Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 256, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1915 — GIANT PLANES FOR U. S. NAVY A REALITY [ARTICLE]

GIANT PLANES FOR U. S. NAVY A REALITY

Secretary Daniels Orders Construction of Air Monster to Carry 2,200 Pounds of Explosives. Washington, Oct. 27.—Secretary Daniels signed an order today for the construction at the navy yard here of a giant- biplane for the navy, the first aircraft to be built at any government establishment. Plans for the machines were preparing by navy engineers under the direction of Naval onstructor H. C. Richardson, a qualified air pilot, who has been at work 5n the design for months. The craft will have a carrying capacity of 2,200 pouilds and will make from fifty to eighty miles an hour for a period of seven hours without stop. It will be driven by two 160-horsepow-er motors. When completed the machine will almost equal in size the great French battle airships recently constructed, and it is understood the navy ordnance bureau is at work on the design of a 3-inch gun with which is can be equipped if desired.