AIRCRAFT TRAP

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1932, Page 8

AIRCRAFT TRAP

CHESS-BOARD OF LIGHT. ENGLISH INVENTION. The most powerful searchlight in the world, with a strength of J,000.000,000 beam candle .power, and a land or sea range of 10 or 15 miles, has been invented by Major J. Savage. the sky writing expert. its main advantages are. military, and it constitutes a powerful defence against night bombers. Its merits are now being considered l>v the War Office and tin,' Admiralty. It does not throw a round spot • i light into the sky, but n network oi light known as a grid, which can lx-, varied in length and form. The grid is made up of sixteen squares. “The moment jt enters the grid,” Major Savage explained to the “NewsChronicle”, “the aircraft is, so to speak, on a square piece of paper. Be fore the airman can get out he must cross one or more lines. “Once in the magic trap lie will find it difficult to escape observation of the anti-aircraft gunners, for his speed, height, and direction may be calculated in a verv short) time.” The grid has already been sueeessf 11 11 \ tested to a height of lfi,ooo feet and the inventor is confident thal much higher altitudes can he reached. The pattern ran be thrown in an.v direction, bv the turn of a lever, in a few seconds, and it ran be changed to eiirvis. ovals or circles. If a battleship were fill d with six of tli se sear-blights, enemy ship could he suddenly d 17,7, 1 ed.