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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0789.PDF
m , JUNE 12, 1919 AVIATION IN PARLIAMENT R.A.F. Lighter-than-Air Service Capt. W. BENN, in the House of Commons on June 2, asked the Under- Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he can make a statement about the future organisation of the lighter-than-air branch of the Air Service ? The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Maj.-Genl. Seely) : Proposals to transfer the responsibility for airship construction from the Admiralty to the Air Ministry are now under discussion between the two Departments. I think it would be inadvisable to make any further announcement at present, but 1 will do so as soon as details have been arranged. Contracts for Obsolescent Aircraft Finished Lieut.-Col. MALONE asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he will state what contracts for obsolete or obsolescent air craft remain uncancelled ; and the date when it may be anticipated that these contracts will be concluded. Mr. Kellaway : All contracts for obsolete and obsolescent aircraft are now concluded. Tarrant Triplane Capt. ORMSBY-GORE asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he will publish a Report on the causes and circumstances of the failure on trial of the Tarrant triplane at Farnborough, which resulted in the loss of the lives of two officers of the Air Force ? Maj.-Genl. Seely : The Tarrant triplane was built for military purposes to the order of the Government, and it would not be in the interest of the public service for the results of a technical investigation into the causes of the accident to be published. General Sykes' Staff Mr. RAPEE asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry if he will state what is the total amount of money per annum being allocated for the payment of Genl. Sykes' staff; whether there are any restrictions as regards maximum salaries to be paid to his staff and, if so, what; and what are the exact terms under which the assistants in General Sykes' department are engaged so far as duration and termination of agreement are concerned ? Maj.-Genl. Seely : Proposals as to the staff required by Genl. Sykes for his department have been laid before the Treasury, and until the Treasury decision has been received I am unable to answer the questions raised. The Smuggling of Dogs Col. WESTON asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agri culture whether any, and, if so, how many, cases of dogs imported illegally by troops and by aeroplanes have been brought to the notice of his Depart ment during the last twelve months ; and if he will state separately the number of dogs known to have been smuggled by ship and by aeroplane ? Sir A. Boscawen : There are 30 known cases of illegal landing by soldiers and sailors since June 1, 1918. The board have no proof of any case of illegal landing by means of an aeroplane. R.A.F. Service Funerals Lieut.-Col. MALONE, on June 3, asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether officers, on transference from the Royal Naval Air Service to the Royal Air Force, lose their right to a Service funeral unless death is due to a flying accident; whether this is contrary to Air Force Memorandum No. 1, paragraphs 6 and 7, which provides that no financial loss should be incurred on transference ; and whether he will have inquiries made in the case of Sec. Lieut. A. W. Benfield, who transferred from the Royal Naval Air Force to the Royal Air Force, died in hospital at Norwich last November, and whose funeral expenses are still unpaid owing to the refusal of the Air Ministry to allow the same and the fact that the next-of-kin are not in a financial position to meet the obligation ? Maj.-Genl. Seely : Officers of the Royal Air Force who die in this country are not entitled to a funeral at the public expense unless they are killed as the result of a flying accident. This rule applies equally to officers trans ferred from the Royal Naval Air Service as to those transferred from the Royal Flying Corps, and, as my hon. and gallant friend will appreciate, no discrimination could be made in this matter between the two classes. As regards the particular case of the late Sec. Lieut. Benfield, I shall be glad to consider whether an ex gratia allowance can be made towards the funeral •expenses, if my hon. and gallant friend will furnish me with information as to the financial circumstances of the deceased officer's next of kin. Auction Sales of Aeroplanes Lieut.-Col. Sir S. HOARE asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the high prices now being realised for obsolete and old motor cycles and cars being sold by Government Departments, it -would be desirable to offer some of the new aeroplanes, now being broken up, to the public by auction sale so as to test the market on this matter ? Mr. Kellaway: No aeroplanes haveTbeen broken up by the Disposal Board except those which have been declared by the Air Ministry to be obsolete for Service use and unsuitable for civil aviation, and such machines as by reason of their condition, could not be made safe for flying without unprofitable expenditure. The Disposal Board is offering aeroplanes and engines to the public by the various recognised methods of sale, including sale by auction. An auction sale was held at Hendon yesterday after having been widely advertised for the past two weeks. Miss Douglas-Pennant Sir R. THOMAS, on June 4, asked the Leader of the House whether the Government are now prepared, in view of what occurred in the other House last week, to agree to set up a Committee of Inquiry in respect of Miss Douglas-Pennant's dismissal ? Mr. Bonar Law : The Government have given most careful consideration to the opinion expressed by the House of Lords that a judicial inquiry should be held into the circumstances in which Miss Douglas-Pennant was removed from her appointment under the Air Ministry in August of last year The Government see no sufficient reason for departing from the decision already taken by them. The responsibility of instituting such an inquiry must rest upon the Government. It would involve a large expenditure of public money, it would be contrary to the general principles of Departmental adminis tration, and it would establish a very undesirable precedent, for if an inquiry were agreed to in regard to this lady, who has great personal influence, it would be difficult to justify the refusal to take a similar course in the case of many others who are not in an equally influential position. In these circum stances His Majesty's Government have decided that they cannot assume, the responsibility of setting up this tribunal. Aeroplanes (Gifts to Oversea Dominions) Lieut.