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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0423.PDF
^Flight, April 3, 1919 =£ First Aero Weekly in the World. Founder and Editor: STANLEY SPOONER A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM No. 536 (No. 14, Vol. XI.) APRIL 3. iqiq Weekly, Price 6d. L Post Free, 7d. Flight and The Aircraft Engineer Editorial Offic. . 36, GREAT QUEKN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. Telegrams : Truditur, Westcent, London. Telephone: (ierard 1828 Annual Subscription Rates, Post Free : United Kingdom aSs. 3d. Abroad .. 33.?. od. These rates ate subject to any alteration found necessary under war conditions CONTENTS Kditorial Comment : I'AC;K R.A.F. Policy 423 The Department of Civil Aviation 22 The Future of the Industry Hrms May Migrate Overseas The Transatlantic Flight The Kxcess Profits Tax and Alternatives Incredible Treasury Parsimony Do«n with Do a! Flight—and the Men : Sir Henry Feurier, K..B. K. 4->4 436 4.26 \* p3 +25 1'he Siddeley Aero Engines 429 Milestones: The Armstrong-Whitworth Machines .. .. 434 'Questions in Parliament .. .. .. .. 43S The Royal Aero Club : Official Notices 439 Lighter-than-Air Craft .. .. .. .. .. .. •• 4 + 1 tineas from the Four Winds .. .. .. ... .. .. 442 Personals.. .. .. .. - - •• .. -. •. •• 447 The British Air Services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 448 Side Winds .. .. .. .. .. .. •• 454 Company Matters 45 EDITORIAL COMMENT IHERE has been quite a crop of un pleasant rumours floating about re garding the future of the R.A.F., and it is just as well that prompt steps have been taken to deny the most per nicious of them. In the first place, it has been stated categorically—and the report apparently emanated from an authoritative source—that it was in contemplation to break up the R.A.F. and restore the complete con trol to the Admiralty and the War Office "pJjjrT" ar,d to run the Air Services on a pre-War ^ basis of organisation and command. In an obviously inspired communique The Times states that it is authoritatively informed there is not the slightest foundation for the report in question. On the contrary, the War Minister is convinced of the necessity of maintaining the Royal Air Force as a separate service, and has no idea whatsoever of plac ing the military arms under the separate control of the Admiralty and the War Office. This is definite enough for the time being, but we think it would be much better and would tend to allay the very large amount of misgiving that exists in the R.A.F. and outside its ranks, if Mr. Churchill would take the earliest possible opportunity of making a statement on the subject. After all, he is not the whole Government, and although we believe him to be absolutely sound on the question of continuing the R.A.F. as a completely separate Service, it is not altogether so certain that he has the whole of his colleagues in the Cabinet with him. What is clearly necessary is a definite enunciation of the Govern ment's policy, and although Mr. Churchill as a Minister of the Crown certainly speaks with authority, it does not follow that even a Cabinet Minister is always right in his interpretation of the policy of the whole Government. In any case, these recurrent rumours are doing no good to the Service, and they ought to be confirmed or denied without another moment's delay. * • • Another report that has gained con- The siderable currency is to the effect that Department it has been decided to place the Depart - Civil ment of Civil Aviation under the control Aviation of Sir Eric Geddes in his capacity of Minister of Ways and Communications We have not the shadow of a doubt that Sir Eric would take over the Department with all the pleasure in the world if he were given the chance. Indeed, it is to be doubted if he would decline to undertake the control of the navigation of the canals of Mars if he were asked, but we should be very sorry indeed to see the development of civil aviation placed at the mercy of a Minister who is not only a typical bureau crat but has not the slightest knowledge of the requirements of aerial transport in its infant stages. It is an open secret that at one time it was seriously proposed to place civilian aviation under the control of the Ministry of Ways and Communications, but the reasons against such a course Mere so strong that they prevailed at the eleventh hour, and it is now possible to say that the idea has been definitely abandoned. Again, it seems that a definite statement of policy should be made in order that the recurrence of these damaging rumours may be prevented. They give rise to a very great amount of concern and anxiety and do no good to anyone. Yet no-one in authority
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