GERMAN AIRCRAFT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 23 May 1917, Page 8

GERMAN AIRCRAFT.

—• The one great problem of fche aeroplane pilot, namely, making a safe land, ing at night, appears to have been solved by the Germans in an ingenious manner. A large white light is placed in the centre of the aerodrome, sunk in a pit in the ground and covered over with a sheet of thick glass to withstand the weight of an aeroplane should the wheels pass over it. At a distance of about 250 feet from this light, and also sunk in the ground, asre four red lights corresponding to the cardinal points of the compass. Each of the red lightsl is connected by subterranean cables to a wind vane, mounted on a mast or tower at some convenient point. At night the central light glows constantly, while the red light in the direction of the wind that happens to be blowing also shows, indicating to the pilot the wind conditions, where the landing ig to be made. It is understood that a system of altering the lights has, been devised, so that an aviator has to understand the code ii\ order to know his whereabouts. Thus enemy airmen are thwarted from making use of the lights as guides.