FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0898.PDF
high power-weight ratio. Not that the latter should be disregarded by any means, because what we want is a motor which combines the qualities of robustness with the greatest possible power output in relation to weight, always keeping in mind that absolute reliability in the air is the prime consideration. Without that absolute reliability there is nothing in commercial aviation. More so is it essential than in any other form of transport, because of the different conditions. The engine failure that in land transport merely, means delay and inconvenience may be fraught with the most serious consequences in the air. As to machines, Mr. Searle seems to think that the aeroplane of the immediate future should be built mainly of wood, with wooden wings, in preference to metal. As to that we have a perfectly open mind, but the idea seems to us to be a little revolutionary if nothing else. Such a construction would certainly have the merit of durability, in comparison with the fabric covered wing of convention, and it would be easy and cheap to repair in case of minor accident, but we should require to be convinced of its safety in the air. So much, however, has been done of late in wood-working that it is quite possible the use of ply-wood for wings is not open to any objection that matters. Again, he favours the development of the monoplane for commercial transport. From the point of view of the commercial manager of a civil aerial transport compan ', there is a good deal to be said for the simplified monoplane iorm of construction, but there are other considerations to be taken into account. Safety is once more the paramount factor in commercial aviation. The monoplane had a great vogue at one time, but it manifested inherent weaknesses, not all due to want of proper material or of essential knowledge of stresses, which ruled it out when power and lifting capacity increased beyond a particular point. Once more, we should require a-great deal of convincing that the monoplane as a type is likely to prove suitable for commercial services. In saying this we do not for a moment desire to be dogmatic. It is again the case of the open mind. AUGUST 19, 1920 - — Mr. Scarle seems to be on firmer ground " **. when he comes to deal with traffic System * systems. He thinks that we shall never do any good with commercial aviation until we get a better international system than we have to-day. Again, that is a truism. Today we have practically nothing that can be called an international system. Time has been too short and aviation as a commercial proposition has not even begun to feel its feet. Mr. Searle's idea is that all goods for aerial transmission overseas should be packed in special containers which can be easily handled, and transferred from machine to machine. But it is obviously no use having such containers unless there is unified action among the air transport companies of Europe to provide approved good machines of a definite type. We want to be able to send a load anywhere in Europe by air, and to do so not" only quickly but at rates which, while attractive to the consignor, still leave a reasonable margin of profit. We shall never reach this stage unless we have close co-operation between the commercial flying interests of Europe. A con- ference, he thinks, should be called at once. We should prepare a?nd agree on the plans for an aerial cargo-carrier of a type sufficiently sound and practical to take us over the next few years, and should arrange for the handling of goods in approved containers on all main aerodromes in Europe. That is sound and excellent in theory. Nor do we see any reason why there should be any practical difficulty in the way of its consummation. The main thing is to get together such a conference as Mr. Searle suggests. There is nothing like starting properly, and now, at the virtual beginning of things, is the proper time to make all these arrangements. To wait until things have grown up haphazard—like the railways—is to sacrifice efficiency at the beginning and to incur costly changes later on. There are many more things that can usefully be discussed by such a conference as has been suggested, and we trust that before long the appropriate bodies concerned will take the necessary steps to call it. . - AEROPLANES FOR INDIA THE following cotnmuniqut has been issued by the Department of Commerce of the Government of India :— ; " The Government of India have recently received repre- sentations from the principal chambers of commerce on the subject of assisting the development of civil aviation in India by reduction of the Customs duties levied on aeroplanes. They have for some time past had this question under con- sideration, and have now decided to reduce the import duty payable on aeroplanes, aeroplane parts, aeroplane engines and engine parts from 7J per cent, to i\ per cent, ad valorem. " This concession will have retrospective effect so as to include imports on which excess duty has already been paid. Further, in order not to hamper or discourage long-distance flying, which is at present only in an experimental stage, the Government of India have authorised the maritime local governments to exempt aircraft arriving in India by air from the payment of duty when they are satisfied that the aircraft are to be used merely for the purpose of flight across India and are not intended to be retained in the country. " Before this exemption is granted the person in charge of the aircraft will be required to make a written declaration or to execute a bond that the condition laid down above will be fulfilled." Notification No. 3,444 gives effect to the reduced rate of Customs duty specified above in respect of imported aeroplanes aeroplane parts and aeroplane engines and engine parts. International Aero Exhibition at Prague THE Czechoslovak Aero Club is organising an Inter- national Aero Exhibition, to be held in Prague, under the patronage of the President of the Czechoslovak Republic, T. G. Masaryk, from Oct. 23 to Nov. 2. In view of the im- portance which is attached in some quarters to the possi- bilities of Prague as the junction of all the projected principal aerial lines of Europe, it is hoped that the exhibition, the Jirst of its kind in Czechoslovakia, will be a great success. Many of the big firms of the neighbouring countries have shown considerable interest in the exhibition and promised that they will take part. There is at Prague a big aerodrome under construction, and in connection with the exhibition it is proposed ithat 1 passenger- and freight-carrying services should be carried on. The address of the exhibition offices is Prague-Vinohrady, Slezska 18. Republic Czechoslovak. The Gordon Bennett Balloon Trophy ,r_ IT is stated that the American eliminating trials On Sept. 11 and the competition itself for the Gordon Bennett Balloon Trophy on Oct. 23, which were to have been held at Indiana- polis, will now be held at Chicago. 9OO
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
