BIG GUN AEROPLANE.

Shannon News, 22 May 1928, Page 2

BIG GUN AEROPLANE.

A general description is now available for publication of a new type of fighter airplane, a three-seater, armed' with guns of (for an airplane) calibre, states the aviation correspon- '"■■ dent of the London Daily Telegraph.

The machine is the Westland "Westbury," fitted with two Bristol "Jupiter" 450 h.p. engines. It is a biplanfc of metal and wood construction, and mounts one gun in the nose of the fuselage and another in the rear cockpit* just behind the wings. The pilot oc-f cupies the seat just behind the forward* gunner.

It is well-known . that big-gun air planes are being developed in many countries, and the "Westbury" is not the only British machine of this class. ( The big-gun airplane is not entirely an innovation, for it was used in the Avar, and considerable attention has been given by designers to aircraft suitable for heavier armament than machineguns. During the war the Davis gun was tried, but in little more than ex- v periments. This weapon was carried on Handley P i; age and other big bombers, and it was specially designed for aircraft, recoil being overcome by a discharge (simultaneously with the projectile) from a tube extending from the rear of the" gun. This overcame the recoil, but was a severe handicap, imposing an additional restriction on the field of fire, Details of the new gun are not given, but it is not on the Davis principle.