The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-25
Is Specialized.

The AeromarIne ship, like its surface
rival, the destroyer. is a specialized
craft The one thing aimed at by the
designers Is speed, and to speed in
consequence carrying power, fighting
ability, endurance ana economy are sac
rificed
The war-gray seaplane rests in the
water on two long, slender floats or
pontoons, light, but strong enough to
bear the scout plane easily over the
toughest seas Pilot and observer, the
latter also a gunner. sit one behind the
other in the narrow streamlined fuse
lage Just back Of and below the upper
wing. The pronounced 'stagger" that
IL the distance the upper wing extends
forward beyond the lower, makes II
possible for them not only to see every
thing above them, but also to see ahead
and directly downward. This Is a
range OF vision useful not only in
scouting but in making landings safely.
The excessive stagger has another merit
for the fact that the wings are not
directly above and below each other
give "monopane lift as engineers say,
I a greater lift than ordinary biplanes
have
While the pilot handles the controls
and keeps an ear, rather than an eye,
on the engine, the observer is free TO
make his pictures or take notes Of
what he sees. Mounted in his cockpit
Is machine gun, which the construc-
ton of the ship permits him to swing
throuhgout almost an entire hemi-
sphere Even the rudder Is so de-
signed that no part projects above the
fuselage This makes II possible 10
get shot directly In the rear, The
Aeromarine ship Is equipped only to
fight its way through or drive off hos
Z tile aircraft, and carries no bombs or
heavy armament Its function is to see,
not to fight.
The motor, a 800 horsepower Wright
HIspanu, Is mounted in the nose OF
the fuselage. for the plane Is OF the
: tractor type, The engine twirls the
propeller at the rate OF 1880 revolu-
lions per minute. The tank capacity
Ms 81 gallons. enough for two hours In
1he air at top speed.
f The overall length OF the seaplane Is
80 feet and the height Is a little more
/, than IL feet The upper wing has a
| span of 81 feet 8 inches, and the lower
a foot less. The combined lifting area
of the wings is 3el square feet. The
( aiierons are In the lower wing.
Il without passengers fuel, or ammu-
milton, the ship-airplane weighs only
gi,743 pounds. The useful load that is
THE weight OF men. gasoline, oil, am
{ munitlon and other matter. that may
! be carried, u 9S7 pounds
The climbing ability Of the Aero
marine shipsis very high. for It can
mount 5000 feet. almost mile. in the
I first ten minutes Off the water. De-
spite Its high speed, IT'S landing speed
/ Is comparatively low, for II will take
the water at Sc miles an hour,
The naval authorities plan to carry
the ship-airplane on truck on top
OF the turrets OF a big dreadnaught
with it's motor roaring at full speed
< the seaplane, resting on this easy mov-
ing truck. win dash forward on a run
way OF about Is feet Aided by the
speed Of the ship and any wind that
may be blowing. II viii mount speedily
into the air and swiftly leave the ship
! behind and below II as It roars away
on its mission There is much less
danger for a seaplane than a land ma
chine in flying for the wide surface OF
the ocean Is a landing place II any
thing should go wrong