Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-01-18

NJ The mOnoplane has gone the way
of the high-wheeled bicycle; It is
seen no more in the air. And in
stead Of just aIrplanes we have
bombing machines, reconnaissance machines and
battIeplanes, each a specialized type designed for
a specific duty. Then In class by themselves,
there are the hydroplanes, writes Arthur Bening-
ton in the New York World
Bombing machines are the heavy artillery, the
condors, the Percherons, the bulldog 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 the swal-
lows, the thoroughbreds, the terriers, the wasps
of the air
you might as well ask me what kind of horse
I consider the finest" replied Italian aviator
when asked for his opinion the finest airplane.
1T all depends upon what service you want your
plane for. For dropping bombs on cities there IS
nothing like our CaprOni the finest climbers
l personally have encountered were German ma
chimes; the swiftes flyer up date is the Italian
S. V. A; and think the Austrians have the most
reliable hydroplanes."
OF course this was merely the aviator's personal
opinion and it is given here not at all because OF
its value as a judgment the several makes Of
machines but merely to illustrate the diversity Of
type and the wisdom of not confusing the differ
ent types in ones mind
For a bombing machine the primary require
ment is ability TO carry heavy load Then, in
order of Importance, come: Medium speed $50 to
100 miles hour) climbing power Q3O0O feeO;
defensive armament and radius OF action from
90 to 100 miles. Load-carrying power involves
strength of construction. great stability and
gines that shall develop tremendous power and
yet be as light as possible. Types Of the bomb
ing machine are the Italian Caproni the British
HandIey-Pamer, and the German Gotha G III
and Friederichshafen G. II.
nh ,fe= obi hor-a
for at least two persons-the pilot and the OBJ
server; installation for wireless apparatus and
cameras for taking both still and moving pictures;
fuel capacity sufficient for three four hours Of
flight; fairly high speed-say from rs to 40
miles an hour-and ability to carry a machine
gun with which to defend itself if attacked. The
camera installation makes great stability neces-
sary. Types of this machine the Italian
POmilio s. Y. A, and Savoia-PomiliO; the French
voisin and the German Brandenburg, Albatross
: III and Aviatiks I'LL
Speed and climbing power the essentials in
a battleplane. The latest types of this sort-the
Italian S. V. A. and a model of Pomilio; the
French Newport and Spad, and the German Al
batross D and Ai5atross Bue-can carry only one
man, who acts as pilot. observer and gunner
Most of them have only one gun. which is NOT
mounted a swivel, but is integral part of
the engine itself. for. it discharges its bullets
between the blades of a propeller revolving so
rapidly that it cannot be seen, it must be perfect
" synchronzed with the motor, otherwise bullet
might strike a blade of the propeller These
machines are nothing but flying cannon. They
carry no passenger. no cameras, no bombs. Moth
ing except single operator and the ammunition
for the gun.
The difference between reconnaissance and bat
tleplanes appear slight when set down in figures.
but then every fraction of inch affects the
speed and stability of airplane.
Some idea of the differences may be obtained
from the dimensions, and these can be given only
except in one or two cases IL is,
IF course impossible TO describe own Ameri-
can planes, the comparisons that follow are
based on foreign machines
One of the smallest of the battleplanes is a
new Pomilio which has not yet been tested in
America. American representatives OF the Ansal-
10 company of Genoa, which makes the s v A.
mother very small one-deeline TO make its d.
nenSions public at present, but Capt AleSSandro
oomilio. designer of the machines that bear his
lame has no objection TO it being stated that the
'omiliO which flew from Fortress Monroe to
Iineola and which SCARED over New York on Lib
rty Loan day. has wing spread of approximate
v IS feet. This, however. is a reconnaissance
Machine. The one that is coming is battleplane
nd its wings have a spread Of only fraction
yer so feet. Both these Pomlio machines have
xacty the same motor. 2O0-horse-power Isetta-
'raschini but the greater size Of the one already
ere enables il TO carry passenger and cameras,
lille the smaller one can carry only one H1n
The reconnaissance Pomilio makes 40 miles an
our; a scout is said to have made on tests in
tally 100 miles an hour.
So far as official tests known, the s. '. A.
olds the record for speed This is the machine
hat made the sensational flight from Turin 10
ONE. S96 miles. in two hours and fifty minutes.
veraging 1905 miles an hour The French Nieu-
ort machines are unoffcially reported to have
ade as high as 175 miles hour
The dimensions OF the German AlbatroSs u |
re known exactly. having been published by the
rench military authorities after measurement Of
lptured machines Its wings have spread of
~ feet: its fuSelage is aS-6 feet long its speed
124 miles an hour and ii can climb 10 1880 feet.