CHAPTER IV.
(September 25th, 1914).
LOW ALTITUDE FLYING. THE AEROPLANE IN A COMBATANT CAPACITY. THE MACHINE GUN IN THE SERVICE OF THE AERONAUTICAL ARM. THE FUTURE OF THE FIGHTING MACHINE.
§ 13.Low- Altitude Flying. Our interest in the subject of low-altitude flying from the military point of view is entirely prospective; there are certain advantages to be derived from low-altitude flying that are not at once apparent; the disadvantages are too obvious to need mention.
It has often been noticed by the writer, and it is probably a matter of common observation, that an aeroplane, however visible it may be with the sky as background, is readily lost to sight and becomes exceedingly difficult to pick out when backed by a hill or a mountain-side. This is the case with a machine finished "bright;"[1] when machines are given protective colouring, as is now customary, the difficulty of detecting their presence when below the sky-line will be far greater. Thus, so long as an aeroplane approaches any position at medium or high altitude, it may be clearly seen at some few miles distance, and measures will be taken to give it an appropriate reception; whereas a machine making its approach at low altitude would frequently be able to take the enemy quite by surprise. Beyond this it has been found that, except for reconnaissance, high altitude is not altogether advantageous.
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- ↑ A term used by boat-builders to denote a varnished boat—not painted.
