc fully satisfied that they
VIII. fulfil the exceptional conditions
required BY their use from cupboard
but IL is confidently expected thu,
within the next year their development,
VIII have reached such stage as 10
justify the purchase of number snf
fiicient to enter largely into the train
Ing OF the navy personnel to their use.
Among the important subjects IN.
der consideration. and not minor IN
any respect. is the adaptation and in
stallatton In our ncroplanes OF the
most efficient and convenient instru-
nents required In air navigation. In
| this respect satisfactory progress has
been made. Something more serious
than exhibition flights ia contempled
by the navy, although tho educational
value of the flights that have been
made for exhibition purposes is re-
Earded as incalculahlc.