At the same time it was decided
that the armouring should be effected upon lines analogous to
that prevailing in warship engineering. The craft should not
only be provided with defensive but also with aggressive
armament. This decision was not viewed with general approbation.
It was pointed out that questions of weight would arise,
especially in relation to the speed of the machine. Increased
weight, unless it were accompanied by a proportionate
augmentation of power in the motor, would react against the
efficiency and utility of the machine, would appreciably reduce
its speed, and would affect its climbing powers very adversely.
In some quarters it was maintained that as a result the machine
would even prove unsuited to military operations, inasmuch as
high speed is the primary factor in these.
Consequently it was decided by the foremost aviating experts that
machines would have to be classified and allotted to particular
spheres of work, just as warships are built in accordance with
the special duty which they are expected to perform. In
reconnaissance, speed is imperative, because such work in the air
coincides with that of the torpedo-boat or scout upon the seas.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184