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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0799.PDF
Flight, July 31, 1914. ^ Cr ^^S»/ First Aero Weekly in the World. Weekly Founder and Editor : STANLEY SPOONER. A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial isoeomotion and Transport. OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. No. 292. (No. 31. Vol. VI.)] JULY 31, 1914. ("Registered at tbe G.P.O."] L as a Newspaper. J r Weekly, Price 3d. L PoBt Free, 3Jd. 20i. od 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. • Editorial Comment: War in the Air The Central Flying School at Upavon What Tail-Sliding on a Bleriot feels like. Royal Aero Club Official Notices From the British Flying Grounds Eddies. By " .Solus " The Donath Signal Mirror An Aerodynamic Balance Prensiel Life-Saving Parachute Aerodrome and Exhibition Flying Correspondence Models. Edited by V. E. Johnson, M.A. By Marcus Manton PAGE 799 Sor 807 808 810 8l<2 815 816 816 817 EDITORL w Had Mr. H. G. Wells been a less famous in the Air author than he is, his story " The War in the Air," which was published some six years ago, would in all probability have been treated as the product of the imagination of an amiable lunatic. At that time dynamic flight had actually been achieved, but that is about all that could have been said of the matter. It was a vivid, enthrallingly interesting story, but one which, even to those who were most closely in touch with contemporary flying, was scarcely convincing, save as such a prophecy as might have been indulged by a thirteenth century writer inditing a story of Waterloo, and describing how men were mown down by Brown Besses and smooth-bore cannon. Apparently, Mr. Wells was at least half-a-century too early in the date he fixed for his world-war in the sky, but the indications of the moment are, unfortunately, all pointing to a too painful accuracy of the forecast. As we write Europe is arming in preparation for a war which, unless it can be averted, will constitute at once the most colossal catastrophe, and the worst crime against civilisation in all history. That it may be averted by wise and sane statesmanship is the earnest desire of the least responsible of us. But if it must come, then at least we have the comforting knowledge that we are prepared at all points, and we can look at the future with the quiet confidence with which we as a nation have always approached these times of acute crisis in our history. If this catastrophe of war should be let loose, what shape will it take initially, and what bearing will the air- fleets of the nations have on the ultimate results?' Almost beyond doubt the first move will be made by aircraft, but who can say what their work will be?' Naturally, reconnaissance will be the first and principal object, but it can hardly be imagined that they will be allowed to carry it out without interruption from hostile air fleets. And then what will happen ? Will there be fought fleet actions in the air, or how will things work out ? Will the slow craft be used as a covering force to retard the movements of the enemy's craft while the faster machines urge their way back with the information that has been secured ? Will, it be found that aircraft after all are comparatively valueless to their armies because of the impossibility to collect information of vital consequence because of the enemy's craft ? Shall we find that the possession of comparatively equal air forces will bring about a position of stalemate, in which both sides find that the game is not worth the candle in view of the enormous casualty bill consequent on the meeting of two hostile air-fleets? Or will it be found that machines will be able to come and go almost without let or hindrance owing to the utter uncertainty of finding each other over the vast areas they will cover ? All these are questions that only the real thing can answer. Without pretending to any deep military knowledge, or to be able to exactly assess the value of these things, we cannot say that anything approaching reality can possibly be judged by the results of peace manoeuvres where aircraft are concerned. They seem to have far less approximation to the con ditions of real war than is the case with any other service or branch of service. For example, the probable results of an infantry attack in manoeuvres can be assessed with tolerable certainty, because of the many known factors that enter into the calculations. The strength of the position and the number and discipline of the men holding it; the morale of the attacking troops ; the nature of the ground over which the attack has to be delivered; and comparative strength in artillery. All these are matters which can be duly weighed by expert umpires and the lessons and conclusions based on decisions given in the field are possibly not very far out. Again, although the naval experts have not the same B 2
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