THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AEROPLANE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13692, 7 March 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AEROPLANE.

ITS EFFECT UPON THE MOTOR-CAR

INDUSTRY. The aeroplane is as great an advance upon the motor-car as the motor-car was upon the bicycle. As such it is deserving of every consideration, as much from a commercial a3 from a scientific standpoint.

What, then, will be the effect of the advent of the aeroplane'upon the motorcar industry? Adverse or beneficial?

Bear in mind the case of the motor-car and the bicycle. As it was with the eye'o industry upon the development of the motor-car, so it will be with the motor-car industry when the aeroplane becomes a commercial machine.

Recall how the leading cycle makers were able to take advantage of their experience in the production of accurate mechanism upon a sound and commercial basis for the manufacture of motor-cars, with an amount of success which warranted, in many cases, the entire abandoning of the initial business, a success of which the names of many of the leading automobiles of the day bear witness. So will it be in the case of the aeroplane, but with a greater surety, in so far that the essential features of the two latter constructions more nearly re-, semble each other, while the most important detail, the petrol engine, is practically the same, irrespective of hind or aerial use. PETROL. It is perhaps in connection with this detail that the automobile engineer of today will, when the time comes, find that, his knowledge is of most value, while the resulting development of the internal combustion engine is likely to develop both car and aeroplane alike. ' In mentioning the petrel motor it is taken for granted that this form of engine will be the one universally adopted for aeroplane propulsion, and in view- of the outstanding features of this engine, it seems certain, unless any unforeseen discovery takes place, that this will bo so. Those who are at the present time experimenting for the development of the aeroplane are making use of petrol engines of similar design to those used upon motorcars, and when it is borne in mind that with special construction these engines can be produced at a. weight, of less than three pounds per horse-power, as against ten pounds per horse-power of the specially light steam engines employed by -Maxim and others in the early days of experimental riving machines, it will be seen that much has already been done by the internal combustion engine towards tire production of an ideal motor for aerial use. Thus the motor-car ha* served in a. manner to pave the way for the aeroplane. A FORECAST. In constructional matters also, at any rate so far as the. essential features of lightness combined with strength are concerned, the aeroplane will not widely differ from the motor-car chassis, and it will undoubtedly fall to the lot of the motor-car manufacturer to construct the aeroplane framework when the time arrives for its commercial production. When this day comes tho larger manufacturers—or those of them who arc sufficiently enterprising not to sit down and wait to see what the others arc going to do --will set aside a. portion of their works and staff for the production of aeroplane, chassis, and of specially light and suitably designed motors for aeroplane propulsion. They will bo iirolect- themselves from the effect ' upon the motor-oar output which would be produced bv the popularising :>\ the aeroplane, all effect which, although perhaps in the early stages hardly noticeable, would be bound to have certain results upon the road car, by reason of the advance which the practical "aero-car" would bo upon such a vehicle, in point of speed and convenience. Thus although the motor-car is never likely to be superseded by any invention of mankind, it is quite conceivable that the advent of the aeroplane would reduce considerably the demand for motor-cars. Hearing in mind the similarity of the two machines, it is quite within the bounds of reason to slate that the resulting effect upon the motor-car industry would be beneficial rather than otherwise, and would lead to further expansion of the automobile movement to the good of all concerned.