BULLET-PROOF AEROPLANES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 45, 15 June 1914, Page 4

BULLET-PROOF AEROPLANES

s . For some time past experiments have been made by the French authorities with armored aeroplanes, and these have met with a certain measure of success. The vulnerable parts of the mechanism, which are situated in the front part of the body, and the pilot’s seat are enclosed in a sheet of three-millimetre chromenickel steel, winch is proof against riile-fire at ranges greater than 2500 feet. An armored aeroplane of this description possesses the advantage of being capable of navigating safely over hostile positions at comparatively low altitudes, and thereby affords much better opportunities for observation than an unprotected craft which has to maintain an altitude of 5000 feet or more to be reasonably safe against modern rifle-fire. On the other hand, the weight of the protective armor constitutes a serious drawback to its use, for the ar-mor-plating of an aeroplane is, roughly, equivalent to that of a passenger. For this reason, many experts prefer to trust for safety .at to the natural flying qualities of the aeroplane, to its speed and capacity for quick climbing. There'are several instances on record of aviators having been struck, and even killed, by rifle bullets in modern warfare. Two pilots were thus killed during the Balkan war, while, during the recent operations in Morocco, an aeroplane carrying two Spanish officers was repeatedly struck by the Moorish marksmen. Both occupants were seriously wounded, and,, though the pilot succeeded in bringing the machine safely back to the base, he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.