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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0960.PDF
JSJCHT Nothing could better illustrate the argument ^ty .a"^ embodied in the preceding remarks, than Machines. tne state °* affau*s m Italy just now, as it is pictured to us by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Co. From this enterprising firm we learn that they have been receiving, of late, successive orders for " Bristols " from the Italian War Office, last week's order being for nine monoplanes. These orders have been placed on the advice of the officers and technical advisers of the Italian War Office and the number purchased has, of course, been strictly limited to the funds at the disposal of the Government for the purpose. Now, however, a national patriotic fund is being raised to supplement the exchequer and the sum available already amounts to between ^80,000 and ,£100,000. The National Committee asked their War Office to settle on the types of machines to be purchased, and the result of that decision has been that the National Committee have commenced upon the realisation of their programme by ordering twenty-eight 80-h.p. Bristol monoplanes ! That, we may concede, is something like an order, and it is, or should be, evidence enough for anyone to clinch our argument that it is the money wherewith to pay the bill that it is first of all necessary to put into the OCTOBER 26, 1912.- Government's pocket, and that enterprising firms—like the Bristol Company, for instance—can be trusted to look after the business of securing their share of the orders by building a type of machine that meets the requirements of those who want to buy. There is yet another interesting aspect of the Italian case—namely, that the Bristol machines are to be built in Italy under licence, so that, with the exception of the royalty which goes into the pockets of the shareholders, the British workman and the British allied trades don't receive one pennyworth of benefit. That is, of course, from the Italian standpoint, quite as it should be, and the expenditure of a similar amount of money on British aeronautics would be governed by the same principle. For the moment, the Government may be purchasing imported machines here and there for trial, but it is- through firms who are making the necessary arrange ments to manufacture .in England forthwith that the orders for duplicate machines are placed, and this side of the problem is one that will, of course, come more and more into evidence in the future. The Italian Govern ment bought from abroad—-England, to wit—in the first instance, but they are taking very good care to see that the bulk of their money does not go out of the country. ® ® ® ® MORE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OUR READERS. WE have not the least desire to harp upon the subject of "ourselves," but some of the letters we have received lately, really have thrown into relief in the most extraordinary way the interest that FLIGHT possesses, especially for those who are situated at a distance from the centre of things. The appreciation lies mainly in oar endeavour to link them up with the common cause, and then enthusiasm spreads through both sexes and all ages, which is a little extraordinary because flight as a subject is a sufficiently specialised study in itself to have exercised, one would have thought, somewhat of an eliminating influence on the public at large. But, when some 25,000 people read a journal like FLIGHT, and we have very good reason to believe they do read it, there are food grounds for our as-ertion that the intere-t, in addition to eing intense, is widespread It is quite remarkable, too, to see the variety of aspects in which aviation makes a particular appeal to individuals, and we never quite reali.-ed how strangely diverse ihey are until we read some of the many encouraging letters that we have received over the increase in the price ot our journal. One reader, for instance, takes the very broadminded point of view that everyone can at least give their interest as an encouragement to a science that is of such national importance, even if they are unable to help it forward in any othtr way. A lady, who writes to us in similar vein, says ;he has discovered that flying as a passsenger is the " most health-giving and nerve-steadying pur-uit possible," a most encouraging remark, as from her expressions of appreciation it will evidently need more than a rise in the price of FLIGHT to 3^. to shake the friendship that our correspondent feels towards the paper. Compare this with the only adverse communication we have received from a mere male, who says he is shocked at the treble price and that all the larger pictures in our last issue, including the two pages of wing sections have appeared before ! We fear this reader is likely to get shocked more than once in his life if he is so ready to jump at silly conclusions that, on the face of them, are a little absurd. A different note, and one with which we feel in real sympathy is expressed in a letter from one of our youthful readers, who points out that threepence a week is too big a drain on the pocket money to be contemplated with equanimity. We can remember the days when pocket money amounted to less than sixpence a week, and any suggestion of paying threepence thereof for one paper would have been turned down wilh scorn. We have no desire whatever to lose our younger readers—and it is mainly in their interest that we devote a section of FLIGHT every week exclusively to models—as we are firmly convinced that the study of aviation has an immense educational value. As a subject, it has just the vitality that is so effective in holding the mind's attention on the point at issue, and in this aspect it seems to us that a subscription to FLIGHT on behalf of the younger members of the family is well worthy of the consideration of parents. Further, we believe that those of our youthful readers who have hitherto bought FLIGHT with- their own money might reasonably lay the altered circumstances before the powers at home, with every prospect of a favourable issue. We do not say this without reason, for among the letters to which we have referred is one from a father, who, in writing a note of encouragement and appreciation, says that while sending FLIGHT regularly to one of his boys abroad, he has come to take an intense interest in the paper himself, although formerly he felt no particular concern in the subject. So, it may be that the sons will- be conferring a blessing in disguise on their fathers if they get them to subscribe to FLIGHT on their behalf, for there is nothing in this world that has a higher value than a new interest in life. Thinking the matter over, it has occurred to us that one way of showing our appreciation of the situation presented by the young idea who has to buy FLIGHT out of his pocket money, would be to- put it in his way to win enough to pay for his subscription. It stands to reason that only those who are really interested in their subject will continue to subscribe, and it follows that those who are interested will find a real pleasure in discussing the points to which they have particularly devoted their attention. We get many letters about models from our younger readers, but the communica tions and subjects might with advantage in many instances be more carefully prepared and studied, so in order to encourage correspon dents to take trouble we have decided to award a little prize of merit when, in our opinion, a communication is distinctly above the average. Further details of this scheme will be found on page 979. We can scarcely follow the same procedure with our older readers, but we take this opportunity, nevertheless, of expressing our appreciation of the interest that is shown by those who do take the trouble to contribute articles and correspondence. A truth that is often overlooked by those who study intellectual subjects is that nothing is really known until it can be expressed, and that merit in. the expression lies in the degree to which the writer's point of view is communicated to the reader's intelligence. Many people know things well enough to be able to make use of them personally in the ordinary way of business, but they make a mistake when they suppose that this is all there is to know on the subject. Let them sit down for a few minutes and try to communicate their information to others in a clearly and concisely worded note, and they will be surprised at the variety and number of unsuspected aspects that their time-worn knowledge now presents. If you hold an opinion, set it down in writing ; it is the surest way of either confirming you or disturbing you in your point of view. Moreover, an opinion clearly expressed is always interesting to others ; where fore, it is an act of friendliness towards the community with an interest in common, as the world of flight, to publish what you have written. That it takes a little trouble to write is of no consequence, seeing that it may further a common cause and that, in any case, conscientious labour brings its own award. 960
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