Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-01-17

of the high-wheeled bicycle; it is
more in the air. And in
stead of just airplanes, we have
bombing machines, reconnaissance machines and
battleplanes, each specialized type designed
a specific duty Then, in class by themselves,
there the hydroplanes, writes Arthur Bening-
ton In the New York World.
Bombing machines the heavy artillery, the
condors, the Percherons, the bulldogs of the air.
Reconnaissance machines are the intelligence
service, the carrier pigeons, the hunters, the
pointers of the air.
Battleplanes. which combine the duties of light
cavalry and machine-gun squads are the swal-
lows, the thorOughbreds, the terriers, the waSps
Of the air.
you might as well ask me what kind of horse
consider the finest" replied Italian aviator
when asked for his opinion on the finest afrplane
1t all depends upon what service you your
plane for For dropping bombs cities there is
nothing like our own Caproni; the finest climbers
1 personally have encountered German ma
chines the swiftest flyer to date is the Italian
s. V. A; and think, the Austrians have the most
reliable hydroplanes"
OF this was merely the ayiators personal
opinion, and it is given here not at all because of
It's value as a judgment on the several makes OF
machines but merely illustrate the diversity of
type and the wisdom of not confusing the differ
ent types in ones mind.
For bombing machine the primary require
ment Is ability to carry heavy load. Then, in
order of Importance come: Medium speed $50 to
100 miles an hour); climbing power $4,000 feet)
defensive armament and radius of action from
60 to 100 miles. Load-carrying power involves
strength of construction, great stability and en-
gines that shall develop tremendous power and
yet be as light possible Types of the bomb
ing machine are the italian Caproni, the British
Handley-Palmer. and the German Gotha III
and Friederichshafen G. H.
The reconnaissance machine have room
for at least two persons-the pilot and the
server installation for wireless apparatus and
cameras for taking both still and moving pictures:
fuel capacity sufficient three or four hours of
flight; fairly high speed-say from lis to 12O
miles hour-and ability to carry machine
gun with which to defend itself If attacked The
camera installation makes great stability
sary. Types OF this machine are the italian
Pomilfo S. V. A, and Savoia-Pomilio the French
voisin and the German Brandenburg Albatross
G III and Aviatiks G III.
Speed and climbing power the essentials In
a battleplane. The latest types of this sort-the
italian s. v. A and new model of Pomlio; the
French Newport and Spad, and the German Al
batross d I and Albatross Bue-can carry only one
man, who acts pilot, observer and gunner
Most of them have only gum which is not
mounted swivel, but is integral part of
the engine ITSELF for as it discharges its bullets
between the blades of a propeller revolving SO
rapidly that it cannot be it be perfect
ly sy2chronzed with the motor, otherwise a bullet
might strike a blade of the propeller. These
machines nothing but flying cannon. They
carry no passenger, cameras bombs, moth
ing except a single operator and the ammunition
for the gun.
The difference between reconnaissance and bat
tlepanes appear slight when set down in figures,
but then every fraction of an inch affects the
speed and stability of airplane.
Some idea of the differences may be obtained
from the dimensions, and these be given only
approximately except in two cases. 1t is,
of coarse, impossible to describe our own Ameri-
planes, the comparisons that follow
based foreign machines.
One of the smallest of the battleplanes is a
Pomilio which has not yet been tested in
America American representatives of the Ansal-
do company of Genoa, which makes the S. v. A
another very small one-decline to make its di-
mansions public at present but Capt Alessandro
PoIniio, designer of the machines that bear his
name has objection to it being stated that the
Pomilio which flew from Fortress Monroe to
lnneola and which scared New York Lib
erty Loan day, has wing spread Of approximate
~ SS feet. This, however, is reconnaissance
machine The one that is coming Is battleplane
and its wings have spread of only fraction
so feet. Both these Pomilio machines have
exactly the same motor. a 2OO-horse-power Isetta-
Fraschini, but the greater size of the already
here enables it to carry passenger and cameras.
while the smaller carry only man.
The reconnaissance Pomilio makes 100 miles
hour; scout is said to have made on tests in
Italy 16O miles hour.
So far official tests known, the s. v. A.
holds the record for speed. This Is the machine
that made the sensational flight from Turin to
Rome, 396 miles. In two hours and fifty minutes.
averaging 1908 miles hour The French Nieu-
port machines unofficially reported to have
made as high 175 miles hour
The dimensions of the German Albatross d I
are known exactly, having been published by the
French military authorities after measurement of
captured machines Its wings have a spread of
297 feet; Its fuseIage is 236 feet long; its speed
124 miles hour and 1T climb to 1880 feet
Tt carries two rapd-hre guns. discharg1ng through