Early Bomber: A Maurice-Farman “Shorthorn” MF11 airplane. The gunner/bombardier sat (or stood) in front of the pilot, the propeller was behind them. The airplane was considered obsolete by the time this image was published.
Scientific American, November 4, 1916
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The Great War in Europe had been raging for two years and none of the participants showed any indication that they were nearing the end of their ability to continue the fight. For the nations waging war and desperately searching for victory (or even survival), the leading edge of scientific research had been recruited for the war effort—this trend was especially true for the new technology of aviation. Not only was the science of flight progressing, but the tactical and strategic use of flight was developing by leaps and bounds, as a perusal of these images of aviation research from 1916 can attest.
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