NAVAL AIR POWER

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1933, Page 8

NAVAL AIR POWER

“LANDINGS” AT SEA

GERMAN’S NOVEL DEVICE,

LONDON January 7

Thanks to a novel device invented by Herr Hein, who built the record-break-ing liner Bremen, a new impulse may he given to the development of nava* air power, says the Daily Telegraph. Hitherto it has been necessary to provide aircraftca r riers with spacious decks npon which machines can descend at the end of a flight. Hence the huge dimensions and heavy cost of the carrier type. When seaplanes ai'e need—as in the case of ships equipped with catapults—they have to alight on the water and be hoisted on board the mother ship by means of a crane, the ship being stopped for the purpose. This is <a difficult and tedious operation which might not be practicable in war, owing to the danger of torpedo attack on the motionless -ship. All these drawbacks may, it is claimed, be overcome by tire floating landing platform for seaplanes which has been evolved by Herr H<‘in. The device is a canvas apron, stiffened with battens and so shaped as to damp down rolling and pitching and to smooth the water .astern. This apron, towed at the stern of ~ shin, provides a landing platform for the seaplane, which glides down to th P surface, taxis on to the canvas and is there either made fast •while refuelled for a fresh flight or draw-n up on board the chip. Unde,, prolonged trials in Germany the device has proved very suceesfiil. It has now be e ii experimentally adopted by the French Navy, one of the landing platforms having been supplied to the new seaplane tender Commandant Tc.de. Using this platform of reasonable speed, whether merchantman or war vessel, would be able to act as a seaplane carrier. It is too early to determine whether the Hein devic e has definitely solved the problem of recovering seaplane, s at ,-ea. But it is considered lhat there is no doubt that a solution along these linos would spell the doom of th e big ahvr aft-carrier, which itr regards bot 1 first cost and maintenance is the most I expensive unit jn the fleet.