NEW ENGINE OF WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9098, 16 March 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

NEW ENGINE OF WAR.

AIARVELLOUS AERIAL TORPEDO FOR EXPLOSIVES.

A demonstration is to be made m London towards the close of the month of the • extraordinary powers of dirigibility of the new electrical aerial torpedo and the sky-cycle" airship, of which the inventor is Air Carl Alyers, of Frankfort, New York State. The aerial torpedo, which ii a vessel of entirely new design, is 13ft long from tip to tip, and is also 13ft m circumference at the widest part. It is propelled by a 1£ h.p. electric' motor weighing 41b only, devolving a current of 110 volts, and controlled from a switchboard. _ To the keel is attached a car containing the motor, an aluminium screw shaft-, and a two-bladed propeller, and there are two aeroplanes to support .and guide the torpedo m mid' air. _ At the recent trials m the St. Louis Coliseum the vessel started from an elevated platform across an oval arena 22Qftl long, rising as it flew, then turning gradually about and retracing its course, then curving and gradually rising until it hdd reached the ceiling on a spiral pathway. AS IF ENDOWED WITH LIFE. The vessel then fell vertically until it reached the ground, rose and circled again m a -path limited by' the arena until part way around the oval, when it described a figure eight and flew off on another tack and re-encircled the oval, with an opposite succession of cycloidal curves. It would suddenly fly around the arena, darting straight at some selected victim, but when just within reach would circle to the right or left, or else swing broadside, for all the world as though it were endowed with life and intelligence. It ~ would often rest itself for a moment on the railing of the boxes, then fly to the electric fountain and circle it, and then move forward m a straight or curved course. With this marvellous engine it is claimed that high explosives can be distributed over any point selected for destructive purposes.