538 



Popular Science Monthly 



Courtesy of Illustrated London News 



Capable of accommodating sixteen passengers, or of carrying a heavy cargo of bombs, the Si- 

 korsky biplane was the first aeroplane to be built of gigantic dimensions. At the outbreak 

 of war this machine was the largest in the world, but its usefulness was handicapped by its 



struction that has been used consists 

 largely of steel tubing, and the best 

 practice in bridge work and structural 

 engineering has been introduced, for the 

 first time in aeroplane construction. All 

 parts are interchangeable, and with the 

 proper machinery, the aeroplanes can 

 be manufactured in great numbers with 

 great speed and at a very low cost. With 

 this type of construction, machines of 

 great size may be built which will have 

 an unusually large factor of safety and 

 great inherent stability. 



The first model of the Sturtevant all- 

 steel battle-plane has a so-called turret 

 (in reality a stationary streamline body) 

 half-way out on each wing. In these 

 turrets may be mounted heavy guns, and 

 v\ time of peace they may be used 

 for passengers or freight. The first 

 trials of this new machine were most suc- 

 cessful, and the designer, Grover C. 

 Loening, former Aeronautic Engineer of 

 the United States Army, has been 

 awarded a medal by the Aero Club of 

 America for his meritorious work. 



