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Show AREOPLANES TO RISE FROM MOVING SHIPS WASHINGTON, Nov. 6. "SVheiT"a navy aeroplane was shot into air yesterday yes-terday at Peneacola from the decks of the Cruiser North Carolina while the ship n'as in motion, a new feat in aviation avia-tion was accomplished and a device upon which navy airmen have been at work for three years proved a success. The result opens up new possibilities for navy aeroplanes, as the device permits per-mits them to be launched with the aid of a platform without obstructing gun fite. "This represents the culmination of experiments which started in 1912," the department announced. "The launching device, or catapault, was first supgested and tried out l)v Captain W. I. Chambers, in charge of the naval aviation and was made aud tested at tho Washington navy yard, but was experimental and rather crudely built, simply to demonstrate the principle. Two successful flights were made from this device and a new and improved design was then made and a launching device built and shipped to the Pensa-cola Pensa-cola aeronautic station. There it was installed on a coal barge and completely tested" with successful flights by different dif-ferent aviators before being installed on the North Carolina." The device consists of a track extending ex-tending along the ship's after deck, upon which is a ear. An aeroplane lands on the device from the air and is secured to the car. On launcniug the car is driven down the track until it has attained high speed. Then it is brought to a sudden stop and the aeroplane, aero-plane, released from its moorings soars into air, having been shot over the cruiser's stern at a speed of fifty miles an hour. |