The latest machines
are fitted with motors developing from 120 to 150 horse-power.
The "Taube" commanded attention in Germany for the reason that
it indicated the first departure from the adherence to the French
designs which up to that time had been followed somewhat
slavishly, owing to the absence of native initiative.
The individuality of character revealed in the "Taube" appealed
to the German instinct, with the result that the machine achieved
a greater reputation than might have been the case had it been
pitted against other types of essentially Teutonic origin. The
Taube was subsequently tested both in France and Great Britain,
but failed to raise an equal degree of enthusiasm, owing to the
manifestation of certain defects which marred its utility. This
practical experience tended to prove that the Taube, like the
Zeppelin, possessed a local reputation somewhat of the paper
type. The Germans, however, were by no means disappointed
by such adverse criticism, but promptly set to work to eliminate
defects with a view to securing an all-round improvement.
The most successful of these endeavours is represented in the
Taube-Rumpler aeroplane, which may be described as an improved
edition of Etrich's original idea.
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