THE AIRMAN'S "WIRELESS"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 234, 21 June 1918, Page 5

THE AIRMAN'S "WIRELESS"

e, At present the field of use of wireless telegraphy in connection' with British aeroplanes is limited I>y two factors, viz., the weighty of tho apparatus, and tho . noise and vibration of tho engine. "Heav-ier-than-air" craft have not as yet attained to the weight-carrying capacity nf airships supported by. gas, nor are j they able to remain aloft, as airships ■ can, with engines stopped for the better reception of long-distanco wireless messages. But it is clear that "wireless' has enlarged the field of use of aeroplanes in warfare. Messages transmitted by the "cavalry of the air" now keep headquarters in touch with every visible movement on tho part of the enemy. It is, however, in connection with artjllary that 'wireless is chiefly employed. The comparatively light nets required for the transmission of message*? a distance equal to the range of the largest of modern guns is but a small load for the average "two-seater" aeroplane. The difficulty- of receiving "sound" signals in the air will bo apparent when it is stated that conversation between pilot and observer is impracticable, without the use of special "loud-speaking" telephones, on account of tho noises made bv the engin«, the hum of the vibrating rigging, wul tho rush of air. The effects of vibration, apart from the noise, is perhaps the greatest difficulty to overcome in designing the receiving apparatus, Signals sent when flving across the ground station, or when turning, are not so clear as these sent whilo flying dirpctly towards or away from the receiving station. Under good atmospheric conditions with a weight, as at present, of about lib. for every three miles of range, the total weight of the shortrange sets used in connection with nr-1 tillery permits the uso of power supplied from batteries or cells. With the advent | of power supplied from the aeroplano en- | gine the proportion of weight to dis- : transmission will in tho larger t sets be reduced. , ;