FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0323.PDF
AWL 13, 19!*' MR. BILLING'S IK connection with his campaign for a strong air scrYice Mr. p'emberton-Billing, M.P., spoke at three meetings during the week- cod* At Newcastle on Saturday he said that if the air service of the country was removed from the control of politicians and those who did not understand it, it would be possible in six months for us to regain and maintain supremacy in the air. Until the job was finished he would associate with no party inside or outside the House, but work quite alone. If the war continued for another twelve months he believed it would be determined in the air. Whatever arms presented themselves to our hands it was time we employed them. If reprisals were necessary in the interests of the country let us have them. He read in the word reprisals the killing of every man who was trying to compass the downfall of this country. He was confident that in the next twenty years the aeroplane would bring about universal peace. Speaking at Sunderland on Sunday Mr. Billing said the future mastery of the air was far more important to this country even than the command of the sea, and it was going to be more difficult and expensive. Within a few years he expected to see machines with speeds between 200 and 300 m.p.h., meaning that England and Germany would be separated by an hour's air journey, and we must prepare. By awakening us Count Zeppelin had really laid the foundation-stone of Britain's supremacy. If we did not possess it ® ® German Seaplane Captured. THE Petit Parisien announces that a French destroyer last week brought in to Dunkirk a German seaplane, which was found in the North Sea with a broken wing. The two occupants were taken prisoners. A Fatal Accident. AN inquest was held at a north country village on Lieut. John Nichol, Royal Scots Fusiliers and R.F.C., who was killed while starling off on a reconnaissance on April 5th. A verdict of " Acci dental Death " was returned. Claims for the Zeppelin Prizes. IT is understood that four claims have been sent in for the prize of ^,500 offered by Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield, Lord Mayor of London, to the first aviator or gun's crew to bring down a Zep pelin. They have been referred to the authorities for investigation and adjudication. Other rewards which await claimants are the £1,000 offered by Mr. Joseph Cowen, of Stella Hall, near Newcastle, to the crew of the first aircraft to bring down a German Zeppelin in the British Isles or British territorial waters, and £500 added to Mr. Cowen's offer by Mr. L. A. Oldfield, of Wilton Street, London, S.W. More Aeroplanes from the Gold Coast. THE Secretary of State for the Colonies announces that £1,500 ha; been subscribed by the chiefs and people of Eastern Krobo, Go'd Coast, and a further sum of £1,500 by the Head Chief, chiefs and people of the New Juaben Settlement, Gold Coast, for the purchase of two aeroplanes for presentation to the Royal Flying Cops through the Overseas Aircraft Fund. This is the seventh aeroplane to be presented by the people of the Gold Coast and its dependencies. And More Aeroplanes from Malaya. IN addition to over £15,000 previously subscribed, £10,500 has been collected in the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States for the purchase of a further six aeroplanes, which will be numbered "Malaya II" to "Malaya 16," for the use of the Royal Flying Corps. Mr. C. Alma Baker, of Kinta, the organiser of the fund, who has already given one aeroplane, is presenting a second aeroplane. The Australian Flying Corps. IT has been decided that qualifi:d pilots in the Australian Flying Corps and the Australian Flying Corps Reserve are to wear on the left breast a badge, consisting of outspread wings, with the letters " A. w.F." surmounted by a crown. Observers who qualify a: any course at the Flying School subsequent to January 1st of this year, and are in possession of a certificate, will wear a badge, con sisting of outspread wiHgfc, with the letter " O," without the crown. Funerals by Aeroplane. ADVANTAGE has been taken of the aeroplane for doing all sorts of journeys expeditiously, and according to the Daily Telegraph's correspondent at New York, at the dinner of the Aeronautical Society of America recently, the head of one of the largest under taking concerns there announced that he was preparing to conduct CAMPAIGN. at the end of the war we never should, and we owed it to the Empire to obtain it now. Mr. Billing thought that the " blackening out ** of the countryside as a precaution against Zeppelins was sound. The mere shutting down of light was foolish. There should be either normal lighting or total darkness. The latter had its disadvantages, but we should have to put up with it until the Government carried the air war into the enemy s country. At Middlesbrough on Monday night Mr. Billing pointed out that although geographically this country was an island still, in regard to the air every inland town and village lay on the shore of tbe ocean of the air. We might be able to determine the war to a great extent by a strong air service, but in ten years' time a weak air service might mean that in a night we might cease to exist as a nation. With regard to the Joint Air Committee, he had given it six weeks to quarrel, seven to fight, and eight to break up. Sis weeks had passed, and both chairman and assistant chairman had resigned. They had resigned because they had found that they could not listen to the incessant squabbling of the two services. He wanted to know what the Army or Navy had to do with the air at alt. The air was a new element, and demanded a new service. The Air Service had been the Cinderella of the Army and the Navy. Neither had understood it; neither wanted it; but they did not want the other one to have it. Service bitterness had produced inefficiency. ® ® funerals by aeroplane in the near future. "To be in style," he said, " one must make arrangements to have mortal remains carried on a swift sombre-hued biplane to the final resting-place." He declared that the roof of hie establishment would soon be fitted with a landing-stage for aircraft, and "all conveniences for mourner*." A Vickers Move. ON and after the 17th instant the address of the Aviation Department of Vickers Ltd. will be as follows:—Vickers Ltd., Aviation Department, Imperial Court, Ravil Street, Knightsbridgc, S.W., where all communications should be addressed. "Learning to Fly." UNDER this title tbe Grahame-White Aviation Co. have published a little book which is full of useful information to those who are thinking of qualifying as an aeroplane pilot. Not only does it give details of the Grahame-White School and the facilities which are offered both for air-work and for experience in the works, but it also sets out very clearly an outline of the actual business of learning to fly, the whole being made clear to the lay mind by a series of excellent photographs. A copy will be sent to any reader who applies to the Grahame-White offices at 32, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, W. A Rotax Move. HAVING completed their arrangements, the Rotax Motor Accessories Co. have now transferred their offices and warehouse to their new establishment, and all communications and goods should in future be addressed to them at Rotax Works, Willesden Junciion, London, N.W. The 'phone number is 2480 Willesden, and the address for wires, Rodynaliie, Phone, London. For Safety Belts and Leather Goods. THOSE who require leather work of any description should make a note of the address of Messrs. C. H. Holmes and Son, of 38, Albert Street, Manchester, who for some time pa*t have been utilising their long experience—they were established in 1885—in connection with aviation. One of their specialities is the making of safety belts, either to R.A.F. or any other pattern, and as to the quality of their work it is sufficient to say that they are contractors to the Government. They are also makers of Travelling Bags, Uniform Cases, Trunks, Despatch Cases, Instrument Cases, and ail classes of officers' accoutrements. The Bleriot Manufacturing Aircraft Co., Ltd. AT the statutory first meetings of the creditors at.d shareholders of the Bleriot Manufacturing Aircraft Co , Ltd., on April 7th, Mr. H. E. Burgess, Official Receiver, reported that the assets comprised cash in hand of bankers, £41,44a ; investments in War Loan, £29,100 ; Deperdussin stock, £100 ; furniture, £669 ; a debt of £14,241 claimed from the Army and Navy Contract Corporation, and unpaid calls, £5,157, making a total of £90,721. The liabilities only amounted to about £4,vO0 or £4,500; con sequently the c editors would be paid in full and the balance would be available for distribution among the shareholders. It was unanimously decided that the liquidation should be left in the hands of the Official Receiver. As soon as practically possible the bulk of the assets will be returned to tbe shareholders by way of a first dividend. 3*3
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
