THE "WARPLANE."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 43, 12 August 1911, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE "WARPLANE."

An extremely practical use of tlic aeroplane is about to be more fullv developed in England, where a company has been formed by Sir Hiram Maxim, the foremost of aeronautical experimenters, and the inventor of the rapid-fire gun which bears his name. It is stated that he has cast aside all business ties so that he mav be entirely free to devote his whole attention to aviation; to this end he has associated himself with Mr. Claude Grahame-White the foremost British aviator. The third well-known man in this formidable combination is Mr. Louis Bleriot, the builder of the popular "Bleriot" monoplane. Mr. Bleriot is one of the most skilful aeronautical engineers in the world. This remarkable association of talented men propose to develop a "warplane," which will carry a 5001b bomb 40 miles and return, thus making practical the "human projectile" which may shoot around comers, over mountains, and even the horizon itself, seeking out the enemy vainly endeavoring to escape, wherever he may be found. The efficiency of the aeroplane both in war and peace would be greatly promoted by the successful operation of the Clarke device intended to enable an aviator to ascend directly from the doorstep of his house, or preferably from the roof of any huildin" In shape, the new machine,'when constructed, will resemble an umbrella with added features. The lifting power, too will be of the same nature as that endin* to take an umbrella up in the air in a storm. Practically all the weight will be supported below the big conicalshaped sheet of light metal, which is ■ expected to give the machine great stability The practical operation of this machine would be of great assistance in air travel.