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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0148.PDF
The discussion on Mr. Handley Page'sTne c *se paper bearing this title, before the Aero- Larfi^ nautical Society, was principally notable Aeroplane. *or the great diversity of the opinions expressed. At the same time, Mr. Handley Page may be said to have proved his case, so far as it is possible to prove it at this present moment. It does not at all follow that, even though it is conceded that the future will lead to a tremendous development in the large machine, that that develop- ment must of necessity be altogether at the expense of the smaller type, and that, we think, is where some of those who took part in the discussion went a little wrong. We can take it as read that, within the limits which will readily suggest themselves to the interested reader, the future of aerial transport will lie with the large machine, for the reason set forth by the author of the paper that the larger the machine the greater the useful load that can be carried. As he pointed out, for future commercial developments, the large machine scores with plenty of room for passengers to sit in comfort or mails or luggage to be carried, and with its steadier movement will afford greater comfort to those who travel by it. Then there is the question of certainty in operation. The large aeroplane will enable engines to be built more heavily in order to eliminate the risks of breakdown, and multi-engined machines will be used which will be able to carry the plane on its course satisfactorily, even if one engine does break down. Of course, all these matters are governed at the moment by the fact that, with all the experience which has been gained and the improvements consequent, we are still only on the threshold of development. He would be a bold man who would venture to prophesy regarding • the ultimate shape that aircraft—and particularly the aeroplane—will take. All that it is possible to say now is that, in the light of our present knowledge, the commercial future of the aeroplane will doubtless be with the large machine—large, probably beyond all our present dreams—but that the smaller types will just as probably still retain a great deal of usefulness, particularly for sport and purposes of war. That is to say, that whilfe Mr. Handley Page proved the case for the large machine, his opponents may almost equally be said to have done the same for the smaller. Which is simply another way of saying that each has and will continue to have its individual sphere of utility. Mr. In the current issue of his own journal,„ . . " The Imperialist," Mr. Pemberton Pemberton ,-».,,. •»«••£ i. J. J. njo.i_-j. Billing. Billing, M.P., sets out to confide to his ""' ' readers the story of his life. In his opening, he says that his " past," which has, as he says, been often referred to by his enemies, has been varied to a degree, full of vicissitudes, but a past of which he is not ashamed. We have read with the greatest interest the first instalment of his story, which occupies the whole of " The Imperialist," and we may say at once that, taking the story as it stands and accepting it as the naked truth, Mr. Pemberton Billing is perfectly right not to be ashamed of his past—he has every right to feel no small measure of pride in the really wonderful career that lies behind him. We do not intend to follow him through all the vicissitudes of that career, in which he has been a veritable Pooh Bah—he has done most of the things that are open to be done by men, from bricklaying to FEBRUARY 15, 1917. soldiering in many climes. To do that would occupy more space than can be spared to it in these time of paper shortage, and would, moreover, destroy some of the interest in the original story itself. We do not often go out of our way to boom another person s goods, but we do think that in this case the one who misses reading this autobiography of a man who has been much in the public eye of late will miss a real treat. Reading the story as the author sets it down, one cannot help feeling a sincere sense of regret that a man of such versatile gifts and with so wide an experience of men and affairs should have fallen into the errors that Mr. Pemberton Billing has allowed himself to be guilty of since he devoted himself to politics and entered the House of Commons. True, those errors were largely a consequence of his having fallen amongst " new friends " out with their own axes to grind, but it does seem a thousand pities that a man with his experience and undoubted gifts, who might have rendered sterling service to the State if only those gifts had been directed aright, should have had, in vulgar parlance, his leg pulled. Whether it is too late now to retrieve the past or not it is diffi- cult to say, but we are strongly of. opinion that Mr. Pemberton Billing's story as he is now telling it will go very far to assist towards the former in the eyes of the public. • •*• <«• •."."••• It is a sign of the times that the appeal Service1 *or nati°nal service volunteers has resulted in a very large number of applications from the youngsters of under 18 to be given work in aeroplane construction. Nothing could well be,more eloquent of the fact that the public at large has an unbounded faith in the future of the industry, for the reason that these youngsters are, as a rule, very largely guided in their choice of a career by their parents or guardians. It is quite easy to visualise the course through which these applications pass. The boy is keen on doing something to help along the war. He is too young to soldier, but he feels it is up to him to do some useful work. The question is, what ? While he is about it he might as well engage in work that will offer him a career afterwards, and what better than aeroplane con- struction ? There is a magnificent future before it, of that both he and his guardians are satisfied, so what can he do better ? It is still a young industry, without too many vested interests to stand in the way of the advancement of a youngster without influence. It is not overcrowded, like most of the older businesses and professions, and thus offers scope for advancement which would be denied to him in those. Of course, all these aspects of the matter are well known to those who are intimately interested in the business, but it is only now that the general public is beginning to realise that the aircraft industry is founded on a firm and permanent basis. That this is an excellent thing for all needs no demonstra- tion. • • • We note with satisfaction that theNational Government has announced a reduction Aircraft • , il . r • ± Insurance. m *ne rates of insurance against air- craft risk. In the case of premiums which are not reduced below 2s., 50 per cent, will be allowed until further notice from the premiums pay- able in respect of insurances commencing on or after the 1st of next month, and in respect of renewals148
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