NEW BRITISH BATTLEPLANE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2662, 6 January 1916, Page 7

NEW BRITISH BATTLEPLANE

PROJECTILES TWICE THE SIZE OF • ZEPPELIN BOMBS. . The following description of the newest and most powerful British aeroplane is written by Mr. SelmeivFougner, the London correspondent of the "New York Sun" After, seeing tho factories I was granted the privilege' of making an ascent' iu the latest British' Army biplane—the first civilian to whom such a trip has been granted. Were I permitted to describe the unequalled features of this machine it would astonish tho world. It must suffice to say that it achieves better results in speed and climbing ability than any previous model;, it is fitted with a gun of marvellous precision; and is built to carry a death-dealing , projectile more than twice tha size and. weight of any missile known to have been carried even in Zeppelins. Sitting in the observer's scat, I had at no time the slightest cause for anxiety, despite tho.gale and tho fast oucoming darkness. Not a tremor i'.d I perceive beyond the roar of the motor, so wonderfully stable is this machine. The pace at which wo ascended worked out at almost 1000 ft. per miuute. In a factory I saw. the making of the parts of tho new biplano in which I flew; Tlie newer models embody, one might almost say, hundreds of inventions the secret of which is held by the British War Office. • The Royal Aircraft Factory is now a veritable city, equipped witli every modern improvement and engaging the activities of thousands of men and women. In tho designing room 160 engineers are continually busy.