SHOT FROM CATAPULT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 10

SHOT FROM CATAPULT

rocket aeroplanes. FRANCE’S SECRET. LONDON, Juno 2. Julias Verne’s story of the journey to he moon will not seem so fantastic if he latest French design of rocket aeroplanes is perfected. The aeronautical correspondent of the London Daily Mall discloses a scheme ■which, if perfected, could translate into fact Jules Verne’s fantastic story of the journey to the moon. The secret “ rocket aeroplanes ’’ of the French experimental programme include a mancarrying ’pane possessing neither engine nor propeller. It resembles the suggested by Sir Oliver Lodge, which would be propelled by the ejection at high speed of gas from the stern. The hull is fitted with apparatus for producing, under pressure in a combustion chamber, gas, which is ejected from the tail through nozzles. This ceaseless discharge is calculated to drive the winger “rocket” at an unprecedented speed, probably at nearly 400 miles an hour. The experts realise the riskiness of the experimentation stages, and with this “ jet propulsion ” they will not at first attempt high speed. With the view of overcoming the difficulties of ascending and alighting, they will launch tho machine by a hydraulic catapult, and arrange for Landing on a skein of elevated wire's. Discussing Britain's purpose in calling an international conference for the limitations of aerial forces, Popolo d’ltalia (which, says the Milan correspondent of The Times, is supposed to reflect the views of the Italian Air Department) declares that Italv will not favour such a purpose, and that'the Italian Government will support its point of view with tho argument that aviation is still capable of great development, which must not bo prevented. Moreover, says the paper, far from reducing the British air progamrne, the MacDonald Govenment is spending more money on it. “Without being particularly alarmed at the aerial preparations of other countries, Italy cannot afford to ignore them. She has only recently begun to develop military aviation, and she is detftrmined to brinu; it tip to a standard worthy of her political situation. The paper concludes by declaring that only when this standard is reached will Italy consider any proposal for an international air conference.