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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0323.PDF
MARCH 22, 1913. f7UG^1 THE GOVERNMENT AND AVIATION. THE following is the text of Col. Seeiy's reference to aeronautics in his statement introducing the Army Estimates, published on Monday night;— When the Army Estimates of 1912-13 were prepared it had been decided in general terms to establish a Central Flying School for the instruction of Naval and Military officers, but no establishment for that school, or for military flying units, had been formulated. The course to be followed in developing military aeronautics was laid down by the standing sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence on Aerial Navigation in their report dated March, 1912, and the organisation of the Central Flying School and of the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps was then immediately taken in hand. Work was at once commenced on the lands and buildings for the Central Flying School, which is now in working order and provided with all the staff recommended in the Committee's report. One class of officers has already been passed through the school, and a second class is now under instruction. It was decided to begin the organisation of the Military Wing by the formation at Farnborough and Salisbury Plain of one Airship Squad ron and three Aeroplane Squadrons in the year 1912-13, out of the total of eight squadrons recommended by the Committee as a suitable establishment to meet the requirements of the Expeditionary Force. The total strength of the Military Wing and school, including officers holding certificates but not yet admitted to the school, and Reserve officers, is now 123 officers and 59S men, of whom all the officers except 3 are qualified aeroplane fliers ; 8 men have also been trained as fliers. The Royal Flying Corps. The fifth and sixth squadrons will be raised in the course of 1913-14, and a scheme for locating one of them in the Eastern Command has been worked out. Meanwhile, accommodation being available at Montrose, a temporary flying station has been formed there, and the necessary land for practice has been secured. Men of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing), after 4 years' service, will pass to the Reserve, where they will remain available for completing units on mobilisation and for supplying wastage. As it will be some time before this reserve begins to grow, arrange ments have been made to form a Special Reserve of the Royal Flying Corps, consisting of two classes : men who will enlist for a period of 4 years and will perform a short annual training, and skilled mechanics already employed in the aeroplane industry, who will do no military training in peace, but will . undertake for an annual bounty to come up on mobilisation. The supply of aeroplanes has proceeded more slowly than could have been wished. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining machines, either of British or foreign make, and from various causes there has been great delay in delivery by almost all the makers. The experience gained, however, of the practical use of machines by the Military Aeroplane Competition, held in August, and by the researches of the committee which was appointed to consider the question of accidents to monoplanes, has made the selection of machines for future supply very much easier, and has also made it possible to estimate the resources of the aeronautical manufacturing trade in this country, and I confidently anticipate a great improvement in this respect. The greatest diffi culty still experienced is in the supply of aeroplane engines of British manufacture, but in conjunction with the Admiralty I am taking active steps to remedy this weakness. To enable the aeroplane squadrons to maintain themselves efficiently in the fie'd a large amount of motor transport of special design is required. The designing and provision of this transport is in progress, and meanwhile transport vehicles of standard types have been purchased which admitted of being made available, with slight alterations, for the use of the Royal Flying Corps. Work on Airships. Work on airships suitable for military purposes is proceeding in the Royal Aircraft Factory. Difficulties have been experienced in obtaining a sufficient number of skilled mechanics, owing to the fact that men skilled in the construction either of aeroplanes or of aeroplane engines are in this country few, and those that exist are mostly in permanent employment of private firms at very high rates * of wages. This difficulty will be greatly lessened in future by the The Swiss National Fund. WITH the object of kindling public enthusiasm in the Swiss National Fund for aviation, the Swiss pilots Audemars, Maffei and Favre have arranged to make exhibition flights in different parts of the country. It is stated that already ,£4,000 has been promised towards the fund. efficient training which mechanics are receiving at the Central b lying School and in the Military Wing, and every effort is Wing made to bring the technical training Of the air mechanics of the Koyai Flying Corps to a high standard. Provision lias been made 111 theseEstimates to raise the number of Regular officers and men « the Militaiy Wing to over 1,000, in addition to the staff »l the • lying School, and to those whom it is hoped to secure 011 « Special Reserve basis, and also to largely increase the numtier of machines available. Much has been accomplished in the past twelve months, in spite of the initial difficulties inseparable from a new departure of the kind ; and I look forward confidently to a* establishment on a permanent lasis, during 1913-14, W ^* out of the eight units required to complete our Expditionary lorce. Excluding piovision for land, the sums taken in i9i3-'4 compare with those taken in 1912-13as follows:— 1913-14. 1912-13. Establishment of Army personnel, including £ £ Special Reserve and premiums for pilots' certificates 150,500 28,000 Staffofschool 18,500 S'000 Aeroplanes, mechanical transport, stores, and materials 285,000 161,000 Buildings, including Army share of school buildings 72,000 38.000 526,000 232,000 Less Admiralty contribution towards school 25,000 14,000 Net provision 501,000 218,000 -' Increase 283,00 Provision (not included in the above figures) has also been made for guns for the attack of aircraft. Special Reserve- The establishment is reduced by the closing of the Field Artillery branch, in connection with the reorganisation of that arm detcribed above. The men now in this branch will serve out their present engagements. There has been an increase of 140 officers in the past year, as compared with an increase of 70 in the year liefOfO* and I trust that in the future this recovery of strength will be further accelerated. The number of men again shows a loss of about 1,800 during the year. During the past summer the loss hy absence and by purchase of discharge, both closely connected with Migration, was exceptionally heavy, while owing to the state of employment recruiting continues to be slack. I am not without hope that the deliberations of the Committee now sitting, to which members ol both Houses of Parliament are lending their valuable aid, may result in finding a means of counteracting the causes which for some time past have been tending to weaken this Force. The Navy and Aviation. IN his statement introducing the Naval Estimates in the House of Commons on Thursday week, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill, said substantial progress has been made during the year with the newly-formed Air Service. The Central Flying School of the Royal Flying Corps has been established ou Salisbury Plain, under the administration of the War Office, and a Captain of the Royal Navy has been appointed as the fi'St commandant of the School. Four naval and marine officer.- have also been appointed on the staff, of whom two have been graded as squadron commanders. The development of the Naval Wing is progressing rapidly, and an Air Department has been created ai the Admiralty to deal with all questions affecting the air services. Good progress has been made with the aeroplane section at East church, and close attention is being given to the establishment of air stations along the coast. The progress with the hydro-aeroplane has been satisfactory. The work of training has been and 1- proceeding steadily both at the Central Flying School and Ka^t- church. The needs of the airship section of the Naval Wing are also being closely studied, and a naval airship station is being established in the Medway. By arrangement with the War Office, officers and men have l>een trained at Farnborough with the military airship and kite squadrons. Two airships, of the Astra Torres anU Par-eval types have been purchased for instructional and experi mental purposes. ® ® ® ® Military Aviation in Italy. THE special commission which has been studying military- aviation in Italy has presented a report recommending the establish ment of an autonomous aeronautic corps open to all branches of the service. The commission has also recommended the immedia'e organisation of a central aeronautic institute. 329 C 2
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