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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0030.PDF
JANUARY 13, 1921 THE resignation of Major-General E. D. Swinton from the Air Ministry, where he has done such admirable work as Controller of Information in the Department of Civil Aviation, is, in the interests of future developments, to be greatly regretted. As the original " Eye-Witness " during the War, his contri-^ butie«tS"~to the Press will be remembered by all. But it is Gen. Swinton's great organising gifts which should have en- sured his remaining with the Air Ministry. We shall, however, hope that his co-ffperative help will still be available for the benefit of civil aviation, which we are all hoping will make its initial mark during 1921. THOSE Zepp. bombs are still turning up in the most unex- pected quarters. The latest was discovered by workmen clean - ing out a gas-holder at the South Metropolitan Gas Works, Thames Street, Greenwich, last week. This live explosive bomb was embedded in the tar at the side of the holder, and it is believed to have been dropped from a Zeppelin in one ol the earlier raids. MALTA, according to Capt. Blandy, of the Civil Aviation Department, is likely to become the first stop on the airship route to Egypt and the East. He has been inspecting on the island for suitable aerodrome sites, against the advent there of "L.36" on its trial trip. Should, as all hope, the service become a regular one, Malta should benefit no little, as it would mean that London letters would be delivered there within 24 hours. At present Malta has no regular mail service, and the local government, which has been inviting tenders for the conveyance of mails between Malta and Sicily, has apparently received none, for the time for sending in the tenders has just been extended. Captain Blandy has promised to mention the local mail difficulties in his report to the British Air Ministry, and to suggest for their consideration the question of an air service from Malta to Sicily. THAT appreciation by the Prince of Wales of the position into which the Ex-Service Men's Carnival and Exhibition at the White City was drifting and his prompt application of a remedy by an immediate visit, has set the pace to the public. Attendances have since been hugely improved, and the thoroughly interesting show now promises to result in material benefit to the ex-Service men's cause for which it was organised. It was a graceful thought which evolved the idea of dropping from an aeroplane a sealed message shortly before the Prince's arrival, addressed to him, containing the thanks of ex-Service men for his interest in and encouragement of their scheme. It was a popular visit made in the Prince's characteristically popular form. M. BL&RIOT was the first to cross the Channel by aeroplane. Quite so, we all know there's nothing particularly new about that. But now M. Bleriot is to score another " first." This time it is the inauguration of Messrs. Hampton and Sons' new and beautiful estate auction rooms at zo, St. James' Square^ where the first auction is now announced to take place on April 12th, the property to be offered, by direction of M. Louis Bleriot, being Riverdale, Bourne End, Bucks. " a property upon which a fortune has been lavished," the contents of the house also being available for acquisition. .• ;., AEROPLANES have again come in handy in Ireland, where the authorities have used them owing to the cutting of telegraph and telephone wires and the blocking of roads with trees and trenches over an area of several miles in the Dublin, Meath and Kildare districts, for scouting for military parties engaged in patrol work. IT is again affirmed that, subject to expert advise, aero- planes will be used in connection with the expedition which is to tackle the " roof of the world," Mount Everest. The'planes, it is suggested, can be used for reconnaissance, for telephoto- graphic purposes, and possibly for dropping stores at high attitudes. It is obvious that if it is possible for aeroplanes to land safely and rise again on the great height to which Everest reaches, the work of the expedition will be greatly simplified, as the great handicap of the effects of exertion in climbing at such altitudes would thereby be neutralised. THE Navy and Army Canteen Board has been reconstituted under the title, " The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes." THAT short but severe gale on Monday afternoon this week sent most things living home pretty quickly. But in the teeth of the gale Lieut. R. H. Macintosh, the Handley Page cross- Channel pilot, brought his aeroplane with four passengers from the Continent. People at Dover saw the giant machine fighting against the wind, buffeted every minute by huge gusts, but always making headway. Lieut. Macintosh safely landed his machine at Lympne. An interesting photograph taken in the area of the Napier works at Acton, showing a 450 h.p. Napier aero enginebeing conveyed on an electric truck fused for transporting all kinds of material both raw and finished) to the packing department for shipment abroad. In the background may be seen three of the well-known 40-50 h.p.six-cylindered Napier chassis, the other product of this huge factory, about to leave the works for their road' tests, such tests being rigorously carried-out on all Napier chassis before delivery to the coachbuilders. Napieraero engines, it will be recalled, were fitted to the Vickers-Viking, the Handley Page and the Westland aircraft, which gained the highest prizes in each of the three classes in the recent Government competitions. 30 ^-,m
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