The airplane flare, Mark I, consists of a sheet-iron cylinder containing a charge of illuminating material attached to a large silk parachute. At the lower end of the cylinder is a quantity of black powder with a detonator sufficient to eject the illuminating charge and the parachute.

The flare weighs about 32 pounds and is suspended from the airplane horizontally in a light release mechanism operated by a Bowden wire.

OPERATION

When the flare is released, the fan at the lower end is turned by the air and screws up into the flare. This detonates the black powder charge, which ignites the illuminating material and shoots it and the parachute clear of the cylinder. The parachute is carefully packed so as to insure its opening properly, and is of sufficient size to make the descent very gradual. There is enough illuminating material to burn with an intense light for approximately 10 minutes.


USE

Airplane flares are used chiefly for illuminating targets for night bombing and artillu work -and for dazzlin the eyes of enemy antiaircraft and searchlight crews. They have also been used successfully for lighting up landing fields for night landing. Experiments are being carried out relative to night photography from airplanes with the aid of these flares.