AIRCRAFT IN THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

AIRCRAFT IN THE WAR.

SPEED AND STRENGTH.

150 MILES AN HOUR.

Without mentioning by name any British' or any enemy type, .it may be stated that aeroplanes , capable of a speed of nearly 150 miles per hour in calm air are in existence. It is likely, too, that certain machines of'heavy "loading" (which is not the fame thing as great total weight) and small head-resistance in a steep dive attain a speed of 250 miles per hour.

j. Certain , dangers are encountered by very high-speed machines. The dangers were . anticipated year? ago, and to some i extent, at any rate, they are provided for in building. These fast craft have their own degree and problems 'of instability, and they' are no whit easier to fly or safer than slow craft. A diving speed of something more than 200 miles per hour having been attained, it seems likely .that an entirely new phase is entered upon, requiring very careful consideration. It may be interesting to compare the speed of mechanical flight with that attained in other locomotion, artificial or natural. There is no doubt that mechanical flight has beaten everything; but this victory .has only been attained within the past few months. The nearest competitor appears to have been an electric train on special speed trials -at Zossen, near Berlin, in October, 1903, the speed being 130£ miles per hour. Nothing approaching this is reached on steam railways, by which the maximum of speed probably has never reached 100 miles per hour. The mono-rail sysem, although it gives prospect of greater speed, has not yet been put to this use. The Bachelet "levitated train would, it was claimed, travel at more than 200 miles per hour. Motor-cars on the track have not reached the speed of the Zossen trials, and record motor-boat speed is still well under a mile a minute. Birds are far behind, it being doubtful whether the independent speed of the swiftest birds; such as teal and quail, is up to sixty miles per hour.