The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-04-26
FLYING BOATS
TO KILL "SUbS'
INVENTORS plan
Charles M. Manly, Curtis
Engineer, Says That Will
Be Next Advance

Charles M. Manly, consulting eng1-
neer of the Curtiss Aeroplane Co.,
ventured a prediction last night in his
address on aviation before the En-
gineering Society Of Buffalo, The an
swer to the submarine, he said, Is the
flying boat, the invention OF Glenn IL.
Curtiss. He told the $50 men gath
cred that he expects the war to last
at least two years longerA
Meanwhile" he said, "the lmme-
date future will see some very I'M
portant developments in flying boats.
The answer to the submarine Will De
the flying boat large enough to car
ry a gun of sufficient caliber to sink
a submarine by firing at it when the
later is submerged or when nothing
but its periscope is showing. Sush
flying boat might also readily be
equipped with torpedoes and tubes
for launching them SO that it could
fight the submarine with its own
commerce raiders.
Certain it is, I think, that the
largest flying machines will be made
of the marine type, and machines
several times the size of any so far
y
How large these flying boats Of the
future may be was left to the imagin-
alton of the engineers as they looked
at the picture Mr. Manly put on the
screen of the Curtiss flying whale
now being tested by the United States
navy at the Florida station. This
flying whale has an upper wing
spread of more than 90 feet; is driven
I,x, fxryo mr.
has boat As feet long weighing with
pounds.
Curtiss engineers and the other
aeronautical experts Of the country
were certain to attain better results
even in land machines than the en-
gineers abroad, Mr.. Manly confident
ly asserted. He indicated some ad-
vances in engine construction. The
light, dependable, powerful engine is
the biggest problem ahead. More in
terest in aviation will aid in bring
ing the day when Americas land ma
chimes will be as durable, as speedy
and with climbing qualities as rapid
as those of the best war machines
now used by the British and French.
Glenn III. Curtiss, X. B. Macdon-
aid, Charles Kirkham, John Scott and
Fay L. Faurote of the Curtiss Aero
plane company have just returned
from trip to Newport News, Va.
where they saw the first flight and
trials Of the new .Curtiss models.
During one day. Mr.. Curtiss said
yesterday, 1--WE flew eight different
types Of aircraft-two bip1anes, a fly
ing boat, three styles Of hydrotaero-
planes. a large triplane and small
trip1ane speed scout
All these are the result of the ex-
perimental work which Mr.. Curtiss
has been directing in Florida and al
San Diego. The effort has been te
develop American designed and built
planes which would meet the best
that Europe has developed. Appar.
speed scout made 12O miles an hour
and climbed at the rate of 10000 fee1
in ten minutes. That is a perform
ance equal to'the needs over the bat.
tlefields in France. It is expected
that this speed scout will do ever
better when it has been equipped
with a. larger motor, now being in
stalled.
Army and navy experts watched
the trial flights. Correspondents who
are familiar with aviation conditions
abroad also visited Newport News
Several Of these men expressed their
ma chimes are superior desig, work
manship and performance to those
they had seen In action at the front