Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-07
NAVY AEROPLANES.

Navy aeros and dirigibles are popu-
larly conceded to form topics of inter-
esttng discussions among the country's
"birdmen." The European war has
| brought to the notice of every one the
nations unpreparedness for any armed
conflict with a strong foreign powe'
In no particular is this truer than in
the aeronautic field.
America Is the parent of aeroplanes.
| but she has left other countries to de-
velop and perfect the art of flying.
However. since the beginning of the
| war the demands on her have been so
great and insistent, and she has conse-
quently built number of aeroplanes
for the warning powers, SO that great
knowledge and positive leaps of ad-
vancement have forced themselves upon
her. Factories have employed every
| workman available. There are about
| forty concerns that expend every whit
| of energy in turning out aeroplanes
OF these only twelve are equipped Tor
unfailing efficiency.
| Russia's successive defeats have been
| due more to her inferior aero equip
ment than to her lack of munitions or
unski11ed soldiers-and Russia has sou
| war aeros. Germany has at the very
least calculation 1000. and proba bly,
| more.
| Up to the present time the progress
sive birdmen of America have sadly
| lacked adequate support financially,
and aeronautical engineering has led
| on disbursement rather than encour-
agement
| Congress has never yet specifically
provided money for navy aeros and
dirigibles, but 1t Is thought that Con-
| gress may be persuaded to apportion
even as much as s24s,000.000 to the
cause Of aeronauttcs.
The War Department hopes eventu-
ally to possess twelve aero squadrons.
one for each militia division, but at the
present the department is hampered by
insufficient funds.
In Uncle Sans first aero squadron
every craft was a Curtiss machine. mill
tary tractor type: These could fly any
| where from forty-fve to seventy five
miles an hour-depending on the ma
chine itself and aerial conditions.
The biplane is, by the majority Of au-
thorities, accorded first place for mill
tary purposes, though both biplanes
The United States now has sixteen
laeroplanes In constant use. By the end
of the month there will be more, and
fourteen have been ordered. This
type; there are the Curtiss machines,
Thomas. Martin, Gallaudet, Wright,
Huntington, Heinrich and Burgess
Dunno. The last mentioned firm builds
|
| The first navy dirigible was the Bald
win dfrigible, with a displacement of
| 10000 cubic feet, a length of IT'S feet
and greatest diameter thirty-flve feet
The Connecticut aircraft factory han
died this.
Experts are aiming to increase the
speed Of machines. lifting power and
stability. There is also a cry for the
thoroughly efficient propeller.
| FACTORIES have been known to pro-
1 a lI-ha 6yy{n oNI,i f-
one day, and 1t takes anywhere from
a single day to two months to build
and equip one. A couple of months
time is consumed in constructing a
from ten to twenty thousand dollars.
There has been some agitation about
| the possibility of building both aeros
and dirigibles at the Washington navy
yard. This Is merely rumor. however,
and quite without foundation, the Navy
| Department disclaiming any such ex-
pectations. Private concerns take the
| contract for the construction of air
crafts. The aeroplane is invaluable for
scouting purposes, locating torpedo IS,
| submarines and mines.
| There has been deplorable deficiency
| in the number of schools devoted to
furthering the aeronautical interest in
general and the training of men in
particular. Skilled .aviators are in
great demand
| The Aero Club Of America has melted
the most infectious enthusiasm and
has been untiring in its efforts to
| establish schools of sufficient naval
aviation equipment and personnel. 1t
takes only six men-two officers and
four mechanics-to man an aeroplane.
| but they must be masters of the air.
Instruction and training for the officers
Of the militia under the supervision
of the Navy Department is highly de-
| sirable.
At present there is school at Pensa-
| cola. Fla: another in New York for
| training aviators especially for han
| ding the hydroaeroplanes: recently one
| has opened at San Diego, Cal. These
are among the best known of avia-
! ton schools.
| The aeroplane today is being con-
structed and improved almost entirely
| for military purposes. Experts con-
| tend, in spite of this fact that the aero
plane Is destined to be pre-eminently
a commercial machine, and its greatest
| field of activity will be in the world
| of commerce.
Uncle Sam seriously contemplates
utilizing aerop]anes for carrying mail.
The corporation of Trinity Church.
1 49,