FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0108.PDF
[/JJGHT •champion in the cause of aviation, and an Aerial Defence group in the House, which has done excellent work in calling attention to the parlous state of our air service. But this is isolated effort which is but the cry as of a voice in the wilderness. They do their best, but the protests fall on unheeding ears. It is with something more than pleasure that we note that the Daily Telegraph has taken up this most vital question and speaks out in no uncertain manner. It points out that the policy of inaction is ripening to its inevitable conclusion, and, as we have already emphasised, that the British aviation industry is dying. Abroad, one improvement follows another with disconcerting rapidity, owing in every case to the researches and experiments of private firms. But it cannot be hoped that with our factories idle, with our expert designers and craftsmen dismissed and forced into other careers to make their livelihood, we can ever keep pace with, much less outstrip, foreign activity and improvement. Every other nation, every one of them possessing far greater experience of practical military aviation, has seen the vital necessity of equipping its army with war machines of a number of different types, even at great cost, knowing full well that practical experience must sooner or later be paid for, and with admirable judgment decide upon sooner. The time will come when the same necessity will be recognised by our own authorities, but by that time, if the present policy be persisted in, the aviation industry will have ceased to exist. This is plain enough speaking, and the pity is that it is true to the letter. We repeat that we are not alarmists, but we cannot view the position without anything but the gravest misgiving for the future. The political outlook is darker than it has been for many years, and we have it on record that in the opinion of one of our most distinguished soldiers that it is impossible to make success ful war without having command of the air. And if war should come suddenly, we most certainly shall not have command of the air—but the lamp-posts of Whitehall may have unfamiliar ornaments. And well it might be under the circumstances. FEBRUARY I, 1913. It is not very long ago that we dealt with How Things tne SUDject of British aeroplane engines, "broad.6 deploring the fact that we were compelled to go abroad for suitable motors in suffi cient quantities to equip even the moderate number of aeroplanes built in England. At the time we suggested that here was a case in which Government encouragement might very usefully be given. We were not sanguine enough to believe that our appeal would be effective, therefore we are not as disappointed as might have been the case had our faith gone deeper. Anyway, nothing has been done. Now let us see what has been happening in the meantime in Germany. According to a telegram from Berlin, an Imperial rescript to the Minister of the Interior has been published, giving the results of the competition for the best German aeroplane motors. The Emperor's prize of ^2,500 is awarded to the Benz firm j. the Chancellor's prize of ^1,500 is won by the Daimler concern, as is also the ^"500 given by the Minister of Marine. The War Minister's prize of ^"1,250 goes to the N.A.G. Co. Nearly six thousand pounds in prizes, and in addition the Emperor orders that a second competition is to be organised, the funds for prizes and expenses to be taken from the proceeds of the national aviation subscription ! And we can manage to raise a thousand pounds, subscribed by a single public-spirited individual! It does not make us proud of our British nationality. • • • What lias become of the long-delayed ^tlf6 report on monoplanes in the Royal Flying Monoplane Corps ? Surely it is time it was issued, Report ? particularly as Col. Seely admitted many weeks ago that he was on the point of receiving it. Monoplanes are still under the ban, and yet Col. Seely has gracefully accepted the gift of a Bleriot subscribed for by the students of the International Cor respondence Schools. Presumably it would not have been accepted had the War Office authorities intended to place a permanent ban upon the type. But then the Government does some extraordinary things ! ® ® ® ® QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. ON the 22nd ult. in the House of Commons. Mr. Joynson-Hicks asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Royal Flying Corps possesses at the moment any proper transport for aeroplane squadrons travelling by road, whether the Royal Flying Corps possesses a motor-driven travelling workshop, and whether proper trailers which can be attached to motor cars exist for the purpose of carrying aeroplanes by road. Col. Seely—The military wing has motor vehicles for transport ot the squadrons byroad. The full equipment is not yet complete. The supply of a motor-driven travelling workshop is now in hand, and trailers of the nature mentioned are being manufactured. Mr. Joynson-Hicks asked whether the 26 aeroplanes belonging to the military wing of the Royal Flying Corps, which are said to be in flying order, include a number of monoplanes recently delivered; if so, whether alterations are to be made in these monoplanes, whether they can be classed as being in flying order, and whether any officers of the Royal Flying Corps have had experience of flying these machines. Col. Seeley.—The 26 aeroplanes mentioned include 13 mono planes, of which only three have been delivered during the last three months. The monoplanes are being examined, and any improvement found to be necessary will be made. They are in flying order, though possibly some improvement may be desirable. The reply to the last part of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. Joynson-Hicks asked whether, in view of the fact that it is the general custom in the Royal Flying Corps for an officer to fly the tame machine, he will consider the advisability in the interests of the safety of such an officer that others should be prevented from flying his machine, and whether the absence of any hard and fast rule on this subject is due to the fact that there are insufficient machines to provide a separate machine for each officer who flies. Col. Seely.—It is usual for officers in the Royal Flying Corps to fly the same machine, but by no means invariable. Quite apart from the question of the number of machines, it is not considered advisable to limit the discretion of officers commanding squadrons in allotting machines. Mr. Joynson-Hicks asked whether it is advisable that officers who are on probation with the Royal Flying Corps should do their course of training on machines belonging to the military wing in view of the fact that such officers are liable to damage these machines, which ought, in fact, to be in a fit condition to be used on aciive service at short notice; whether he will consider the advisability of buying a number of smaller, low-powered, cheaper machines on which such officers should practise without risk of damage to the materiel of the fighting squadrons ; whether a new high-powered and high-priced aeroplane was recently broken up by such a learner on the day of its delivery to the military wing; and whether, in the public interest, he will prevent money being expended in this way when we admittedly have an insufficient supply of aeroplanes both for tuition and active service purposes. Col. Seely.—As regards the first part of the question, it is not proposed to interfere with the discretion of the officer commanding the military wing in this respect. As regards the second part of the question, the necessity of having aeroplanes for practice has been borne in mind in placing orders. The reply to the third part of the question is in the negative, and therefore the fouith part of the question does not arise. IO8
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
