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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0080.PDF
means of the police whistle. It is apt to confuse, so it isclaimed, when the police are tracking down criminal members of the community. This is as it may be, but there is onething certain, the " boy-beast " fiends who ramp round in the suburbs, blowing these police whistles strenuously, shouldbe suppressed with a strong hand and much muscle, the former being firmly encircled round the handle of a hefty birch.Upon several occasions, we have witnessed quite a little stampede through this playing " specials " by these uncon-trolled little urchins. THE scholar in the attic. " He Wasn't half angry," said aconstable to me, smiling reminiscently as he cast his eye over what remained—mostly top story only—of an old-fashionedhouse which had suffered in a recent air raid. " You should have heard his language ! " " Curious thing," I said, " the top floor doesn't appear tobe touched." " Yes, that's where he Was," said the constable. " Ofcourse, we thought he was a casualty. We cleared away the rubbish, and somehow or other got up to his rooms withan ambulance and the doctor. The door was closed, so we started prising it open. That's when the fun started. " The door was flung open, and there stood the old gentle-man with a big book in his hands, his ' specs.' on, and in a proper temper. I just caught a glimpse of a cosy armchair drawn up to a blazing fire. ' What the does this mean ? ' he says. ' Haven't I been disturbed enough this evening ?Get out of it, all of you ! ' And without troubling to shut his door he went back and sat down with his book beside thefire, muttering most awful. It gave me the biggest shock of the raid."—" H. H.," in the Daily Mail. Thus " Corisande " in the Evening Standard." Air Raid Etiquette. " Now that the Boche has taken to calling on London justabout dinner time, we really must get a clear idea of air-raid etiquette in regard to the refugees who may drift into our homesas the barrage begins. If we are to sit down to an exiguous wartime meal, must we offer to share and share alike, andif our best old port or priceless brandy is just going the rounds for the favoured guests, is the stranger within our gates toget his quota ? " It is a nice point as to how far hospitality, tempered, ofcourse, with respect for Sir Arthur Yapp's injunctions, should go in regard to those who seek shelter with us, and I hope some- JANUARY 17. I9l8. one will soon speak with the wisdom of social experience on the subject! fo? I have already had several mqmnes on this point." _ IF " Corisande " were to try a plebiscite at one °f the tube stations on the occasion of the next raid mght, she nnght solve the problem so artlessly put forward. TEN YEARS AGO. Excerpts from the "Auto." ("FLIGHT'S" precursor and sister Journal) of December, 1907. " FLIGHT " was founded %n 1908, THE FARMAN AEROPLANE, NO. 2. During the intensely cold weather which has been prevalent lately and has spare France no less than our own island, practical experimen' on the parade ground at Issy have been at a standstill, and various habitues having for the most part been spending their enforced leisure by touching up their machines. Mr. Henry Farman has, as a matter of fact, been actually engaged in the construction of a new machine which differs materially from that with which he has been so successful hitherto. It consists of five pairs of outstretched winRs three pairs placed well in front, the other two being at the rear but all mounted upon the central framework, so that they are normally at different levels, or en escalier, as the French express it. This central framework is 14 metres long while the stretch of the front wings is 7 metres, those at the rear measuring somewhat less. A total surface of 45 square metres is provided, and propulsion is to be effected by a 50 h.p. engine operating a tractor-screw of 2.5 metres in diameter. Altitude is to be controlled by deflecting the front plane, which is hinged, and steering takes place by means of a vertical rudder situated at the rear. The whole apparatus is mounted upon a three-wheeled chassis. U.S.A. ARMY AIRSHIPS. According to our contemporary, the Scientific American, Brigadier-General James Allen has issued specifications for the construction of airships which the U.S.A. Army are prepared to purchase. The gas-vessel is to be not more than 120 ft. in length, and is to be made of aluminium coated silk, and to contain two ballonettes in addition to the necessary valves and ripping gear. The airship must be capable of carrying two passengers weighing 175 lbs. each, and in addition 100 lbs. of ballast. A speed of 20 miles an hour in still air will be necessary. Grade and Pay of R.N.A.S. Observers. THE London Gazette of January 8th contained an Orderin Council making provision for the pay and emoluments of the Observer Branch of the Royal Naval Air Service.Observer officers are to be graded in the following ranks : Observer Branch—Probationary Observer Officer, ObserverSub-Lieutenant, Observer Lieutenant, Flight Observer, Squadron Observer, Wing Observer, and Observer Captain.Flight Officers (corresponding rank)—Probationary Flight Officer, Flight Sub-Lieutenant, Flight Lieutenant, FlightCommander. Squadron Commander, Wing Commander, and Wing Captain. The pay and allowances of Observer Officers to be asfollows : Probationary Observer Officers, ys. 6d. a day, and in addition, 3s. per day for each day on which they arerequired to make ascents. Observer Sub-Lieutenants and officers of higher rank, the pay of their corresponding rank inthe Royal Navy, and in addition—Officers qualified in wireless telegraphy 5s. a day flying pay, together with 3s. a day skillpay, both payable continuously ; officers not qualified in wireless telegraphy, 5s. a day flying pay, payable continuously. Flight Observers and Squadron Observers are to be paidat the same rates as if they had served for four or eight years respectively as Lieutenants, Royal Navy, and to rankwith Flight Commanders and Squadron Commanders re- spectively, but not to rank with Lieutenant-Comanders,Royal Navy, until they attain eight years' seniority in the relative rank of Lieutenant. Commissioned service as Ob-server prior to April 2nd, 1917, is to count for increases of pay in the scale of the rank. Warrant Officers under training for service as Observersare to receive the pay of their rank, and in addition, 2s. a day for each day on which they are required to make ascents.On qualification as Observers they are to be given either acting or confirmed rank as Warrant Officers, second grade, with thepay of the rank and the following allowances : Warrant Officers, qualified in wireless telegraphy, 3s. a day flying pay,together with is. a day skill pay, both payable continuously ; Warrant Officers not qualified in wireless telegraphy, 3s. a day-flying pay, payable continuously. Flying pay to qualified Observers is to be continued atAdmiralty discretion during periods of leave, sickness, intern- ment, or captivity. Pay of R.N.A.S. Officers. IN the announcement of increased pay for Navy and Army officers published on January 14th, there are the follow- ing references to R.N.A.S. officers : — As regards graded commissioned officers of the R.N.A.S., it has been decided, in view of their relatively high rates of pay, to grant a children's allowance of £1 per child per month, with a maximum of £4 a month, to officers of and below the rank of Flight-Lieutenant, but no such allowance to officers above that rank. In the exceptional cases of graded officers, who are borne for " ground " duties, and con- sequently ineligible for flying pay, it has been decided that officers of and below the rank of Flight-Lieutenant will receive a children's allowance on the same scale of Lieutenants, '• R.N., and officers of the rank of Flight-Commander and Squadron-Commander will receive an allowance on the same scale as Lieutenant-Commanders, R.N. Temporary Surgeons and Surgeons, R.N.V.R., will receive a children's allowance at half rates, as in the case of officers similarly employed in the Army. As in the case of the Army, the age limits will be those already in existence for allowances to children of deceased officers, viz., 18 for boys and 21 (or marriage, if earlier) for girls, with extension in case of invalids. Flight-Commanders (R.N.A.S.).—In order to obviate loss on promotion owing to the withdrawal of children's allow- ances, it has been decided to grant pay of 19s. on promotion, instead of 17s., as at present. 76
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