The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-01-21
GIANT AIkbUAI
NOW READY TO
CROSS The SEA
Curtiss' Colossus Capable of
Carrying Fifty.


files 80 Miles AN HOUR
fcoast and West Indies Trade TO Get
First Call in Aviation--curtiss' Ma
chine Was Built for Navy as subma-
rine Chaser, but Some Notifications
Could Very Easily Adapt 1t for Pas
sseneer Use.
A fight across the Atlantic is as
sured in the immediate future. This
statement is made on the authority OF
Glenn 81. Cu-tiss, inventor Of the fly
Ing boat and pioneer engineer in the
airplane industry. The prediction Of
transoceanic fight has been made be-
fore by men prominent in aviation, but
Mr.. Curtiss' statement differs from
other mems because he adds he has
built the machine which can bridge
the ocean.
It may be that the honor Of first fly
ing from America to Europe will go to
the United States navy, for Mr.. Cur
1iss' airboat the largest and most pow
erful in existence, is a navy airhoat,
or rather air vessel. The machine is
of huge dimensions, but the best pos
sible way of describing its power in
few worcls is to say it has carried so
men in sustained fight. It's lifting ca
pacity is FIVE tons.
Because the Colossus is entirely the
property of the navy the inventor
would not say any more than that he
is willing the attempt be made by the
giant aircraft as soon as certain mo6il-
cations can be made. AS constructed
' the Colossus is fighting machine not
intended primarily for such lengthy
flights as the crossing Of the Atlantic.
Naval air officers at Baltimore some
Gays ago spoke guardedly of the posi-.
bility of transatlantic flight by the
machine at Rockaway. They stated at
that time that the Rockaway plane
was the first of series to be con-
-structed for transatlantic fight.
!. Dwarfs All Aircraft.
y The America, wonder Of 1914, built
{ by Mr.. Curtiss for Rodman Wanamak-
er, who was backing Lieut.. John Cyril
Porte, Irish aviator, in his attempt to
win the $4,000 prize offered by the
London Daily Mail, is dwarfed to In
significance by the great spread Of the
Colossus. The huge Sikorsky, 115
fleet Of wing spread, which carried II
men in Russia in 1914, is also smaller
eahan the new flying boat. The Ca
'aproni triplane, with seats for %, like.
wise is dethroned as monarch Of the
sair.
Recently runners have been heard
about the gigantic craft, but only now
as it possible, owing to the abandon,
ement of secrecy by the navy, to de
scribe the principal features Of the
COLOSSUS.
The flying boat is biplane fitted
with three motors, details and power
of which are withheld. From tip to
tip its huge upper wings stretch 12e
feet-only 10 feet less, by way of COM
parison, than the height Of the Brook
lyn bridge. From prov to tail she is
20 feet long. and from the gunner's
cockpit on the top wing to the keel is
a distance Of % feet. The distance
between upper and lower planes is Y
feet.
The vessel was constructed by Mr.
rCurtiss for the navy as a submarine
chaser, and rmament-details with
-helG-was carried not only in the cock
spit on the top wing, but also in an,
0ther cockpit in the prov. In the navy
she is known as the Curtiss N. G. 1.
Makes Speed, Climbs Well.
Speed and ability to climb rapidly
-gare of course essentials in submarine
chasing and the Colossus has both.
She can make 80 miles an hour and
can rise to a height Of 1000 feet in
ten minutes. Ordinarily her crew is
five men, the rest of her weight carry
ing capacity being used for bombs, am
munition. fuel. water and oil. Two
pilots sit side by side. They can re
lYieve each other at will, and a chance
shot killing one pilot would not, there
fore, mean the destruction of the fly
ing boat during an aerial engagement
The large boat hull, hung underneath
-xhe lower wing, is noticeably whalelike
I'm appearance, for it has been foune
that this shape offers least resistance
to air and water and is also the safes
. Ia rough water.
Although nothing has been an
zsnounced concerning the power OF tn
three engines, a comparison with tn
power plants of other huge planes in
dictates that each engine must furnisl
naora than 100 horse power. The 81