THE FLYING EGG

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 22

THE FLYING EGG

Bomber, Fighter, Interceptor In 1915 a young Dutchman changed the world’s ideas of war in the air, writes Victor Burnett, in the “Sunday Express.” He invented a device that enabled a machine-gun to fire through the propeller. The day he invented it real air warfare began. Round his device small, manoeuvreable, high-speed singleseaters were built. The young Dutchman’s name was Anthony Fokker. The new idea he brought stood unchanged through the years. Fighters were faster, more efficient, more expensive—but in principle they were the same. Last week the entire aviation world saw that its ideas had to be changed. Anthony Fokker’s latest warplane was responsible. For thg second time the Dutchman had changed military ideas. The machine is called the Scythe. And it is the most deadly instrument that ever fletv. It looks like a sharp ended winged egg, with two fuselages supporting the tail. An engine is on each wing. Its wheels fold up into the engine cases when it is flying. Hidden in its streamlined body are 1000 pounds of bombs. The pointed tail is a battleship gun turret, worked automatically, with the gun able to fire at any angle. And in its rounded nose are two quickfirers, with magazines of 100 explosive shells. Just one of these shells would blast an aircraft to pieces. Above these cannon are two machineguns. There is room in the fuselage for complete radio equipment and photographic apparatus. The crew consists of pilot and gunner. The speed is 300 miles an hour. The range exceeds 1000 miles. The Scythe is an air battle cruiser. It can do anything. Instead of a series of fast fighters, with short ranges, being sent up at intervals to intercept a raid, squadrons of these machines can patrol over segments of a circle, at varying heights. It is a real interceptor. In Paris, at the aviation exhibition, everyone, was asking which air force the Scythe was intended for. I can answer that question.

The Royal Dutch Air Force will be equipped with them first.