The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-02-02

stead Of just airplanes, We have
bomhin. machines, reconnaissance machines ana
battlrpancs. each specialized type designed l"f
a specific duty Then, in class by Themselves
there are the hydropiancS writes Arthur behihs-
ton in the New York World.
Bombing machines are 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 or nSht
cavalry and machine-gun squads are the swat
lows. the thoroughbreds, the terriers, the Wasps,
of the air.
you might as we'll ask me what kind of horse
] consider the finest replied an Italian aviator
when asked for his opinion on the finest airplane.
at all depends upon what service you want Your
plane for For dropping bombs on cities there is
nothing like our Capron: the finest climbers
/ personally have encountered were German ma
chimes; the swifte> flyer up TO date is the Italian
S V. A.; and l think the Austrians have the most
reliable hydrOplanes
OF course this was merely the aviatorS personal
opinion, and It is given here not at all because OF
its value AZ n Judgment the several makes or
machines. but merely to Illustrate the dVerSt! OIL
tyne and the wisdom Of not confusing the differ
ent types In ones mind.
For bombing machine the primary require
ment IS ability to carry a heavy load. ihen III
order of importance come: Medium speed $50 to
100 miles an hour) climbing power Q3ooO 1eeU'
defensive armament and radius OF action from
so to 100 miles. Load-carying power Involves
strength Of construction great Stablllty, ana en-
pines that shall develop tremendous power and
yet be as light as possible. Types OF the boIno-
ing machine are the Italian Caproni, the British
fIaudley- Palmer and The German Gotha Ill
aOd Frtederichshafen g. II.
The reconnaissance machine must have room
for at least two persons-the pilot and the oo
seryer; installation for wireless apparatus and
hoth
fuel canacty sufficient for three or four hours or
Fight: fairly high speed-say from 10 to lZO
miles an hOur-and ability to carry macnlne
gun with which to defend itself If attacked. Inc
camera installation makes great stability neces-
sarv. Types OF this machine are the italian
Pomio s. V A. and Savoia-Pomilio; the French
voisin, and the German Brandenburg Albatross
G. III and Avatiks Ill
Speed and climbing power are the essentials IN
n battlepIane. The latest types OF this sort-the
Italian S. V. A. and Il new model of Pomlho; the
French Newport and Spad and the German AL
hatross d and AbatroSS Bue-can carry only one
man, who acts as pilot, observer ana gunner.
Most of them have only gun. which IS not
mounted on q swivel but is an integral part OF
the engine itself for, 1t discharges ITS Dulets
between the blades OF propeller reVoi'lhg 50
rapidly that 1t cannot be 1t must be perfect
1y synchronzed with the motor, otherwise Duilet
MIGHT strike q blade Of the propeller These
machines are nothing but flying cannon. Ihey
carry no passenger, cameras, no oomps' noun
ing EXCEPT a single operator and the ammunitloh
for the gun.
The difference between reconnaissance ana DAT
t,epIones appear slight when set down In nSures
but then every fraction of an lnch anects 'ne
speed and stability Of an a!rplane
Some idea of the differences may be obtained
from the dimensions and these can be given only
approximately except in one or TWO cases. II ie
of course impossible to describe our own AinelF
can planes so the comparisons that folio" are
based foreign machines.
One of the smallest of the battl"plaheS 10 4"
now pomilio which has not yet been tested III
Ancrico American representatives of the Ansai-
do company of Genoa which makes the ). '. -
another very small one-decne to make us VI
mansions public at present, but capt. Aiessan,lo
pomilio designer of the machines that bear MS
name has no objection TO it being stated 'ha' tne
pomilio which flew from Fortress Monroe ~
Afineola and which scared over New YORK on Llo-
erty Loan day has wing spread OF approAinia'e
ay 80 feet This, however Is reconnaissance
Nrachine The one that is coming is pattlepihho
and its wings have a spread of only fracuoh
over 80 feet Both these Pomilio machines nave
p,actlv the same motor. a 200-hOrsepower lse'ta'
Frascbinf but the greater size Of the one aireauS
here enables it to carry a passenger anu caLei''
while the smaller carry only one lnah
The reconnaissance Pomilio makes lZo miles ai
hour scout Is said TO nave naue oh 'e''' "
italy 100 miles an hour.
So far as official tests are known, the ,. v .
holds the record for speed. This is the machiht
thst made the sensational flight from 1urlh u
Rome 396 miles. in two hours and fifty minutes
averaging 1@OS miles an hour. The french Nieu
wort machines are unofically reported to nave
made ~ high a. - miles an hour
The dimensions of the German -N'1'r"SS -
o-o known exactly having been published 10y III
Frcrch military authorities after measurement, D
con+urod machines Its wings have spread Q
OF feet its fusclage is 236 feet long ~ spec.
Is 1o4 miles an hour and it can climb TO lol2o lee
n carries two rapid-fre guns, d!scharglhg throusi