Military Aeroplanes: An Explanatory Consideration of Their Characteristics, Performances, Construction, Maintenance and Operation, for the Use of Aviators (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Military Aeroplanes: An Explanatory Consideration of Their Characteristics, Performances, Construction, Maintenance and Operation, for the Use of Aviators

Although Aviation is a new field of human endeavor, its appli cation to the art of warfare is already becoming a specialty. Only recently has it been appreciated, that military requirements have a most vital and important influence on many features of aeroplanes not only in the art of using them in military operations, but in their fundamental design and construction.

It is planned, therefore, to give particular attention here to the military aeroplane, as we find it today emerged from a crude state of invention and development into a more or less finished product, which, in the greatest war of history, has gloriously demonstrated its strategical and tactical importance.

It is no longer necessary to speculate on the uses of aeroplanes in warfare. What has actually been accomplished in directing artillery fire, in reconnaissance, in dispatch-carrying, and in offensive work has opened a new phase of warfare, as significant as it is surprising.

The technique of the use of aeroplanes in strategy and tactics, is decidedly a subject for the military expert, but the general design and construction of aeroplanes to accomplish certain definite purposes, and their operation and maintenance in the field, are subjects that may properly be considered here.

In addition to expert ability in their operation, it is found that a sound and practical knowledge of the design and construction of aeroplanes is exceedingly helpful to the military aviator.

A full consideration, therefore, is given to elementary theory and practice applied in aviation, and the information used is primarily designed to be of definite service, in the field, where many unforeseen difficulties constantly arise.

Before taking up the determination of its elements, it is noces sary, clearly, to distinguish the aeroplane from other craft designed to navigate the air.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Military Aeroplanes: An Explanatory Consideration of Their Characteristics, Performances, Construction, Maintenance and Operation, for the Use of Aviators

Although great strides have been made in the application of military aeroplanes to problems of strategy and tactics, actual war lessons show that the principles of design, construction, and flying remain the same. Many important improvements in details, however, are given great impetus by the exacting and inspiring rivalry of war.

The object of this book, in assisting military aviators to acquire a more intimate knowledge of their machines, appears to be attained, in that at the military and naval aviation schools of several nations it has been adopted.

These new editions are corrected, more conveniently re-arranged and somewhat enlarged.

Preface to Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Editions

The war in Europe, having resulted in many developments of importance, this new edition has been revised in several places and illustrations of the most recent types of fighting aeroplanes have been incorporated.

The author is greatly indebted to the British Air Board, and several distinguished members of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service for valuable suggestions and assistance, given him on his recent trip to Europe.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.