Pofular Science Monthly 



353 



The Sikorsky biplane, the first of the aeronautical giants of to-day. Before the outbreak of 

 war, this machine startled the world by making successful flights with seventeen passengers 



tables, luxuries replaced by explosives. 

 With the exception of the Sikorsky 

 biplane, the first reports that filtered 

 into the press of both continents con- 

 cerning aerial dreadnoughts was the ap- 

 pearance over the English lines of a 

 huge German machine, which hovered at 

 a great height over 

 points of vantage, 

 refusing to be 

 driven away by 

 anti-aircraft guns. 

 The engines turn- 

 ed over slowly, 

 driving the biplane 

 at a lazy speed of 

 sixty miles an 

 hour, British avia- 

 tors who rose to 

 fight off this 

 stranger were 

 received with a 

 hearty welcome. 

 Powerful motors 

 were switched on, 

 and the machine 

 flew to the combat 

 at a tremendous 

 speed. From the 

 fusilage two guns 

 blazed forth, and 

 the hardy British 

 were quickly 

 driven to cover, 

 machine held the 



and not until France and England built 

 their aerial dreadnoughts did the odd^ 



Scene in the Curtiss factory at Buffalo. 

 Mechanics are seen working on one of the 

 many aeroplanes of the "America" type, 

 which are being turned out at this factory 

 at the rate of one finished machine a day 



For some time tliis 

 supremacy of the air. 



again become even. As nearly as can be 

 ascertained, Fritc, as this new machine 

 was soon christened by the English, has 

 a wing spread of between eighty and 

 one hundred feet. In the central fusilage 

 are mounted two heavy guns, and there 

 are accommodations for two gunners 

 and a pilot, with 

 usually an ob- 

 server to watch 

 the enemy's lines. 

 In two fusilages 

 on the wings are 

 two heavy motors, 

 with the necessary 

 room for mechan- 

 icians and engi- 

 neers. The great 

 power of the mo- 

 tors gives the 

 battle-plane won- 

 derful flexibility 

 of speed. 



Unsubstantiated 

 reports from Eu- 

 rope credit the Ger- 

 mans with a new 

 triplane which 

 carries a crew of 

 twenty men, eight 

 motors, and five 

 guns, including an 

 anti-aircraft g u n 

 throwing high explosive shells of heavy 

 caliber. This super-dreadnought is said 

 to be sheathed with armor. 



(Continued in the April issue.) 



