£11,000 FOR AEROPLANES.

Mataura Ensign, 26 January 1912, Page 4

£II,OOO FOR AEROPLANES.

WAR OFFICE PRIZES. TIi!? prizes offered by the War Oftieo for the host military aeroplane and tbo condition* of tlie competition were officially announced recently. Two prizes—one of £4OOO and tho other of £2OOO are open to the world for aeroplanes made in any country. Six prizes are offered to British subjects for aeroplanes manufactured wholly in (Jreat Britain, except the engines. These are: Ist prize, .£1.500; two 2nd prizes, £-1000 each; three 'Anl wizen. £SOO each.

No competitor may take more than £SOOO in prizes, and the War Office will have itlie joption ]of purchasing for .£IOOO any machine awarded a prize. It is also provided that "the owners of ten machines which are submitted to all the flying tests and are not awarded a prize to receive £IOO for each inuchino so tested.''

Among the conditions required l to bo fulfilled, by a military aeroplane arc the following : Carry a*livo load of .'ssolhs. in addition to instruments, with fuel and oil for 4}hr.

hly ior :!hr and maintain an altitude) of 4500 ft -for one hour, the first 1000 ft being attained at the rate of 200 ft a minute.

Attain a ~peod of not less than u5 miles per hour.

Plane down to ground in a calm from not more than 1000 ft with engine stopped, during which time a horizontal distance of not less than 0000 ft must he traversed before touching. Rise without damage from long grass, clover, or harrowed land in 1(X) yards in a calm. •

Land without damage on any cultivated land, aud pull up within 75 yards of the point at which it first touches when landing on smooth turf.

Provide accommodation for a pilot and observer, and the controls must be capablo of use by either. The pilot aud observer's views of the country below them to front and flank must be as open as possible, and they should lie shielded from the wind.

Effective silencer fitted to engine,