The sun., 1917-09-09

|aftermost fifty feet or more Of the yes
sci shall have an arched or curved
surface conforming to a chord strung
from the centre about which the Graf,
naturally rolls in a seaway. That IL
to say, this deck. like the rim OF a
turning wheel. would always present
the same angle to the alighting sea-
plane.
Finally comes the question how to
bring the plane to halt within a
suitable distance after alighting at
the stern upon the deck. Mr., Bogert
plans to effect this through two agen-
cies: First. brakes which can be
brought into play upon the landing
wheels. and next, by reversing the
travel OF the accelerat!ng belts so that
the belts will tend to carry the sea
plane backward. The designer Is sat
isfied that by this dual system of re-
| tardation II will he feasible to bring
the returning air scout TO halt inside
a total run Of 200 feet.
OF course 1t is understood that the
, pilot has to guide his machine on TO
the belts after landing upon the deck
but these will be wide enough to enable
any qualified aviator to do It.
AS an incidental provision to an
unobstructed takeoff and landing Mr.
Bogert has arranged that the mother
ships masts, smokestacks, cranes. &c.
shall turn down out Of the way. To
facilitate this the .aasts, &C. are set
at the sides OF the runway and not. as
usual. along the centre line. Their
housing Is made more efrectual by
building the runway above the flank
ing side spaces.
The mere fact that the smokestacks
are laid prone does not hamper their
| function. and all OF the erections that
/ are made to turn down are operated
! by power and can he controlled from
a central station. This would unques-
tionably be the chart house. There.
fore it is only a matter Of minutes tc
clear the deck or to restore the ven
tilators. masts, &c. to their norma
upright positions.
Airplane Spots EN- Submerged.
Mr.. Bogert says: THE enemy tha
tho submarine fears Is the airplane
because the U-boat cannot escape de
lection from aloft at any depth withir
which the periscope can possibly b'
brought into use. Once discovered. tn,
submarine when under water has NJ
weapon with which to fight back
while the airplane may wreck tn,
U-boat with bombs when the under
water craft Is eighty feet below th'
surface. I am satisfied that the sub
marine in phosphorescent waters will
betray herself after dark when travel
ling submerged. What then will hin
der the seaplane from swooping dow
close enough to drop her bombs Will
deadly aim?
ut Is not necessary to hit the sub
marine: a subaqueous explosion O
sufficient power and reasonably nea
the U-boat would wrack her So evel
II 1t did not rupture her hull, that he
motive mechanism would he irrepara
bly, damaged. She would have to com
to the surface and would be forced I
surrender"
The public has had dinned into |
the dangers or dlfnculties confrontin
a pilot when making landing even Il
the daytime and the added peril in
volved when alighting after nightfal
How does Mr.. Bogert make It safe t
do this during the hours OF darkness
with a moving platform out upon tn
open sea? To this end he will emplo
deep seated lights set in his uppe
deck and covered with thick glass
These lights will cast their rays up
ward only and cannot be seen fror
any other direction; In short the
will be masked"