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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0140.PDF
(/OGHT THE 160 H.P. ARMOURED JUST before war was declared, M. Ble"riot had started experiments with a new type of armoured monoplane, fitted with a 160 h.p. motor, and although the tests had to be abandoned, the two machines of the type which had been constructed were pressed into service, and both FEBRUARY 26, '915- BLERIOT The body is of the TWO-SEATER. coque " type, and is of ample depth, so as to allow the gunner to use his gun either when standing inside the machine or when seated, and to permit of access to the holes at the side of the armoured casing. This casing extends from the extreme THE 160 H.P. ARMOURED BLERIOT TWO-SEATER.—A three-quarter front view. of them—-one in the hands of Vedrines—have rendered a good account of themselves at the Front. As will be seen from the photographs which we repro duce, with the exception of the body and allowing for the difference in size and power, there is comparatively little departure from what may be termed standard Bleriot practice, the wings, which have rather a pro nounced dihedral, being identical in general construction and shape to those fitted to the ordinary type of machine. Lateral control is, as usual, effected by the warp of the forward end of the body to the rear of the gunner's seat, and is made of 3 mm. chrome nickel steel, thus completely enclosing the engine—a 160 h.p. Gnome—the pilot, gunner, all tanks and the controls, and affording the maximum amount of protec tion against the effects of small gun and rifle fire; while the underneath portion of the body is well rounded, so as to minimise the penetrating power of a projectile, which strikes the armour at an angle. Suitably positioned holes are cut in the nose of the machine to allow of the THE 160 H.P. ARMOURED BLERIOT TWO-SEATER.—A three-quarter rear view. wings, the warp wires being carried to the bottom pylon, which is enclosed within the body. The top load wires, it will be seen, are attached to the forward end of a double mast of somewhat similar design to that fitted to the "total visibility" type machine, which is mounted upon the body; while the top warp wires are carried up to the rear end of this structure. entrance of sufficient air to cool the engine; and doors are provided, one on each side, beneath the wings and near the front (see the three-quarter front view), through which the gunner can fire at an object beneath the machine. The remainder of the framework of the body is embedded within a papier-mache casing, over which canvas is sewn, with the object cf minimising the risk of failure of a 140
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