FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1913
1913 - 1211.PDF
Flight, November 15, 1913. •> r, J K First Aero Weekly in the World. Founder and Editor: STANLEY SPOONER. A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport. OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. No. 255. (No. 46, Vol. V.)] MnvEUBifc tc imi TRegistered at the G.P.O.T rWeekly, Price 8d. NOVEMBER 15, 1913. L as a Newspaper. J L Poat rfree, 8«d. * iignt. Editorial Office : 44, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Telegrams : Truditur, Westrand, London. Telephone : Gerrard 1828. Annual Subscription Rates, Post Free. United Kingdom 15J. od. Abroad CONTENTS 20J. od. Editorial Comment: Mr. Churchill and British Aerial Supremacy Men of Moment in the World of Flight: Mr. Louis Noel The Dunne Biplane (with scale drawings) Royal Aero Club : Official Notices From the British Flying Grounds The Hendon-Brighton Race Aeroplane Types (Pippart-Noll) British Notes of the Week Stability in Flying Machines Foreign Aviation News Models. Edited by V. E. Johnson, M.A PAGE 1237 1239 1241 1246 1247 1251 1353 1=53 1255 1258 1260 EDITORIAL COMMENT. The speech of the First Lord of the Mr. Churchill Admiralty at the Guildhall Banquet on Britisli1 Aerial Monday night was a notable one from Supremacy, several points of view. So far as we are concerned, its principal interest centred about his pronouncements regarding the future of our plans for aerial defence. With regard to this branch of the Service, he was given a distinct invitation to define the intentions of the Government by Col. Humphery, who proposed the toast of "The Imperial Forces." Speaking of the Royal Flying Corps, the gallant colonel said that they must remember that the officers and men of that branch were daily taking the same risks in peace time as they would be called upon to take in time of war. They were filled with admiration for them, and anything the Admiralty and War Office could do to improve the conditions of service would be approved by the citizens as a whole. In his reply, Mr. Churchill, after traversing matters connected with the various branches of the Naval service, came to the specific point of aerial defence, and expressed himself thus:— " Even in the regions of the air into which with characteristic British prudence we have moved with some tardiness, the Navy need not fear comparison with the Navy of any other country. The British seaplane, although still in an empirical stage, like everything else in this sphere of warlike operation, has reached a point of progress in advance of anything done elsewhere. Mr. Alderman Humphery, in his extremely comprehensive and well-conceived speech, has referred to the air service, and I agree with him that our hearts should go out to night to those brilliant officers, Commander Samson and his band of brilliant pioneers, to whose endeavours and to whose devotion it is due that in an unprecedentedly short space of time our Naval Aeroplane Service has been raised to that primacy from which it must never be cast down. But that is not enough and I have come here to night to tell you that it is not only in naval aeroplanes that we must have superiority. I would venture to submit to this great company that the enduring safety of this country will not be maintained by force of arms unless over the whole field of aerial development we are able to make ourselves the first nation. That will be a task of long duration, and many difficulties have to be overcome. Other countries have started sooner. The native genius of France, the indomitable perseverance of Germany, have produced results which we at present cannot equal. In order to achieve the position which is necessary, the War Office and the Admiralty will have to work together, as they are now working, in the closest intimacy and co-operation. In order to achieve that position you will have to make up your minds to spend year after year your money, and month after month to pay toll of precious life. The keenest—aye, the surest hand, the most undaunted heart must be offered and risked and sacrificed in order that we may attain, as we shall undoubtedly attain, that command and perfection in aerial warfare which will be an indispensable element, not only in naval strength, but in national security." Sir John French, who responded for the Army, made but a brief reference to aviation, simply contenting him self with a tribute to the work done by the Royal Flying Corps during the manoeuvres. He said nothing as to any possible future expansion of the military wing, so we are left to assume that the official view is that that section of the R.F.C. is sufficient for our needs, if and when the establishment laid down for it has been completed. We do not intend to quarrel with that view, if it be, indeed, the one which is held in high quarters, since it does not matter in the least to which branch of the service the B 2
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
