Evening star., 1924-10-02
j. s. AIR PROGRESS
HINTS WAR HORROR
Mighty Bombing Planes, New
Precision Sighters, Would
AnnihiIate Enemy.
By Consolidated Press.

By Consolidated Press.
DAYTON, Ohio, October 2.-Concen-
tration of the Nations air forces here
for the international air races sends
a shivver down the spine of one who
contemplates the consequences of the
next war. The spectator gets
graphic picture of what airplanes and
radio, combined with high explosives
and gas, might be like in battle.
But the outward show of American
aviation prowess is a mere sample of
what this country has in store should
another war come to be fought out in
the clouds.
Aerial weapons of the United States
already built or designed would max e
sky battle a spectacular affair.
Fighting pursuit planes, with a speed
of 40 miles an hour-faster than
those of any other country-already
have been built. By means of a re-
Gently developed supercharger, which
pumps air into the carburetor, they
can maintain this speed at 10000 feet
altitude, despite the rarefied air, while
pilots supplied with oxygen apparatus
can fly at 10000 feet, far out of range
of anti-aircraft guns.
Great Bombers Ready
America now has bombers capable
of carrying six 100-pound bombs, four
800 0-pounders or two 600-pounders
with sighting apparatus recently de-
veloped far more accurate than that
of any foreign power. This means
deadly use of explosives and gas
while the bombing planes are pro-
tected by high altitude
But the greatest destroyers are de-
signed as night bombers. They are
even bigger than the Braling bomber
here that astounds spectators This
superdreadnaugh of heavier-tha a ir
| boats, with wing spread of 120 feet
weighing Fl tons when loaded, speeds
through the air at sc miles per hour.
carrying two and one-half tons of
bombs, commanding officer, two
pilots, two engineers, three gunners,
radio operator and a fuel pumper.
The plane can stay in the air hours
and s minutes.
But now the Army lets it be known
there is being developed a larger ma
chine capable of flying longer dis
stances, powered by centralized
plant of four liberty engines driving
one propeller. These new machines,
:,
are counted on to put the finishing
touches to land fighting.
Steering by Radio.
The Army also has already develop
ed radio steered aerial torpedoes of
great effectiveness, as well as radio
controlled airplanes, directed either
from the ground or from another
plane.
Another air accomplishment an
nounced as of great Importance is
the development of an earth indicator
compass which, when supplemented
by flight Indicator and draft meter,
makes possible aerial navigation
without regard to land marks. The
world flyers tested this out and
found it successful. There also have
been perfected vertical scale instru-
ments so that planes can fly in fog or
in dark with precision-a finding of
great Importance in bombing and
aerial photography.
Aerial photography has been deveI-
oped to perfection. With the new in
struments photographer already
has photographed 1900 miles of ter
ritory in an hour and Is minutes,
taking three or four pictures at a
time. No foreign country can ap-
proach this.
Protected by Parachutes.
The fighters will be protected by
perfected parachutes. now an every
day attachment, which the pilot uses
ordinarily for seat. Then expert
menting is being done on an 1S-
cylinder engine of minimum size and
weight which, If successful, will de-
velop one horsepower for every pound
in weight-a goal sought by airplane
makers for years
Accomplishments since the war
have been so great as almost COM
pletely to revolutionize aerial war
The point has been reached where,
with new explosives and gases, air.
planes could almost annihilate ground
forces and probably make navies
ineffective. Just touch of these
things is given at the air race demon
strations by Army aviators. The real
story is at McCook FieId-the
laboratory for keeping American air
development ahead of other nations.
lCopynght 1924.l