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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1304.PDF
THE "ARRIVAL" OF THE REGULAR AIR SERVICE AMONG the main criticisms levelled against commercial aviation, perhaps it may even be considered the chief one, is that of unreliability. There are those who hold the view that the aeroplane, although admitted to be the fastest mode of transport, is not yet, and, they say, probably never will be, a business man's proposition, owing to the uncertainty of running. In the first place, aero engines are liable to breakdowns, which result in forced landings, sometimes resulting in crashes, often in landings far away from other means of locomotion, and always in delay to the passengers and goods carried. The second objection is that bad weather, chiefly fog, prevents flying altogether. On the face of it, both objections sound plausible. Aero engines do break down occasionally, and very dense fog does prevent flying—sometimes. We agree that these two factors do impose obstacles in the progress of commercial aviation, but we are it of passengers, mails, or even certain classes of goods, are so obvious that they must be patent to all. In the case of the London-Paris service run by Aircraft Transport and Travel, Ltd., this service now extends over more than a month, and as pointed out last week, out of 56 possible flights 54 were carried out. In the case of the Handley Page service also, good regularity has been one of the features, and last week this firm's services were extended to include Brussels, while the London-Paris service is increased by a batch of French Breguet biplanes alternating with the Handley Pages, the former leaving London for Paris on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the Handley Pages leave London on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. We understand that already these services are being increased, while during the present abnormal conditions there is no doubt that others will be established. After over " Flight " CopvngUt THE LONDON-PARIS AIR SERVICE : (1) Mr. M. D. Manton discussing matters with Capt. Baylis as the latter is leaving for Paris on a de H. (Airco) 4A. (2) Lieut. Eric Lawford has just arrived with the mail from Paris in a de H. (Airco) 4A. (3) The Airco 4A just before leaving for Paris. sufficiently optimistic to think that both will be overcome in time. Fortunately, there are others besides ourselves who are of the same opinion and, what is of vastly more importance, have the courage of their convictions to the extent of setting out to prove that even at the present stage of development a commercial air service can be run, not intermittingly as conditions permit, but regularly. This, to our mind, is the all-important feature of the London- Paris air service, which has now been in operation for some considerable time. As already pointed out, few people deny the advantage which the aeroplane has over other means of locomotion in point of speed; the thing that is doubted is its reliability, and it is just by the proof which they furnish of very good relia bility that these services are doing a tremendous amount of good in the cause of commercial aviation. Once the fact is clearly established that aviation is not unreliable, the advantages of aerial transport, be a month's proof of regular running we therefore feel justified in claiming that regular air trarisport has " arrived," in other words, that it has been proved to be on a level with other means of transport as regards reliability. The whole question is chiefly one of organisation, and as experience accumulates the organisation of air services will become better and better. The start already made, although small compared with what we shall see in the future, is, we think, distinctly promising, and those responsible for it deserve the greatest credit and support. As the first regular air services to places outside the Kingdom, the Holt Thomas and Handley Page undertakings are by way of being historic events, and hence a few notes regarding the machines employed may not be without interest. Of the Airco machines used on the Londfoi-Paris service the three most important types are the de H. 4A, the de H. 16, and the de H. 9. As the accompany- 1306
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