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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0653.PDF
AUGUST 3, 1916. managed as nearly as possible upon a commercial and engineer mg basis. From information afforded both at Farnborough and London we conclude that the standard of efficiency required by the War Office for Royal Aircraft Factory finished products is regarded as met, both as to construction and design. The existing undesirable trade feeling referred to we con sider should be met and, if possible, overcome, as its existence can hardly fail to have a detrimental effect on all concerned. We do not consider that the competition of the Royal Aircraft Factory with the Trade should, if reasonably administered, be the cause of any detrimental friction or trade feeling. From articles and letters in the Press it seems to be con sidered that British aviators, as compared with enemy aviators, suffer from want of speed in aeroplanes. If this complaint is well founded, there would appear to have been some lack of foresight (whether on the part of the Royal Aircraft Factory or the War Office is not clear) as to the size of engines required to meet war conditions. We are informed that higher powered engines are now being bought from the trade, that some have already been delivered, and are being fitted into concurrently produced machines. We consider that during the period of war activity the financial resources placed at the disposal of the Royal Aircraft Factory for experimental purposes have been ample to allow experimental work to be expeditiously performed in an efficient manner, and in a degree which should have placed useful and essential data at the disposal of the War Office, Admiralty and private trade. We have no information as to the extent which the Admiralty have availed themselves of the data put at their disposal. It appears to us that the emoluments offered to heads of departments and others of high technical ability have been too low and are hardly likely to attract many highly qualified gentlemen, or, if attracted, to retain their services. We are of opinion that the work done by the Staff merits more con sideration than has hitherto been accorded. The weakness inherent to a system of under payment has been most materially counteracted since the outbreak of the war, because many.gentlemen of the highest ability and stand ing whose emoluments in private work command salaries of possibly many hundreds or even thousands per annum, are working at salaries so small as to be negligible in their cases. This addition to the technical strength of the establishment has undoubtedly been of the utmost value to the country and the Royal Aircraft Factory,. It has appeared to us that the numbers now engaged in the Central Office, Stores, and other departments of a non productive nature, reveal an organisation more liberal than is generally found in Government establishments, and on a scale unknown to us in private works. For instance, the Central Office and Stores are manned by* employees out of a total of*. It has been brought to notice that experiments and other manufacture have not infrequently been delayed owing to lack of material. A carefully selected larger stock of those materials constantly used should more than earn the interest upon the capital involved. An experimental establishment of this magnitude should be provided with a full equipment of labour-saving devices which are undoubtedly necessary for economic and most rapid production. From such resources, properly utilised, a reduction in number of employees now necessarily working round a particular operation could be effected. We understood from General Sir David Henderson that he has contemplated strengthening the Department of Aircraft Equipment in London by transferring the designs portion of the Royal Aircraft Factory to London. We are strongly of opinion that any attempt to separate the designs branch from* the shops would be disastrous. From the foregoing it will be apparent that while fully alive to the ungrudging work done under the trying conditions of war pressure by the Superintendent and Staff of the Royal l/DCHTj Aircraft Factory, we think there are parts of the organisa tion and management where improvements are possible. Suggestions. Arising out of the foregoing conclusions after full con sideration, we beg to offer the following suggestions or recorarhendations in compliance with our revised terms of reference :— We suggest that a Board of Management be formed con sisting of a Chairman or Director of tin- K>>\al Aircraft Factory, a Superintendent of Designs and • Superintendent of Manufacture, all of whom should In- preferably civilians and should give their whole time to the affairs of the Factory, and a Military Adviser without distinctive executive duties. The three last-named gentlemen should rank equally with one another on the Board. The Director should be well equipped with previous com mercial and scientific engineering qualifications and experi ence. It is not considered essential that he should possess any intimate or previous knowledge of aviation. He should be selected for his recognised ability in administration .ml management. We believe the organisation we are suggesting would be much assisted by the appointment of a civilian of high standing and suitable qualifications as Controller of Aircraft Supplies, who would have his headquarters in London and have among his duties the direct communications with contractors and the Royal Aircraft Factory. As we believe that the capacity of the Factory could be greatly augmented without increase to the present number of employees, we suggest that this should lie arrived at in the shape of additional current manufacture of aeroplanes and engines, without impairment, and indeed with increased efficiency of the experimental functions of the Koyal Aircraft Factory as now existing. * With regard to the shortage of higher-powered engines, of which the need appears to be great, we suggest that spe< lal and strenuous efforts should be made immediately both by the Royal Aircraft Factory and by means of financial assistance, if necessary, to the trade, so that the most rapid production of all the engines may be secured. We think it would be better that direct contact with con tractors, including the issue to them of drawings, should be made through a third party, e..(,'., the Controller of Aircraft Supplies, and not by the Royal Aircraft Factory. It is, of course, undesirable to cut off all communication between the Royal Aircraft Factory and the trade, but we think it would be preferable that inquiries should first of all be made to the officer issuing drawings, presumably the Controller of Aircraft Supplies, and that he should put any particular contractor into touch with the Royal Aircraft Factory in order that any desired information, data, or explanations, may, when required, be afforded direct. This course would also keep track of alterations, if any, from the original approved designs. Of course, the Controller of Aircraft Supplies and the Director of the Factory would, in fact, be in reasonably close touch. No useful purpose would be served at this juncture by the submission of recommendations as to the Central Office and Stores. If actually too elabarate, as they seem to us to be at present, the re-arrangement of duties suggested herein would naturally lead to some change in this direction, but it should preferably be left for the action of the new board of management. We desire to express our thanks to Mr. R. H. Griffith, who has acted as our secretary throughout our investigations. We have the honour to be. Sir, Your obedient Servants, RICHARD BURBIDGE, Chairman. CHARLES A. PARSONS. H. F. DONALDSON". R. H. GRIFFITH, Secretary. May \2th, 1916. REPORT TO THE WAR COMMITTEE II. BY THE AIR BOARD AIRCRAFT FACTORY. ON* THE SUBJECT OF THE ROYAL Among the subjects to which the Air Board have turned their attention has been the administration and organisation of the Royal Aircraft Factory. They have taken evidence on the matter, and have further given careful consideration to the annexed Report of the Committee appointed by the * See footnote on p. 650. Army Council of which Sir Richard Burbidge was Chairman. The Air Board are of opinion that this Committee has rendered a valuable public service by its investigation of the management and organisation of the Factory. They think, however, that in certain respects the Report may give a not altogether correct impression, and with some of 6S1
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