“Geodetic” Planes

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 65, 18 March 1936, Page 7

“Geodetic” Planes

GREAT SAVING OP WEIGHT SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES LONDON. Aeroplanes built on tho ''geodetic’ principle, as embodied iu a new type of Air Force general purpose machine, will have so great a range that every capital in Europe will bo within striking dislanco of basos iu Great Britain. It follows that any part of Great Britain will be within range of air bases in countries whose frontiers are 1000 miles away. Although the "Wellesley” general purpose machine w r as not designed especially for bombing, it could without sacrifie of the loud safety factor, fly 8000 miles. It could carry a considerable load of bombs 2000 miles, and return to its base, on one load of fuel. Thus, in tho European area encompassed by its radius of effective action, lie Leningrad, Moscow, Athens, Romo and Madrid. Hitherto Great Britain has been within striking distance of bases in France, Belgium and Western Germany, but in no serious danger from places farther away. Tho new situation now created is being very seriously considered. It will, of course, bo romombered' .that aeroplanes on a war errand must not pass over neutral territory, and that deviations to avoid doing this can only bo made at the cost of timo, fuel and some of the war load. Clearly, questions of alliances and ententes will inevitably take on new aspects, in the light of the capabilities of aircraft

constructed on this new weight-saving principle. At least of equal importance may be the effect upon commercial aviation as a paying proposition, rendering it less dependent upon Htate subsidies, and bringiug nearer tho day of its complete emancipation. Cloarly, it will improvo the prospects of services across the Atlantic and other ocoans. Without entirely putting them aside, it will inevitably narrow tho opportunities fo: such costly raugo-increasing methods as refuelling iu tho air, seadromes, catapulting, or aerial launching. The "geodotic’’ method of construction consists of a web of metal members. It results in an immensely strong and comparatively light structure, and entirely hollow wings and bodies adaptable for storage. The saving of weight, by comparison with cau tilever or “stressed skin” structures, is of the order of 35 to 40 per cent.