The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-07-19
ARMY CLAIMS
GREATEST OF
war PLANES
Fighting Machine Carries
Machine Guns, Bombs
Above $4,000 Feet


it's engineers consider the most
formidable fighting plane in the
world.
1t is q two-motored, "pusher"
type monoplane of low-wing de-
sign equipped to carry crew of
five and six machine guns and
light bombs, and is designed to
fight all the way from hedge tops
to the sub-stratosphere. It's cecil
ing" for fighting is cover 10000
feet" according to the war de-
partment.
The craft was designed and
built by the Bell Aircraft Corpo-
ration, Buffalo, N. Y, a newcomer
er among aircraft concerns turn
ing out fighting ships for the
army. Its builders and air corps
engineers and pilots who have in
spected the plane, claim for it the
destructiveness of the big bomber,
the speed Of pursuit ships, and
the maneuverability Of the attack
plane.
Air corps engineers and pilots
who long have believed that even
tually the fighting ariplane would
combine all functions of the bomb
er, pursuit and attack planes, an
nounced, upon inspection of the
plane, that at is the answer"
The plane was secretly devel-
oped, and many of its features re-
main military secrets. The formal
announcement issued on it's COM
pletion, however, indicated the i'm
portance with which air corps Of
ficials view its try-outs.
"This new type was designed
and built" the announcement
said, "to fill an imperative need
by the air corps, in view of the
present trend toward giant bomb
ing planes Of the flying fortress
type now flying in the leading ma
tions of the world.
"This experimental fighter, null
ti-seater, has been pronounced by
flying men who secretly have
watched it grow from drawing
board to a completed article ready
for flight, as a formidable fight
| ing machine which should prove
itself capable of coping with these
bombers.
1.-THE plane contains some radi-
cal departures from conventional
military design. To begin with, it
is a pusher-its propellers are be-
hind the wings. The builder de.
clares that this gives increased
propeller efficiency. Equally i'm
portant, however, is the fact that
this arrangement permits the wing
gunners, one on either wing, to
have a free field of fire and obser.
walton to the front, uninterrupted
by engine or propeller. This
change in design also frees the
gunners from having to work IN
! the propeller blast, formerly ire
mendous handicap to gun maneu-
yer and accuracy.
"To be a successful fighter, a
flying machine must be much
| faster than it's target. 1t is be-
lieved that this plane can over
haul any air targets"
The speed Of the plane is one
of the carefully guarded secrets,
but the above indicates air corps
officials believe it is one OF the
swiftest ever developed.
"Ahother essential quality IN an
air destroyer is the ability to
strike with power when it has en-
gagged it's prey" The announce
ment continued. "This plane an
swers with six guns, more power
full armament than ever before
carried on a fighter. 1t also car
ries light bombs. r.,
"The new fighter is not a httie
airplane, as have been pursuit ar
planes of the post. 1t accommo-
dates crew of five: pilot, CO.
pilot-navigator, radio operator
gunner, and two cupboard gum
ners. 1t is powered by two en-
gines recently developed by the
Allison Engineering Corporation
in conjunction with air corps en-
gineers. No gasoline is carried IN
fuselage or engine nacelles. 1t IS
carried in liquid tight compart-
ments in its giant wings. IL Is
claimed that this method material
~ reduces the fire hazard.
"This plane contains some new
and radical departures which VIII
have far-reaching significance Tor
the civil air industry as well as
military. The first of these is It's
power plant location and It's
"pusher" propellers; next IS the
auxiliary power plant aboard Tor
retracting landing gear, for lignes,
radio and starters. This auxiiiar!
plant drives nine electric motors
taking this load off the two en-
gines which drive the propellers'
This new fighter can continue 10
transmit after forced LANDING
when its main power plants are
dead. 49,,
WAn innovation in this plane,
on which military men look WIN
great favor, is the complete IN,
terchangeability OF any OF all
members of the crew. The wing
gunners can travel between their
stations and the main fuseiage
while in fight; the co-pilot can
change places with the pilot, ana
radio operator can man the guns
all stations have inter-communica-
ton.
"The advantageous location OF
the wing gunners in front of the
engines permits them to see the
pilot. and he them; this makes Wis.
ual signals practicable between all
members of the crew. In addition,