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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0779.PDF
1 JULY 15, 1920 piston rings for B.R.2 engines for theAir Ministry, this firm have produced the " Wellworthy " New Cross PistonRings. The stand also contains a display of Gudgeon pins, valves,connecting rods, compression taps, petrol taps, etc. Yorkshire Steel Co., Ltd., 30, Hol-born, E.C. (STAND 77) THIS firm is showing a variety of patterns of the Holt " Autochute "life-saving parachutes, landing lights, parachute flares and landing lights,mail-dropping devices, air depth bombs, etc. Another speciality is the Oraanti-friction metal for aero engines. The " Autochute " system consists ofthree parachutes in tandem : (a) the auxiliary pilot, (b) the principal orshock pilot, and (c) the main parachute. The auxiliary pilot is not essential ; it is built as light as possible, and itsfunction is simply to get the principal pilot in position for inflation in theshortest possible space of time. Should it fail to function, the principal pilotwill inflate of itself. The system is a "free " one—that is to say that afterthe passenger has jumped from the machine there is no mechanical con-nection between the machine and the passenger. THE <$> <5> <8> ^OPENING LUNCHEON AT the inaugural luncheon on July 9, at which Mr. H. White-Smith, C.B.E., Chairman S.B.A.C., presided, Lord London- derry, Under-Secretary of State for Air, proposed the toastof " The Aircraft Industry and the Exhibition." He said it was over over six years since those interested in the newart of aviation assembled at Olympia specimens of their handiwork and creative ability in what was then an infantindustry. Though the stage in aviation at which we had now arrived has been to a great extent attained through thestimulus of war, and though much of the magnificent material we saw there today owed its development or even its verycreation to military requirements, it was a Peace Exhibition. In this country civil flying as we knew it had really beenin progress a little over a year. Sir Frederick Sykes, Con- troller-General of Civil Aviation, has given statistics of hisprogress in the extraordinarily interesting two half-yearly progress reports which he had issued as public documents.In reference to international progress, he could not permit the occasion to pass without alluding to certain alarmistand exaggerated statements which had recently been made about the developments in the air carried out by othernations, especially Germany. In that country there might be, as had been announced, millions of men fully determinedto win back by the air what they had lost by sea and land, but the determination or desire or will to do this was a dif-ferent matter from actual achievement and readiness. Over a year ago the German Press instituted a vigorous propagandain favour of aviation, pointing out how necessary aerial communication would be in the future, and quoting statisticsto prove the number of air routes that were in contemplation. The situation as described in the Press was out of allproportion to the actual facts, of which he would endeavour to give a brief resume. It had been stated publicly that therewere now 18 companies or firms, with powerful financial backing, devoting themselves solely to scientific progressand preparation for rapid and immediate development. This amounted to a misrepresentation ; so far as our informationwent, 49 undertakings had been licensed by the German Government and had received permission to participatein air traffic, when this was permissible. This figure was represented by 19 transport companies and 30 factories—•of the companies only two were actually working, and that only to a limited extent; of the factories, four were engagedon research work and two were designing engines. Arrangements were now being made for the resumptionof Air Traffic in Germany on a small scale. For this purpose a few commercial undertakings were being permitted by theCommission of Control to use machines which were of no military value. These machines would bear a special sealas laid down by the Commission, and the police had received orders for the Government to allow only machines bearingthis mark to fly. As had been explained, the object of this newspaper cam-paign was to maintain public interest in the subject until aviation was a commercially practicable proposition ; butthere was no doubt that the Germans were fully alive to the national importance of aviation.No one was more convinced than he was of its importance, of the vital necessity of maintaining progress and develop-ment, and of the desirability of awakening the national consciousness upon the subject, but nothing was to be gainedby unnecessarily alarmist statements of the case. He would, therefore, recommend those who desired to know more indetail where we stand to study the half-yearly report on the progress of civil aviation issued last week by the Controller-General of Civil Aviation. As to the part taken in the Exhibition by the Air Ministry,that was mostly illustrative of what had been, and was actually being done, by the Government as its share in nationalactivity. He regarded the Exhibition as a sign of the endeavour toassist the growth to full estate of a still youthful industry, a position from which, he was sufficiently optimistic to think,it was still far. It was to be hoped that in future the Exhibition would not only be international in intention,but also more in fact than it was this year. All those who had the progress of aviation at heart had reason to thank thejoint Exhibition Committee of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers andTraders, for what they had done in their combined effort to advance a subject which was of such importance to thewhole world. And if one name could be coupled with this effort more than another, it was that of Mr. White Smith,the Chairman of the S.B.A.C., so well known as one of the wholehearted backers and pioneers of the aviation industryfrom its earliest days. Mr. White Smith, in replying, said that these aero exhibi-tions might be regarded as the milestones along the road of progress. One had only to go round the exhibition to realisehow great was the distance travelled since the pre-War effort. He thanked Lord Londonderry and the officials ofhis Department for the splendid exhibit which the Air Ministry were showing and for the part they had taken inthe Exhibition. This exhibit was a wonderful demonstration of the activities of the Air Ministry, and for all who saw itit was bound to be of great educational interest. The designers were the backbone of our construction. Their onlyanxiety was that these designing staffs should be maintained on as strong a basis as possible. They felt sure that the AirMinistry would realise the importance of this, and would make every effort to place orders for as many experimental, types of aircraft as possible so that there might be no disintegration of this vital side of their business. The toast of " Our Guests " was in the hands of Mr. R. O.Cary, O.B.E., Vice-Chairman of the S.B.A.C, who drew attention to the remarkable number of foreign representativespresent, hoped they would all return and tell their respective Governments how we had progressed. Mr. Cary, in speakingof those pilots who had made history in the War, put forward a very happy simile in suggesting they were comparable tothe Knights of Old, who rode out and challenged the individual to battle in single combat. So our Squadron-Leaders salliedforth and in the air in like manner challenged the enemy's right to hold sway there.In reply, M. P. E. Flandin, French Under-Secretary of State for Aviation and Aerial Transport, spoke in terms ofpraise of the working together in the air of the forces of both countries, and congratulated the Society upon the remark-able assembly of exhibits which were to be seen in Olympia. Air-Marshal Sir H. M. Trenchard, Bart., in supporting,said he was glad to have the opportunity of letting those engaged in civil aviation know the deep debt of gratitudewhich he thought the country owed to the industry for their work during the War. It was of the utmost importancethat that industry should be kept alive, and he hoped that in the future it would be as great as our shipping trade.Maj.-Gen. Sir F. H. Sykes also responded, and said that in being asked to address a few words to them on behalf of CivilAviation, he fully appreciated the importance of that occasion. In 1914, the last time that the products of the British aircraftindustry were exhibited in England, they recognised the potentialities of aircraft as a new arm in their fighting forces.Few, however, could have foreseen the advance which had actually been made during the last six years. That advancewas exemplified in this Exhibition. We had conquered the air and our immediate task wasto exploit our victory in the interests of commercial develop- ment. To this end we must study the many factors whichwill make for commercial success—the speed, endurance, reliability, and carrying capacity of aircraft; comfort inpassenger transport; and efficient and economic ground organisation ; the maintenance of a body of skilful pilotsand the development of the " air-sense " of the population as a whole. Each country, he thought, could assist in the 779
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