AMAZING 'PLANES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 15 May 1924, Page 7

AMAZING 'PLANES.

DEVELOPMENTS IN AIR DEFENCE. MACHINES WITH TREMENDOUS SPEED. By Tolegraph—Press AseoeiAtion—Oopyrif b* Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 15, 10.30 a.m.) f LONDON, May 14. The “ Daily Mail ” describes new giant aero engines, novel wing devices, and developments in metal construction, permitting machines to be designed of a size hitherto impossible and turning new pages in history. Tho newest wonders include bombeis with multi-engined power plants, practically eliminating the risks of forced landings, and able to fly at such tremendous speed that defence becomes daiiy more difficult. Another variety of single-seater “ fighter’' is equipped with huge engines enabling it to rise up almost vertically and attaining vast heights with rapidity formerly considered impossible. A new armaments race has begun between the nations to develop immensely long range planes capable ofl striking* blows at distant bases. Experiments are proceeding in refuelling in jight, from winged tankers with a view to increasing range.

Greatly improved anti-aircraft guhs are being tested -for the defence of cities like London against bombing aeroplanes flying at great heights, ■wrote the aeronautical correspondent of the “ Daily Chronicle,” London, recently. One of these guns will fire a high explosive shell, weighing about 501 b, to an extreme height of just over 30,0 X) feet, or six miles from the enrth. Not only will the new gun, which . has a wonderfully improved Counting, have this tremendous range, hut its loading gear wall enable rapidity of fire to be maintained such as lias never been secured before with a similar weapon. A second gun for use against aeroplanes is designed to bo employed in batteries, and to be mounted for the inner defences of a big city. These guns, each capable of firing small explosive shells at the rate of more than 100 a minute, will maintain terrible barrages at various levels up to about-'’three miles above the city. Another weapon for aerial war is an improved and very powerful type of machine-gun for dealing with low-flying bombers. f This gun will send up streams of bullets to a height of about 12,000 feet, and at a rate of fire as great a.s 800 shots a minute. One of the chief features of these city and coast defence guns "is the rapidity with which they can !>e trained upon a target. New rangefinding systems, in conjunction with centralised fire-control, are believed to be the kbynote to the ground defence against aircraft.