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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0685.PDF
SEPTEMBER IO, 1915. I/O GHT CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS. ALTHOUGH a comparatively high state of efficiency has been attained in the construction and design of the aero plane, nothing approaching standardisation has yet been reached, and when one comes to look into the matter it is found that for any given constructional detail there exists almost as many ways of carrying it out as there are constructors. While in itself standardisation is a much- to-be-desired asset from the point of view of maximum output, the aeroplane, even in its various types, is still very far off anything like finality, and hence it is impossible that its various component parts should as yet have settled down to the state of uniformity which makes for rapidity of production. Besides, too early standardisa tion carries with it a danger of stagnation in design, which tends to bar the road of progress and leaves little scope for originality. When speaking of standardisation of constructional aeroplane details, it should be pointed out that this may be of two kinds—one with reference to types, and the other, which might be described as dimensional standard isation, having regard to details that may be similar in type but which differ in size. To deal with the last- mentioned form would obviously be outside the scope of a series of comparative sketches, whilst such a series as that of which we publish the first this week should be of interest to our readers in showing the variety of ways in which the same object may be attained by different designers Our page of illustrations this week shows a number of interplane strut sockets. In our next and following issues we hope to be able to continue the series with comparative sketches of other details. ® ® ® » AIRCRAFT AND THE, WAR. THE Morning Post correspondent at Stockholm, writing on September 1st, said:— " A telegram from Ilelsingborg states that the Swedish steamer ' Murjek' was recently hailed in the North Sea by the Zeppelin ' L 13.' The airship hovered above the steamer for some time, then suddenly descended to the level of her masthead, and after receiving details from the captain on the bridge regarding the port of departure and destination of the vessel, rose again and disap peared, travelling in a westerly direction.'" According to the Telegraaf of September 2nd, some days previously two bombs exploded at Zeebrugge, causing serious damage. One woman was wounded. A person who said they were dropped by German airmen was arrested. Writing from Northern France on August 31st, a Daily Chronicle correspondent said :— " After a vain attempt to bombard Montdidier, a small town in the Somme department within a few miles of the front, the Germans resolved to try dropping some bombs on it from an aeroplane. " Two days ago a Taube flew over the French lines with this object, but he was quickly perceived, a French airman going up in pursuit. The same kind of aerial fight ensued as that which ter minated in the fall into Senlis Forest of one of the enemy airmen who tried to fly over Paris. " Riddled with bullets from the French aviator's quick-firer, the pilot of the Taube was killed, and the machine fell to earth behind the French lines." On Friday, August 27th, in the afternoon, the Handels- blad received from a Belgian source the following :— " A French aviator flew over Brussels and its vicinity for an hour dropping several bombs on the barracks at Etterbeek. Most of the bombs hit the objects at which they were aimed. The Germans shelled the aviator, but without success." A Reuter message from Catania on Sunday regarding the conditions at Smyrna said :— " The town has suffered considerably from aeroplane bombard ments. The Turks have built a new entrenchment which they have armed with coast artillery." Writing from Paris on September 3rd, the Times correspondent said :— "Two airmen N.C.O's., Berlin and Boyer have just been mentioned in an order of the day for having brilliantly accomplished a dangerous mission over the lines of the enemy, and the former has been awarded the Legion of Honour. The two airmen set out together on a mission to a village near which Bertin was to alight four miles farther away than the point determined for Boyer's descent. While passing over the enemy's line, Bertin was wounded in the leg, but continued his journey. Boyer arrived at his destina tion safely, but in alighting his machine capsized. He immediately set fire to it, and started out to regain the French lines on foot. " Bertin had by this time accomplished his mission, and on his return perceived the fire near the point fixed for his comrade's descent. He at once alighted, took Boyer as passenger and regained the French lines. Berlin's machine was heavily shelled, not less than 9 holes being made in it by bullets and shell splinters, while one of its struts was broken." The Times correspondent at Venice, writing on September 7 th, said :— " Two Austrian seaplanes on Sunday afternoon dropped bombs near Chioggia without causing any damage. "One of the seaplanes was brought down and sunk by Italian guns. " The two officers were made piisoners." A Reuter message from Paris on September 7 th stated:— " Last night a German aviator flying at a great height over Chavannes-sur-1'Etang, an Alsatian commune on the old frontier, dropped a wreath bearing the inscription, ' In memory of Pegoud, who died a hero's death, from his adversary.'" 685 NOT EASIER SAID THAN DONE. 8he Are you copper-bottoming 'em, my man ? He: No, I'm aiuminruming 'em, mum.
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