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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0103.PDF
Flight, February 12, 1915. SVtf 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. 320. (No. 7, Vol. VII.)] FEBRUARY 12, 1915. TRegUtered at the G.P.O. = G.P.O.l [Weekly, Price 3d. Newspaper. J |_ Post Free, 34d. 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 aos. od. CONTENTS. 4 Editorial Comment : British Aircraft Progress The Enemy's " Paper" Blockade A War Office " Industrial Army " Medal "' The Evolution of the Etrich " Taube " Royal Aero Club. Official Notices From the British Flying Grounds Aircraft Work at the Front. Official Information The British Air Services Eddies. By'^olus'* The Zeppelin Question Aircraft and the War Models. Edited by V. E. Johnson, M.A. Enemy Patents Relating to Aeronautics Imports and Exports PAGE • 103 . 104 . 104 .. io(5 • 109 110 111 112 . 113 . 114 • 115 . 117 ,. 118 . 118 British Aircraft Progress. LEAL, O While the Under-Secretary for War's eulogium of our Flying Services in the House of Commons on Monday conveys, perhaps, nothing new to those in close touch with the aviation movement, it is to be welcomed as bringing into prominence once again with the general public the all-vital work that is being done by our air craft, and the great progress that has been made in aircraft design and construction in this "decadent" country of ours. Incidentally, too, Mr. Tennant's remarks should give a fillip to the subscription list of the Flying Services' Fund organised by the Royal Aero Club, latest particulars of which appear under the Club's official notices in this issue. The Under-Secretary's remarks, though brief, covered practically the whole field; they testified to the supe riority of our flying officers, and to the excellence of our machines. He also drew attention to the fact that we are rapidly becoming, if indeed we have not already become, self-supporting, in the matter of aeronautical output, he laying special emphasis on the fact that British-made engines are now beginning to play their part ln the aerial operations at the front. That the British-built aviation engine would come into its own, in like manner to the British-built motor car engine in the past, was a certainty, and although it has been delayed in its career, for reasons which we will not at the present moment elaborate, it is none the less a matter for congratulation that it has at last re ceived the official recognition for which it has so long fought. As we have said again and again, the British Flying Services have, since the war began, more than proved their efficiency, having shown themselves capable of carrying out all the varying classes of work entrusted to them. There would, however, appear to be some writers who seem to imagine that the use of our aircraft and the capabilities of our flying officers are only put forward in the present struggle upon rare and isolated occasions, and that during the past year or more those entrusted with the control of the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps have been practically idle, and have failed to study the possibilities, as well as the limitations, of aircraft in the prosecution of war. Thus, the sugges tion has been made that we are not allowing our aerial force to serve the country in the hour of need, and that the Allies could deliver a staggering blow to the enemy from the air if they had the moral courage to assure a powerful aerial offensive on a comprehensive and sustained scale ! It is the old experience of the looker-on criticising and giving advice to those actually participating in the work, as to the methods they should adopt to ensure success, entirely ignoring the probability of those who have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of seeing to the efficiency of their section of the Army, having care fully worked out, under the Commander-in-Chief, plans for meeting practically every eventuality. In the case in point we have not the slightest doubt that a grand scheme has long since been carefully elaborated, and, if it has not yet been put into practice, it is because those in the best position to judge consider the hour is not yet. There was a time when our naval and military aircraft equipment was subjected to con siderable criticism, but the records of unprecedented progress achieved by both branches of the Plying Services since they had a freer hand and more generous treatment from the Government have not only won the commendation of all, but have established a conviction that our fourth arm can be relied upon to do whatever is asked of it, and that at the time demanded. B
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