-Col. MOORE-BRABAION on June 5 asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry if he can now state how many surplus aeroplanes now in possession of the Air Ministry, and under what conditions, will be presented as a free gift to the Dominions, India, and the Crown Colonies ? Maj.-Genl. Seely : I am glad to say that His Majesty's Government have approved a proposal of the Air Council that a gift of aeroplanes should be made to each Dominion and to India, and that corresponding action should be taken in the case of any Colonial Government or Protectorate requiring machines. The object of His Majesty's Government is to assist the Dominions and India and the Colonies and Protectorates in the establishment of air forces, and thereby to develop the common defence of the Empire by air. Lieut.-Col. Moore-Brabazon : Can the right hon. gentleman say if this will apply to any particular types of machines or to all types of machines now in use ? Maj.-Genl. Seely : We hope to be able to meet all the requests for free gifts on the part of the Dominions. It may be that in some cases they will ask for types of which we have none available, but we hope that will not occur and that we shall be able to meet all their requests. Regent's Park Sir WILLIAM PEARCE asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry when the completion of the transfer of standard stocks from Regent's Park to Ruislip is completed in September will the buildings in Regent's Park be then removed and the land now occupied be restored to the public ? Maj.-Genl. Seely : I regret that I am unable to add anything on this ques tion to the reply which I gave to my hon. friend on May 19. Perhaps he will address a question to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Muni tions at a later date. Compensation for Damage by Aeroplanes Sir PHILIP MAGNUS on June 6 asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is considering the measures necessary to provide compensation for damage to private property or loss of life caused by any kind of aero plane, whether in use for commercial, experimental or other objects ? Maj.-Genl. Seely: It is considered that, for the present, compensation for damage to private property or life should be dealt with by the ordinary law affecting damage to persons and property until further experience is gained. The question of compulsory insurance will be considered fully before the new Act is framed, to take effect from January 1, 1920. Regent's Park Sir W. PEARCE asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will remove the Air Ministry store building in Regent's Park immediately the standard stocks are transferred to Ruislip, and restore this open space for public use ? Mr. Kellaway : No store buildings in Regent's Park have so far been notified to the Disposal Board by the Air Ministry as being surplus to their require ments. MR. R. L. DESOUTTER informs us that he has resigned from "the position of manager at the British Caudron Co.'s Alloa works as from the 24th ult., and that he is, therefore, free to consider any propositions from interested parties, either in the capacity of pilot or any other in which his long and varied experience of the aircraft industry could be utilised. MESSRS. LEO RIPAULT AND Co., of 1, King's Road, St. Pancras, London, N.W. I, have now obtained from the printers their latest temporary retail descriptive list, illus trating the various types of plugs which they are in a position to deliver quickly, and would be glad to hear from any pro spective enquirers desiring a copy. " Oleo Plugs " have a world-famous name for hard wear and reliability under the most strenuous conditions, and a long list of aviation and road records to their credit, including all pre-War Daily Mail prizes. MR. ALBERT E. NEWTON, who has joined the board of •directors of the British Motor Trading Corporation, Ltd., is leaving the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., after 26 years' service. He has hundreds of friends in the motor trade, and they will find him from now on at the offices of the British Motor Trading Corporation, at 22, King Street, St. James's, where lie is taking a very active part in the management of the Corporation as distinct from having a seat on the board. AFTER the fashion of one or two other leading firms hitherto engaged in aircraft production, the Air Navigation and Engineering Co., Ltd., of Addlestone, Surrey, are setting about the production of an extra-light four wheeler—of cycle-car purpose and weight, but distinctly unlike anything of the kind so lar seen—which is to be known as the Bleriot Whippet. The chief feature of its design is that the whole of the belt- drive transmission is enclosed in a casing which extends along the middle line of the body interior—much in the manner of the centre-board case in a boat—as a continuation of air cowling over a two-cylinder 8 h.p. air-cooled V-type motor and the expanding-pulley-type change speed gear behind it. Thus in a very roomy cock-pit-like little body the driver sits on one side of the belt-drive casing, with the change speed lever within easy reach of his left hand, while his passenger sits on the other side, the seating being of the hammock-type. The motor is to be an 8 h.p. Blackburn model of 85 mm. bore and 88 mm. stroke, with an outside flywheel and de tachable cylinder heads, and will be fitted with a Thomson- Bennett magneto and automatic carburettor. The trans mission will be from a three plate-dry clutch and silent chain to an expanding pulley on the counter shaft ; thence by belt drive to a tubular back-axle with no differentiaL On the driver's right is a lever operating a mechanical starter ; the brakes are internal expanding, lever controlled, on the 789
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