Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-21
old machines we're re,esated to the

old machines were relcEoted TO tho
rear.
But there is rumor prevalent
which no one will officially deny or
contirm-that the United States gov
crnmcnt intends to specialize. for the
first year, anyway. on bigger, heavier.
and. therefore, slower airplancs III
such be the case. the American units
must be relcgated to to regulating ar
tilery fire. photoEraphinE the encmys
lines and back areas and bombarding.
In such event all American air squad
rons must be conveyed and protected
by cScadrilles of French fighting ma
chimes. as the bigger and slower arr
planes are almost helpless against the
German lighting planes. typified in their
newest model, the Albatross Type d..
Learn by Experience.
1t is not believed that America can
manufacture practical high speed
nirplanc motor with less than years
practice. 1t has been apparently proven
that America must learn by experience
and cannot take full advantage of the
three years of effort !. by the allies.
which has enabled France and England
TO construc, almost perfect motors for
airplanes.
The proof was furnished in January,
1916, when an American company. hav-
ing a plant in New Jersey, received a
contract from the British government
TO construct 100 Hispano- Sulza air
plane engines of $50 horsepower each.
Plans and blue3rints and all other in
formation and addcnda were furnished
by the French government and con-
formed identically to the particulars
and processes used in the factories in
France. British foremer and officials
were sent to New Jersey. and even
some British and Belgian worlSmen
were interspersed among the Nom
turning out the motors. Because the
engines were built under conditions
identical with those in French and Eng
lish factories. the motors were believed
to be Identical also.
The 100 motors were shipped ITO
Eng and ten were lost on Il tor
pedoed ship. Eighty five of the re-
manning ninety were rejected by the
british authorities when the exhaus-
tive tests were made before mounting
them in aeroplancS-for an engine is
- per cent of al acceptance; when it
stops. the machine falls and the pilot
is usually killed. The other five mo-
tors were accepted and were mount
cd III aeroplanes-but not in machines
that were sent to tn" front. They
were placed In machines used for
straining in England.
If the United States government
equips its air squadrons with the huge
aeroplanes projected, it Is expected
three men to each inaChine-pilot, ma
chime gunner and observer. In this
event. il is expected that the Amcr;-
cans from the Lafayette Escadrille
you'd act as pilots aud have with
them machinc-Eun operators and OBJ
servers selected from among the youths
now in course of training.
This is another factor that is wor-
rying the American pilot, as all are
drivers of "monoplacc" machines. as
the French call the sing
They have had no experience in flying
with companions. and lave always re-
lied upon themselves alone to fly, to
operate their machine gun. to observe
and TO perform any other duties that
may arise. such rs hopping bombs
and even signaling batteries. If they
are helping out on that work.
Sinsle-Seater drivers have strong
objections to lying with any one else,
and there are few cases on record in
either the British Or French aviation
where a pilot has been taken off of "A
Sirgie-seatcr fighting machine and
made good as the pilot of two or three
ScatcrS.