To Gain Supremacy in Air

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 5

To Gain Supremacy in Air

WORLD’S FASTEST BOMBER LONDON, Jan. 9. In a closely-guarded workshop of the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s huge factory at Felton, men are working day and night on secret plans, which, it is believed, will give Britain air supremacy if she is forced into war. The workmen are guided by specially coded blueprints of the world’s fastest borber, an air-giant, the astonishing performance of which is known only to the inner circle at the Air Ministry. Another little band is doing research work on another development that would revolutionise aerial warfare—the almost complete silencing of aeroplane engines. The Daily Sketch says a fleet of these bombers would give the Royal Airforce overwhelming supremacy in one of its main wartime jobs, that of destroying enemy munition dumps, and war material centres. The comparatively slow-moving bomber, which is so easily attacked by highspeed fighters, has been a serious problem in air warfare.

The most elaborate precautions arc being taken to ensure the secrecy of tho work, and of the thousands employed by the company, only the high executives are permitted to enter the research centre. The names of these people are on record at the Air Ministry. The experimental research shops are guarded by electrically-controlled doors, the opening of which must be authorised by two officials. Thousands of pounds are being spent on a new plant at the Bristol Company’s works, and the public road on the fringe of the works will shortly be closed to enable the private aerodrome to be enlarged, owing to the higheT landing speeds of the new areoplanes.