FRANCE'S AERIAL DREADNOUGHT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 147, 18 February 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

FRANCE'S AERIAL DREADNOUGHT.

The ante-bellum military aeroplanes having been found inadequate for the carrying out of raids on an extensive and successful scale, the Freinh have since t'ue opening of the war been develop ng a type of giant aeroplane especially suited for carrying h«avy bombs and su table ordnance. The new type is in the form of a triplane. and is known as "I'avior. de bombardment." It has a wing fpread of some 70 odd feet, and the three si.perposed planes rise to a height oi 2'l feet. The nacelle of the giant tr plane will comfortably bold twelve men. although lhe crew is ordinarily composed of but six men—viz.. two pilots, who s : t (lose together in the centre ol the car, two observers, and two gunners. One pilot can operate the machine ill an emergency. The triplane carrc-d four 37 him. ('on ■ and one half inch) gun l --. Although no mention : s made of the horse-power of the engine or engines required to propel the new aeroplane, it is safe to assume that it must be in the neighbourhood of 300 or more horse-power, probably div dod among two or three engine-, since the a : reraft is credited with a speed ,n excess of ."0 miles per hour.