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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0408.PDF
SIDE-WINDS. VISITORS to the Austin Motor Works near Birmingham,Who were familiar with that district before the war, would have a big surprise if they returned to the scene now. Theplace has grown out of all recognition, and one cannot help being filled with admiration for the enterprise and energyshown by the directors under the altered state of things since August, 1914. The floor space of the buildings then inexistence was something like 7 or 8 acres, but now it is no less than 40 acres, and still growing at an amazing rate. Insteadof giving employment to 3,500 persons there must now be a pay-roll of five or six times the number, and others appearto be taken on as fast as living accommodation can be provided for them. All kinds of " useful " articles are being manu-factured, and not the least important department is that deVoted to aviation, which is continually extending. Thedirectors of the Austin Motor Company fully appreciate the importance of making their workpeople happy, and in con-sequence the Welfare organisation is carried out on the best lines. Playing fields have been provided and rest rooms andother places for recreation put up, while the latest addition is a handsome concert hall seating nearly 800 persons, wherefrequent concerts, entertainments, and cinema exhibitions are given with great success. It is under conditions such asthese that the best work is produced, and there is evidently a proper spirit of camaraderie between employers and employedwhich is good to see. The quality of the work now being turned out in all departments is fully maintaining the highreputation of this well-known firm. "* IN their endeavouts to assist their friends as much aspossible, Messrs. Whiteman and Moss, of 15, Bateman Street, W., have decided to issue a fortnightly stock list, and allwho wish to secure the regular arrival of this useful bulletin should send along their names to the firm as early as possible,The first list is due to be issued on May 6th, while the second will follow on May 20th. THE demand for Glasso continues to mount up, and hasled the Glasso] Manufacturing Co. to seek larger premises for their works at 20, Stamford Road and Hertford Road,Dalston, N.i. At the same time more convenient offices have been secured at 209, City Road, E.C.i, next door to their oldheadquarters, and all communications should be so addressed in future. The 'phone call is still City 9558. ANOTHER change to note. The Beatty School of Flying being BOW installed at the Broadway, Cricklewood, N.W.2, the telephone number is Hampstead 3000. A USEFUL little brochure on " case-hardening " and theD.B.S. Carburiser in particular has just been issued by Messrs. David Brown and Sons Huddersfield), Ltd., andcopies can be obtained from the firm at Park Gear Works, Lockwood, Huddersfield, by any one interested. It is onlyin comparatively recent years that case-hardening has been employed on a large scale, but it is now in considerabledemand. There is, however, great difference between the effects obtained with various steels, according to the amountof carbon in the steels. It is from their extensive experience of case-hardening that Messrs. D. Brown and Sons have beenable to develop the D.B.S. Carburiser, which is a mixture for use in ease-hardening processes. IS H 13 H Air Work in the Arras Battle. IN a message, written from the War vCorrespondents'Headquarters on April 18th, the Times Special Correspondent says:—. "The weather continues impossible. In place of thehowling wind and squalls of the last few days steady rain set in during the night and has been falling all day, shroudingeverything in a thick, November-like mist. It is as if the elements themselves hated the war. " Unthinking people may say it is the same for both sides,but this is not true. Apart from the difficulty of rapid move- ment necessary to the attacking party, the thick mist robs usof all the advantage of our air supremacy and observation. " We have the high ground now commanding the battlefieldand a mastery in the air hardly less complete than in the Battle of the Somme. Each day enemy machines make,perhaps, a dozen crossings of our line, sometimes a few more, sometimes a few less, but, on an average, about a dozen, andevery time a German machine comes over it scurries back again. Since the Battle of Arras began we have made dailyover 400 crossings of his line—not hasty dashes, but deliberate reconnaissances, with careful observation, taking thousandsof photographs and making long-distance raids and excursions over German territory. APRIL 26, 1917. " Probably to the airmen, almost more than to anybodyelse, we owe the completeness of our victory, for it is the information brought by our airmen that enables the guns tosmash up the enemy's batteries and pound his defences to pieces. " Our guns smothered every enemy battery within range ;the observation of our airmen and the practice of our guns being equally admirable. It is wonderful to see everywherealong the line in the captured German positions, not only heavy guns knocked out by direct hits, but small machinegun emplacements, and always the firing is done as the result of aeroplane observation. Our flying men have paved theway for victory. The nation will never be grateful enough to the Royal Flying Corps for what it did on the Somme andis doing here to-day, in spite alike of the enemy and the storms. " In the thick mist which veils everything as I Write, enemyaeroplanes stay at home, safe from attack, and his infantry and gunners know they are safe from the eyes that watch fromabove, and the immediate sequel to whose watching is the terrible work of our guns. The bad weather is all in hisfavour, and all to our disadvantage." The Aviation Pocket Book. AVIATION has made such big strides within the last fewyears that many books which were quite good in their time are now hopelessly out of date. Realising this, Mr. R.Borlase Matthews has entirely rewritten his pocket book for 1917 and produced what is virtually a new book, one whichcan be recommended to all who are in any way interested in the technical side of aviation. Several new features have beenincorporated, and in the section on air pressure and resistance and aeroplane theory and design valuable assistance has beenrendered by Mr. J. D. North and Mr. E. O. Williams, B.Sc. The chapter on engines has been greatly extended, andanother chapter which will be useful to mechanics is that on aeroplane alignment. There is also some practical informa-tion on flying in a wind, navigation, compasses, atmosphere, &c. The book now costs 4s. 6d., and is well worth it. It canbe obtained from " FLIGHT " offices for 4s. lod. post free. H m & H PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. The Aviation Pocket Book, 1917. By R. Borlase Matthews.London: Crosby Lockwood and Son. Price 4s. 6d. net (post free 4s. lod.). Not for export. In the Royal Naval Air Service. By Harold Rosher, R.N.4th Edition. London : Chatto and Windus. Price 1*. net. 0. H 0 H NEW COMPANY REGISTERED. Private Company. LONDON AVIATION CO., LTD., 27-8, Charlotte Street, Shoreditch.—Capital ^2,000, in £1 shares. Manu- facturers of and dealers in aircraft and parts thereof. First directors : A. H. Botwright, H. Yager and S. Cook. H H 0 H Index and Title Page for Vol. VIII.The 8-page Index for Vol. VIII of "Flight" (January to December, 1916) is now ready, and canbe obtained from the Publishers, 44, St. Martin's Lane, W.C. 2, Price 6d. per copy, post free. If you require anything pertaining to aviation. Study41 FLIGHT'S " Buyers' Guide and Trade Directory, which appears in our advertisement pages each week. 44. FLIGHT. ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C.2.Telegraphic address : Truditur, London. Telephone : 1828 Gerrard. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. " FLIGHT " will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates :— UNITED KINGDOM. ABROAD. s. d. s. d. 3 Months, Post Free.. 3 10 3 Months, Post Free.. 5 o 6 ,. .. ..776,, „ .. 10 o 12 „ .. .. 15 2 ! I2 .. .. .. 20 o Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietors of " FLIGHT," 44, St. Martin's Lane, W.C. 2, and crossed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted. Should any difficulty'be experienced in procuring " FLIGHT " from local newsvendors, intending readers can obtain each issue direct from the Publishing Office, by forwarding remittance as above. 40S
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