BRITISH AIRCRAFT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1454, 2 October 1915, Page 2

BRITISH AIRCRAFT.

In a speech at a meeting of the British Aeronautical Society re-Lieut.-Colonel Brancker, Assistant Director of Military Aeronautics, made several interesting references to aerial developments during the war. He remarked that a few months ago the German aeroplane showed a great improvement in speed and climbing power, probably owing to the introduction of a more powerful engine. The reason lor the German advance towards an equality in aeroplanes with us was due to the fact that on the outbreak of war the aeronautical engine trade was practically undeveloped in Lugland, and we had to content ourselves with the comparatively low powered French engines. Already,! however, high power British-made engines had made their appearance at the Iront, and the pendulum was swinging back again. British designs backed up by sufficient horse-power, was once more proving its superiority, and we had already given the Germans some very ugly surprises with our new machines. Colonel Brancker went on to say many points ol interest had been (brought out in the war. Possibly the most interesting was the conflict between the necessity of carrying weight and the desirability of rapid climbing. The development of fighting in the air made great demands on weight' carrying qualities, practically every machine having to take up some form of defensive armament, or firearms, or bombs, as well as field glasses, cameras, wireless equipment, etc.