TRIP IN A WAR AEROPLANE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 147, 18 February 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

TRIP IN A WAR AEROPLANE.

I-ife has scarcely anything more thrilling to offer than a trip in an aeroplane above enemy's lines. The most blase mortal is whirled in an instant out of boredom into an atmosphere of almost delirious expectancy. Let the reader come with us on such a trip in one of the latest flying creations. This maclrne is a double seater with a dual control, an invaluable acquisition when the ugly nozzles of aeroplane gums are po'nting vertically into the skv and shrapnel sings through 10,000 feet of air. The pilot has received his orders headquarters direct, and their portent has brought a tense, stern look into the boyish face, while tht hand-clasp lie gives God-speeding friends before climbing into h's seat is something more than perfunctory. Beside him in a seat, which is the exact replica of the other, the passenger has already taken his place, and within touch of his hand is a set of levers exactly similar to that wh'ch faces the pilot. Should a stray bullet find the latter and nieapacitate him, it would be imjH)ssible for the second man to change seats in mid-air, but with the dual control he can assume command of the airship in an instant, unless by an unfortunate nrschance the pilot when struck should collapse across his levers, in which case all must be lost, as interference with one set of levers cqually affects the other. THE START. Amid the hum of many voices we move along the grass, and then the earth slips from beneath us, and we are sailing in the inexpressibly soft bosom of the atmosphere. For a time the feeling is one of unalloyed comfort. The well-padded seats are so deeply sunk in the hull as to he sheltered from the wind which seems immediately to blow whenever an ascent into the air is begun. The eyes are well protected by goggles, and warm, woolly helmets help to keep the otherwise exposed head snug. Smaller and smaller grow the living figures below t:ll at last they dwarf into atoms resembling insects. We have corkscrewed up to the height of a tall mountain, and the machine is rapidly assuming the horizontal. Facing pilot and passenger is a regu lar galaxy of instruments. There is an indicator reeord : ng the speed through the air, a very necessary device if only to inspire confidence in the motor, though, truth to tell, the super-sensitive ear of the pilot is quick to detect any halting throb. There is also a compass—not the erratic instrument once peculiar to flying ships, but a flawless one to bo implicitly trusted. Clipped into a frame just in front of the driving seat is also a map of the neighbourhood. Almost beneath this map, projecting from the floor boards, is a lever, and it was a backward push at this which moved the lifting planes of the vessel and caused the latter to ascend. Later on, if all goes well, the lever will be pushed forward, and we will descend to earth. THE BUSY PILOT. The pilot is now a particularly busy man. He seems to be doing half a dozen things at once, prominent among which are such tasks as ascertaining the altitude and watching the speedometer, while his ears are attuned to the rhythmical beat of the engines. An engine failure is tire bete noire of every aviator in peace or war. Its beat is a veritable heart throb; if it stops a terrible deatii is only avoided by superlative nerve and a big slice of luck into the bargain. So omnipresent is this danger that every aviator keeps a weather eye open fcr possible good landing-places in the shape of pasture land free from stone dykes or trees. But oingine troubles may be preceded by other disagreeable mishaps. An ignition wire may come adrift with a sickly twang, a valve spring snap, or the slackening of a nut may cause the life-giving petrol feed pipe to shake free from the tan'r. Tlu.-se tl- ngs, if they ,<re destined to happen, will quite probibly do so it the outset of a journey, but there being no trace of such weaknesses in the mach ne we are accompanying a terrific burst of speed is assumed till the speedometer indicates 90 m.p.h. The altitude gauge is pointing at 7000 feet, and we are gliding almost flush with a great fleecy bank of clouds with the roar of a gale in our ears, yet without the least trace of side niot'on.

ABOVE THE ENEMY LINES.

THE AERIAL POINT OF VIEW. Be'.ow us is the earth we belong to. but hard to recognise, for we see it from an entirely new point of view. It is spread out like some patch quilt or richly coloured map in bas-relief. For a time, however, everything below seems a blur. Eyes have been thrown out of focus by the swift upward progress of the machine, and. truth to tell, we are only beginning to master a dizzy, nauseating feeling akin to sea sickness. But the air is of \ irg'n purity, and the disagreeable feeling quickly gives way to one of positive exhilaration. What are these scarring lines in the hillsides below, and these little white puffs which ever and anon dot the landscape? They are the enemy's trenches and the smoke of his artillery. As the eye grows more accustomed to its surroundings many important things are noted. A cloud of dust rising above a mere thread of road betrays the movement of a considerable force of infantry, and the higher ascending but more shadowy dust haze away to the right betokens the presence of cavalry or horse artillery. As we dart like an arrow through the air we detect under the heaviest dust cloud of all a number of well-defined dots no larger than ants. These are the supply waggons of an army. The enemy is out on some important move. Though we are du'y noting all these important details, nothing as yet has happened to indcate that we have been detected. Probably we have been seen, but no notice has been taken because there is no weapon available to do us any harm at our present high altitude. The artillery we see below may comprise ordinary field guns with too low a trajectory for air work. THE MOMENT FOR ACTION. The moment for real action has arrived! We are sailing over a posit'on on which the enemy is showing great activity in mounting guns. Without reducing speed, we drop out a fuse giving out an intensely strong light, and tlrs is a signal to our own gunners, who have been intently following our movements, to concentrate their lire on that particular point. Suddenly there comes a decided change in cur course. We are describing a ciicle, and the machine :s banking just like some racing car rounding a track, and a peculiar sinking feeling tells us that we are rapidly descending. The earth is perceptibly taking on fresh detail, and objects we before could onlyguess at stand revealed. We are retracing our way to the British lines, but our indomitable pilot first intends to have a little show all on his own. A shell dropped plump upon one of these ammunition wagons we passed on the outward journey may explode the who'e string by sheer concussion. Death in the air and death on landl In a few moments it will bo give and take with a vengeance. We are now scarcely 2000 feet above earth, and our speed increases till the speedometer is osciilating between 120 and 130. We may be struck, but nothing below can take effective aim. Little white clouds and spurts of flame now appear as if by magic, followed by sharp detonations. The fleeting aeroplane is the target of shrapnel, which in the boundless air spread out wickedly. DROPPING A BOMB. A thousand rifles speed their messengers at us, and a hoarse roar from the rear tel's of some big gun which is wasting its energy. llip! a bullet passes through a plane, and another with an ugl} shriek scrapes the leathern coat of the pilot, who just then touches a button, which releases a shell from the floor of the vessel. It travels half a mile horizontally before plumping into the crowded road below, blotting everything out in a dense wall of smoke. Next instant there is a blinding flash and a deafening explosion overhead, and for a few dizzy seconds the world seems turning topsyturvy. Nothing actually strikes us, but the violent blast of disturbed air pitches the frail aeroplane bodily forward as if it had been a feather. A high explosive shell has just burst fifty yards away, and only deft handling saves the situation. Before the smoke pall opens out our tremendous speed literally plucks us from the Immediate danger zone, and we catch a welcome eight of British lines.