New-York tribune., 1919-02-23
80 Newest Types
Ready for Public
Machines Used by Allies
and Some Captured
Are To Be Exhibited

view for the first time since the war.
More than thirty different types of
the aircraftmans art will be displayed
at the annual aeronautical exposition,
which is to open on March / and con-
tinue until March 15. So extensive are
the exhibits that the 69th Regiment
Armory has been leased in addition to
Madison Square Garden.
The exposition is under the direction
of the War and Navy departments
and the Manufacturers Aircraft Asso-
ciation 1t is the first to be held since
the signing of the armistice, and will
be the largest and most important the
world has ever seen. Every civilized
country that has participated in air
craft production will be represented.
The most famous machines in the
world will be shown to the public for
the first time.
Captured German Machines
They embrace the greatest examples
of aircraft construction of the United
States, Great Britain, France, Italy and
Germany. The most interesting feat
is entirely involutary.
BY far the largest and most interest
ing craft to be exhibited is the United
States Navy's F. L. This giant flying
boat is one of the most beautifully pro-
portioned aircraft ever placed on view.
1t is also one of the most powerful in
the world 1t is absolutely the latest
word in naval aircraft and few people
have had the privilege of seeing it. 1t
is to occupy the position of honor at
the exposition and will be readily ac-
cessible for observation.
This gigantic carriage of the air has
a wing spread of 103 feet inches.
It's length over all is 40 feet inches
When fully loaded it has weight of
1900 pounds, but even in this condi-
tion can climb 1925 feet in 10 min
utes It's power plant of two twelve
cylinder Liberty motors drive it for
ward through the air at the almost
incredible speed of three miles a
minute.
British Fighter Coming
Perhaps the most interesting machine
nj the exhibition is the famous British
fighter s. f. 5, the airplane that
wrested the supremacy of the air from
the Germans and was one of the turn
ing points in the war.
Of this remarkable instrument of
aerial warfare a British aviator said:
The S. f. 8 can dive straight down
with power on, attaining a speed of
$50 miles an hour without damaging
its wings"
The American pilots who used this
lighting plane in the war declared it
has "a wonderful 'zoom' and climbing
turn"
Its average climbing speed is about
10000 feet in II minutes; 10000 feet
in Is minutes, using u viper" engine
of 1s0 horsepower Its average speed,
straight flying, is 1875 miles an hour,
but it can go as fast as 142 miles an
hour.
The particular S. E. to be shown at
the exposition is of the first type to be
introduced to the war zone that could
shoot straight up in the air. At the
time of its entry into the war no other
single-seater could use its armament
for that purpose. Many weeks passed
before the Germans discovered the
movable Lewis gun installed on the
upper wing. The pedestal of the gun
was so arranged that the pilot could
readily vancouver his machine and at
any direction except downwards.
Special Gun to Shoot Down
For firing downwards the aeroplane
was CQQlDDtU Wllu u iAcu lCheIS-
Maxim gun synchronized to fire through
the propeller.
There will also be seen in juxtaposi-
tion the great British Handley Page
and the French fighting Spad - the
giant and pigmy in aircraft.
The little Spad is the type of machine
in which Rene Fonck, the great French
aerial fighter, achieved his fame as the
Ace of ali Aces. Practically all of the
i
by this intrepid fighter were shot down
in flames from his Spad. Nungesser
Madon and Douchy, other aces OF
France, also won their palm leaves in
Spads.
The Spad on view at the exposition
IS the recognized standard French pur-
suit airDlane. 1t can fly 118 miles an
hour at an altitude of $1,000 feet At
lower attitudes it can easily make 130
miles an hour The heavy Hispano-
Suiza motor used in this, plane enables
1t to reach a tremendous "zooming'
speed when diving down upon an enc
my, and in fact accounts, from mech
anicai point Of view, for the tremen-
dous success of the great French pilots
Captain D'Annunzio Coming
ltaly's exhibit will be lead by ths
famous giant Caproni triplane, one O.
the largest heavier-than- -air-machine:
IN the world.
Captain U. D'Annunzio, son of tn,
tslian poet~aviator, will be at the ex
position TO show the type of machin,
from which his father showered pro
paganda over Vienna, the capital o
his country's chief enemy. Captain
D'Annunzio is a member Of the Italian
Military Commission, and has beer
given charge OF the Italian exhibit.
In addition 20 supervising the plac
ing Of the great Caproni, the captaif
wil superintend the exhibition Of tn,
=. V. A. fightingpiane type hi,
father used.
1t was IN one Of this type of aircraft
that the elder D'Annunzio led squad
ron from the Italian front to Vienns
and back--a distance of 800 miles in
six hours without stop or casualty. The
route Of this world famous fight la,
over the Alps. Since then this tyne O,
machine has flown from Turin to Lon
don.
The 8. v. A. is fitted with An fsott,
Franschini engine of 27o horsepower
or 590-horsepower Fiat. II has ;
climbing record Of $500 feet in fou,
and ore-haf minutes.
Italy Owns the Caproni
The giant Caproni triplane--tfe mos
remarkable Of the large machines a
lhe ezposition~--is the property Of tn
Italian government and was sent 1,
IA ff&ks 4<.e 81 A