Evening star., 1929-11-04
AIR WAR TACTICS
MAY Be CHANGED
New Type Planes to Be Test
ed by Army-PurSuit Ship
Holds Two.

| The tactics OF aerial warfare may
undergo radical changes II tests OF new
| fighting planes of revolutionary design,
soen to be conducted by the Army Air
Corps, are successful Three new planes,
representing two types, soon will be
ready for flight.
The new planes are a fast two-seater
! pursuit plane and twin-motored, high
altitude reconnaissance plane" which
is expected to open new field OF mil
itary observation. All pursuit planes in
the past have been single-seaters: and
observation planes in the United States
military forces always have been single
motored two-seaterS.
The new reconnaissance plane Is de-
| signed for operation at attitudes above
! those which can be attained by any
military plane in service today. They
will be very fast, with long range of
operation, and will make possible OBJ
servation of enemy activities in sectors
far behind the battle lines.
Thorough Tests Necessary.
"The tactical usefulness as we'll rs
fight performance of these new types
must, Of course, be thoroughly tested
before we can determine how they fit
into the air-defenSe program" 1t was
stated today by F. Trlbee Dawson, AS
sistant Secretary of War for Aeronau-
tics. I'VE are extremely hopeful that
the experiments will result in the de-
velopment of new branches of pursuit
and observation aviation and increase
the efficiency and effectiveness of our
Army air defenSes."
The new pursuit plane, instead of
/ carrying one man and two machine
guns, as have all pursuit types since
the beginning of the World War, will
1 carry two men and three runs. The
plane has been designed by the Ber-
liner-Joyce Aircraft Corporation of
Baltimore and is believed to be capable
of greater speed and of operation at
higher attitudes than types now in use.
The second man and third gun,
mounted in the rear cockpit, will elm
mate the most defenseless spot in pur-
suit flying. Since the beginning of fly
ing pursuit pilots have been trained to
get on the tail" of the other man.
With rear gun the situation is en-
tirely changed.
1.-The bi-place pursuit plane is no
larger than the present single scatter"
Mr. Dawson explained. '"The gunner
is placed in a small compartment with
his back to the pilot and is protected
from the blast Of the propeller by
windshield.
Sits Low In Cockpit.
unlike the rear gunner in observa-
ton planes, he does not stand up in
order to handle his weapon, but is
seated with his eyes almost flush with
the edge of the cockpit. Fixed. to q
low post on the fuselage is a machine
gun which covers and protects the rear
of the plane.
"It is not possible at this time to
discuss the equipment or performance
of the new ship nor the specific uses
to which 1t may be put, for various rea-
sons dictated by policy and also because
it is an experimental type about which
we do not as yet know q great deal"
The reconnaissance plane will repre-
sent as great novelty in design as the
two-Seater pursuit plane. 1t is a mono
plane with two motors built into the
wings. The fuSelage also Is stream
lined into the wings and the landing
gear probably will be retractable, max
ing it q most perfect example OF the
flying wing" design, so long sought by
aircraft builders.
SO far, the only monoplanes in the
military service have been in the trans
port class. The new plane will be able
to climb on only one motor. Its great
power will make it tremendously fast
probably much faster than pursuit
planes now in use. Two Of these planes
are being built for experimental pur-
poses by the Fokker factories.
The reconnaissance plane will carry
crew of three in separate cockpits.
The observer will be in the nose, with
unobStructed visibility in all directions.
The pilot will be in the center and a
gunner in the rear. The plane will
/ have a powerful long-range RADIO out
fit and apparatus for day and night
photography.