IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

NEW GERMAN AEROPLANE. .... A GRAPHIC -DESCRIPTION, Received Jan. 22, ;").20 p.m. London, Jan. 21. Germany's recent air successes continue to excite .interest. The Manchester Guardian, in a detailed and well-in-formed article by an aviator expert, states thai the Germans have hitherto only mentioned army commanders such as Hindenburg and Maekenscn, in communiques, hut they are now billing humble- lieutenants as star turns tints': —Lieut. Immelmati shot down- a British aeroplane; Lieut, Blocke sliot another. Evidently Germany believes she can inspire the Royal Flying Corps with terror. Fokker is a young Dutchman, who built a wierd uneapsizeable monoplane in 1011. The new Fokke.ra do not attempt to secure or inherit stability, but are designed to be absolutely under the control of the pilot in every position, and thus able to manoeuvre with lightning speed. They closely 1-esemblc ""the .Mortar, monoplanes, which Hamel used. Immelmann's and Blocke's aeroplanes liavu guns 0 n top of the engine, and lire through the/propellers, which are fitted with deflector plates. It is estimated that only five per cent, of the bullets will hit the plate. Garros first tried the deflator dodge. Fokker's favorite method of attack is to rise to 1500 feet and hang around until an Allies' machine appears below. The Fokker then stands on its head, dives straight for its victim, aiming the gun by steering. 'The whole aeroplane is |ike Jwlson's flatiron gunboat in Kipling's story.

BRITISH MACHINES EQUAL TO;IT.

' London, Jan. 21, Some newspapers are making a feature of the exploits of the German Fokker aeroplanes, suggesting tlia: they are stronger and faster than ours. They point out.that seventeen of our aeroplanes have been, brought down since December 10. The Fokker carries'air immovable, machine-gun, which fires straight ahead. Their use is restricted, because only a super-aviator can pilot them. Mr. Tennant, in the House of Commons, replying to questions"on the subject, said the main duties of aeroplanes wore reconnaissance, artillery work, and offensive fighting. If the Germans adopted the offensive and came behind our lines wo had machines equal in speed and efficiency to the Fokkers. Our air service had given a good account of itself. Received Jan. 2.1, ii.,l p.m., London, Jan. 22. By making the descent slightly spiral or straight) the stream of imliets becomes a cone of fire, from which the victim cannot escape, whichever way he may turn. If it fails to hit, the Fokker comes behind the enemy, firing along the body, so that the pilot, passenger, tanks, and engine are all in one line of fire. Unless the pursued aircraft is able to dodge like a rabbit, some vital spot is bound to be hit.

It is quite possible that British manufacturers may produce a faster monoplane, equally as quick and easy to manoeuvre, but they must be given a. free hand, unhampered by the obsolete official types, It has been the general impression that British aviators commanded the air in the Wes.i. This was due to General French's despatch of October, 1014. The impession wa§ largely due to the. fact that the biggest German Aeroplanes were withdrawn to partake in the big,drive in Russia, ami then the Gcrshan battle aeroplanes did considerable damage until the French introduced fast scouts and socalled "avitaniuanons," carrying threeinch quiekfirers, instead- oi" machineguns. German aeroplanes' were again scarce in the West in October, when the big long-distance machines were sent to Serbia, Bulgaria, and Bukovina to watch the Roumanian army on the Hungarian frontier.