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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 1304.PDF
characteristic energy. We cannot help, however, ex- pressing the opinion that the action taken in the matter seems to be a very poor return for what was done during the War for the American industry by the very British designers and constructors whose produc- tions they are now so anxious to keep out of their market. It is perfectly true to say that the American industry did not produce a machine or an engine fit for war purposes until our own designers gave the Americans the benefit of their knowledge and ex- perience. British firms and designers like Handley Page and de Havilland, to mention only two, unre- servedly placed at the disposal of American builders all their latest designs, and sent experts over to the States to explain and assist in producing machines which would fly under war conditions. What the results were we know. However, there is no need to pursue the matter. There is a moral attached for all to read. The Aviation In a recent issue of the Birmingham Post there appeared a very interestingint .erview, on the subject of the Univer- sities and aviation, with Professor Lea, Professor of Civil Engineering at the Birmingham University. He pointed out that, after all, aeronautical engineering can only be based upon those fundamental principles which are common to all branches of engineering. The fundamental courses provided in the Universities give this basic instruc- tion, but even the many subjects which are included do not encompass the whole problem. There is, he said, one particular section of the subject which cannot be dealt with in an adequate manner. This relates to the determination of the external forces acting upon aeroplanes and the particular shapes which must be given to wings and bodies so as to '^.'--"• ' V••••••/'.- .,"• • '"•' ~- •-.'-••' •' H DECEMBER 30, 1920 obtain maximum lift at any particular speed, the greatest degree of suitability, and at the same time the minimum resistance to fraction and other aero- dynamic losses. In this country the only places where such experiments could be carried out are the National Physical Laboratory, the R.A.F. establish- ment at Farnborough, and in certain of the large aircraft factories in which wind tunnels had been installed during the War. No University, said the professor, can take up this part of the subject without installing very expensive plant and setting apart special members of the staff to carry out essential research. The whole matter seems to be one of endowment. Agreed that none of the Universities, with the excep- tion possibly of Oxford and Cambridge, which are not so closely interested in scientific xesearch of the kind as the younger and more technical foundations, can afford the expense. Nor can we expect that the State should come forward to find the necessary funds. One way and another, the question seems hedged about with difficulties. If there were in existence a great and flourishing aircraft industry, we should say without hesitation that it was the duty of that industry, from motives of self-interest alone apart from other considerations, to find the money for the research work which still remains, and will always remain, to be done. But the industry at the moment is neither great nor flourishing, and the present prospects- of equipping the Universities are not encouraging. It would really seem to be a matter for private munificence—another Sir Basil Zaharoff is needed to step into the breach. If this country is to maintain its position in aeronautics, all the research work possible must be carried out, and the more experiment and research is multiplied over a number of centres the better it will be for the future of the industry - But how is it to be done ? HI 13 '*"'*. --• '-•"'• ' • THE LONDON-CONTINENTAL SERVICES THE London-Continental Services during last week—Decem-ber 19-25—were somewhat curtailed, owing, no doubt, mainly to the Christmas holidays ; bad weather, however,was the cause of interrupting several trips on the various routes. On the Croydon-Paris route a Breguet (MessageriesAeriennes) carrying two passengers, goods and mail, made a 2 h. 20 min. trip on the 22nd, but on the return trip thefollowing day, with goods and mail, landed at St. Inglevert. Messrs. Instone's Vickers-Vimy made one trip to Paris withfour passengers and goods, and returned to Croydon with two passengers and goods. Two Salmson machines, withgoods, left Croydon for Paris, but both landed at St. Ingle- vert. On the Paris-Croydon route a Breguet (goods) anda Spad (goods and mail) both made successful trips, but three other Breguets, with.goods, were forced to return to Paris,owing to fog, on the 21st. Only two machines, Airco 4 and a Handley Page (both ofHandley Page Transport), left Cricklewood for Paris, but both failed to reach their destination. The Airco 4, with goods,landed at St. Inglevert, and the Handley Page, with one passenger and goods, landed at Abbeville. No flights weremade between Paris-Cricklewood. Airco 4 " O-BAT3I " made a fast trip (1 hr. 50 mins.)with goods and mail from Croydon to Brussels on the 22nd, this being the only flight made on the Brussels service. ASopwith " Dove """ G-EAFI," left Croydon for Stockholm, via Lympne and Amsterdam, on the 22nd, for the NorwegianAviation Co. . — •vt An Air Board for South Africa The South African Government has now appointed anAir Board to deal with aerial legislation, the development of aeronautics in South Africa, and with proposals for theestablishment of mail and passenger services. The board is constituted as follows :—Sir Wm. Hoy (Chairman), SirRobert Kotze, Sir Roland Bourne, Messrs. H. W. Twycross (Postmaster-General), A. D. Lewis (Director of Irrigation),G. O. Smith (Commissioner of Customs), with Mr. A. C. McColm acting as Secretary. French Aircraft for Roumania THE negotiations which have been taking place betweenrepresentatives of the French and Roumanian Ministries of War have resulted, judging by news received in Parisfrom .Bucharest, in an agreement, according to which France will deliver to Roumania aeroplanes and an importantquantity of aviation material. Roumania, for her part will permit a large amount of petroleum and petrol to beexported to France. _ - - . German Air Minister Resigns FOR some time opposition has been steadily growing in German aeronautical circles against the Under-Secretary of State for Aeronautics, Herr Euler, and it has ended in his resignation. It is probable that the Under-Secretaryship will be done away with, and the next official appointed. be termed a Ministerial Director. .: .'-'.•.:•...., .-...-..." ,;^ .•.'... k-i An Aerodrome for Frankfort . - -r - FRANKFORT-ON-MAIN has decided not to be left behind in the matter of air terminus facilities. The municipal authori- ties have decided to set aside a sum of 100,000 marks towards the cost of installing an aerodrome. Americans also Want Schutte-Lanz Works WORD comes from Berlin that American interests are not only seeking to obtain concessions from the Zeppelin works, but that they have also approached the Schutte-Lanz interests. This concern is believed to have built twenty-twa rigid dirigibles, nine in the Rheinau works, one at Sandhofen, one at Darmstadt, eight at Leipzig, and three at Zeesen. T306
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