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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 1069.PDF
DECEMBER 31, 1910. he was dragged along the ground, and an involuntary crossing of a main road absolutely bristling with fast motor car traffic was only prevented by the opportune snapping of the cord. The kite eventually glided down among a herd of cattle, and its final rescue entailed a painful encounter with a farmer's dog, over which the writer, for personal reasons, will gladly draw a veil! The erratic flight of model aeroplanes is not always pro ductive of good feeling on the part of passers-by, and some quite unnecessary language has occasionally been evoked from pedestrians who have had headgear removed by a swiftly-speeding machine. Our members have also assiduously cultivated the art of tree-climbing, for the average model displays an extraordinary propensity for resting bird-fashion on a slender bough. It is hard to persuade enthusiastic spectators that a position on a gliding hill is not consistent with personal safety, and we have more than once had to choose between suspending our experiments or risking a case of manslaughter. So much for this aspect of our experiences. The work being at the same time useful and interesting, the reader may well ask why it has not been more generally taken up. The answer is easy. The authorities of our schools fear that the study of aviation would be detrimental to such sports as football and cricket, with the result that where they are not supremely indifferent they use all the influence at their command to suppress 1/ilGHT) the youthful model maker. The writer could quote cases where promising school aero clubs had been ruthlessly stamped out of existence by the authorities. It is for a paper like FLIGHT to arouse public opinion in this matter. Surely the model-maker should be encouraged rather than persecuted, but alas ! how few in number are the school aero clubs of this country. In conclusion, though justly proud of our reputation as pioneers in this particular branch of aeronautical work, we claim no special credit, and we shall feel more than recompensed for all our labours if the example we have tried to set inspires others to follow in our footsteps. There is a glorious heritage awaiting the youth of Britain —a heritage that man has sought for in vain for countless ages, a heritage priceless in value and inestimable in worth—and shall the youth of Britain be backward to take the prize ? No, I prefer to think that they will not be wanting, and, through the medium of their school aero clubs, they can and will do much to advance that not distant day— " When Earth's remotest denizens the whistling screw shall hear, On bird and beast from west to east shall come the hush of fear , O'er heat of tropic jungle far, o'er distant ice-clad seas, 'Spite heat and cold the pilot bold shall proudly ride the breeie ; O'er Earth's most mighty oceans wide, her peaks with clouds o'ercast, Soon spreading wing shall tidings bring; the air is man's at last." General Allen asks lor Twenty Aeroplanes for U.S. Army. IN his annual report for the year ending June 30th last, which has only recently been made public by the United States War Department, Brigadier-General James Allen recommends that at least twenty aeroplanes should be acquired for the United States Signal Corps as soon as possible. He contends that this estimate is extremely low, and that it would provide but two machines for each camp of instruction. A trained officer would be required at each machine, and in addition twenty officers would have to be trained as observers before the full military use of the aeroplane could be obtained. AEROPLANES IN JAPAN.—Captain Narohara and the aeroplane of his own construction in Japan, which is being tested with a view to its adoption for the Japanese forces. His brother officers, it will be noted, are interested members of the crowd. I067 C 2
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