SERIAL NAVIGATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 162, 8 January 1912, Page 5

SERIAL NAVIGATION.

A TRAMS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 7, 5.5 p.m. New York, January G. Dr. Paul Cans has made arrangements with the Washington authorities to'provide warships to accompany him on his proposed trans-Atlantic flight from Europe. COLLISION WITH A TELEGRAPH POLE. Received 7, 0.5 p.m. Sydney, January 7. Aviator Hart, • carrying Major Rosenthal as a passenger, collided with a telegraph post and fell. Both were slightly injured, and the aeroplane was damaged. AIRCRAFT IN WARAND COMMERCE. THEIR CONTROiTbY "WIRELESS." A CHAT WITHTHE INVENTOR. "Those questions are of great importance to Australia, and New Zealand-of even more importance than to England and the Continent." The questions referred to were the advance, m aviation, and the speaker wir ; A V L Roberts - who c ™e to Wellington from San Francisco in the Aorangi on Thursday, and left for Sydney in the same vessel on Friday (savs the limes). Three years ago Mr. Roberts, who had worked as an electrical engineer in New Zealand, invented a torpedo which could be controlled by wireless electricity. His invention found favor m the eyes of the Commonwealth Government, and Mr. Roberts went to England accredited by the Commonwealth to place the torpedo before the Admiralty. Various tests were made with the invention, and in all of them perfect success was attained; but it was found at last that the wireless control ecu d be interfered with-that an en>mv. with Hertzian waves at his command, might turn the oncoming torpedo round and send it to Halifax. Mr. Roberts hopes by-and-bye that a device will be perfected whereby interference with the control will be rendered impossible. Meanwhile he has other irons in the fire He has applied the principle of wireless control to an aerial torpedo, and has also overcome the problem of instability in aerial craft by combining with the airship or aeroplane the gyroscope made famous by its association with the Brennan monorail. In the course of his three years abroad Mr. Roberts has travelled extensively on the Continent and in America in search of experience, and has made flights in various types of aircraft. Which statement brings us back to our starting-point— the inventor's views on aviation. TO DEFEND AUSTRALASIA. Conversing with a New Zealand Times reporter Mr. Roberts remarked that, because of their situation, Australia and New Zealand were especially interested in aviation problems as applied to warfare and the prevention of war. He explained that, whereas in Europe any one country might despatch airships against another; this could not be done with the Commonwealth and New Zealand. Aeroplanes could not be transported over the sea on a warship and then started on'their flight from the deck of the ship, as recent trials had show that the provision of the necessary space on deck for a starting stage practically rendered the warship useless for the ordinary purposes of war. In other words, before aircraft'can be directed against the islands of the Southern Seas, the enemy nyust effect a landing am; establish a base, with aerodromes, etc. Yet Australasia, having possessioh'of the land, can direct aeroplanes against the enemy cither as scouts or armed with bombs and torpedoes. STABILITY OF GYROSCOPES. •'What is there that is new in your aerial torpedo?" asked the reporter. "There are three things," replied Mr. Roberts. "The first is the control by Hertzian waves—in experiments I "find that I can direct the torpedo as long as I can see it; the second is the appl£ cation of the gyroscope to attain stability: and the third is a device for rendering the torpedo invisible." To understand the value of the addition of the gyroscope, it is necessary to know that one of the main difficulties aviators have in the past had to contend with has been the liability of the airship or aeroplane to lose its stability, even with a pilot on board. With no pilot—when the control is by wireless—the problem becomes doubly difficult; but Mr. Roberts has found that, as gyroscopic attachments render it possible for a. cat to be run on one rail, so also will they keep an air vessel properly poised. This device has been adopted by the Admiralty. PRACTICAL MAGIC. The third principle, of the invisible quality of the torpedo, sounds fanciful; but Mr. Roberts assured the reporter that it was quite practicable. "You have seen in ' magic' displays' hpw' a head may be made to walk round the stage, the body attached to it being invisible? Weft, my device is an application of the same principle. I have succeeded in making the torpedo invisible at a height of three hundred feet." Quite an enchanted airship—not a case—in the air. FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS. "I think they have got as far as it is possible to "get," said Mr. Roberts when the reporter asked what new types bf fliers might be expected. "In principle," he added. "From now on they will be improving the motor, and aviators will be getting more experienced; but I think they have solved the main problems; the rest is detail and application.'" France,'h'e went on to say, at present red the world in aviation, and the building of aircraft, with England a good second, and Germany and Russia next. Frenchmen appeared to succeed more than other nationalities because of their patience in working at a machine till it k perfect. Englishmen were more hasty—something like the Americans, who, in aviation, were now far behind. Wright Bros, had adopted the commercial side of aviation, and were now lost. NO USE IN COMMERCE. "What about aeroplanes in commerce?" queried the (reporter—"For passengers, carriage of mails, goods, and so on?" "Never!" said Mr. Roberts decisively. "Aeroplanes, for one thing, could never the weight which they would be required to if they were to be of any use in transport trade. Even with lighter loads, such as mails, aeroplanes would be unreliable, as their speed is dependent on air currents. Air currents and variable winds, Which cannot be charted as currents of the ocean can, make it difficult to steer over unknown country with a compass as an aid. The future 'of aircraft lies in their use for the prevention of war," concluded Mr. Roberts, "and for the man who searches after speed records." "Well, I suppose the next war will prove the use of the new weapon," remarked the interviewer as he said goodbye. "From what I saw on the Continent. T should say it is a wonder we have not had a war before now," rejoined the inventor.