AERONAUTICS: Britain’s Reply

Even with the increased appropriation announced by the Premier, England’s air forces will be far behind those of France in number of squadrons and men. But perhaps the most effective British reply will be in the line of superior technical achievement. Spectators of the Royal Air Force pageant at Hendon, London, were given during the week a remarkable exhibition of the most recent military planes. Among other exhibits was a bomber equipped with a single engine of 1,000 horsepower, the most powerful airplane engine in the world, which can beat in speed and climb any bomber ever built. On the other end of the motor scale was the ” Wren”—a tiny machine flying 50 miles an hour with only 3 horsepower. Thirteen ” secret” airplanes were seen by the public for the first time. Experts and the public in general seem convinced that England leads as far as technical development of military aircraft is concerned.