The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-29
Topeka ENTION
ManleSS AerOplane l. Being
Manufactured Here.
IL Has Been Designed for Use
- in War Zone.
APPROVED BY THE WAR DEPT
II Automatically Drops Bombs
and Destroys Itself.
+. ]. Robson and ]. Herbert
Jones the Inventors.

II citizens of Topeka should casually
observe a mysterious airplane soaring
over the city they need not be unduly
alarmed No hostile pilot need be
feared and the valuable military Sc
crets buried in the heart of the city
will remain undiscovered. You see,
this mysterious airplane won't carry
a pilOt. II don't need one. 1t pilots
itself Instead it merely carries 100
ten-pound high explosive bombs. SO
OF which will be showered at oppor-
tune moments on the heads of the
enemy. The nundredth will be so
timed as to destroy the airplane that
carries it. in order that the enemy
may never know what hit him.
The "manless aeroplane" which is
under construction in Topeka at the
present time is designed to automati-
cally elevate its planes while being
driven by a gas engine, to reach
certain elevation. When it has reach
e that elevation it will take a level
course for its destination as deter
mined before the flight 1t wlll lily
straight to its mark, OF in circle, or
in a zig-zag course. as the sender may
wish.
The elevatinrs planes and rudder are
controlled by a timing device, and the
bombs which the machine carries for
the purpose Of dropping them in enc
my territory. are released at inter-
walls under the control of the sender.
The balancing planes are fitted with
compromising weight If a WIND
threatens to blow the machine from
IFS course. this device holds II in It's
path toward the goal set.
The new manless airplane differs
from the ordinary plane in only two
respects. 1t has bomb Shaft con-
troiIed by "A circular worm gear, con-
~geF. -. oil OF n
release each bomb after certain
member of revolutions of the propel-
Ter. The second feature IS what the in
ventors call an endless worm which
causes the elevating planes to automa-
fically adjust themselves after the ma
chine has reached given height.
The inI entors Of this new form of
war terrc- are r. J. Robson, of 1912
North Jackson street, and J. Herbert
Jones. Of 1928 North Quincy. That
their creation is nos entirely a fig
ment Of the imagination is shown by
the fact that the war department has
approved plans submitted for this
plane. II has also been declared prac-
teal by many prominent engineers
who have studied specifications for
the device.
IL Costs 5000
The estimated cost of the affair is
$500. An engine specially designed
Tor use in this machine is being
worked out by the Roberts Motor
company. manufacturers of aeropiane
and o;her internal combustion en-
Eires
IN experimental plane Will be com
plete in about thirty days. 1t is be-
ing built at the machine shop at 6O9
North Kansas avenue.
IL Is believed that if this machine
can be perfected and rendered prac-
teal In operation it Will be a valuable
instrument of warfar... as il will carry
a great quantity of destructive ma
terial TO any designated point, at much
less than the cost of a big high ex-
plosiVe shell. and at the end of its
Fight automatically destroys itself