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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0152.PDF
MARCH 3, 1921 AIR TRANSPORT AND EFFICIENCY Two Interesting Papers Read at Olympia AT the Daily Mail Efficiency Exhibition, which closed on Saturday of last week, it was only natural that the question of air transport should receive attention, making as it does for greater efficiency in intercommunication between countries. On Friday, February 25, two very interesting papers were read in the Conference Hall at Olympia, Major Sir J. L. Baird, Bart., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.P., being in the Chair. The first paper, read by Mr. H. White Smith, C.B.E., was entitled " Aeroplane and Seaplane Efficiency," and this was followed by a paper by Mr. C. I. R. Campbell, O.B.E., M.I.N.A., headed " Airship Transport." Following are extracts from the two papers:— •'Aeroplane and Seaplane Efficiency " When considering aerial transport in relation to or in comparison with other forms of transport it is useful to consider in the first place of what efficiency in transport consists. We find that the most efficient form of transport is a combination of the following qualities:—(1) Speed, combined with a capacity for covering distance. (2) The ability to convey merchandise, mails or passengers from one point to another without constant handling or changing. (3) Mobility. (4) Safety and reliability. (5) Economy of working, producing the lowest possible price for the amount of service rendered. Given these qualities as being those necessary for efficient transport services, I think we may with safety say that the aeroplane gives the greatest promise of efficiency of all modern transport. Let us examine these points in the order in which I have stated them :— Speed As far as speed is concerned, the aeroplane—and I use this term in a generic sense, including the amphibian and seaplane—has an outstanding advantage over other forms of transport. At the present stage of development we do not think of aerial transport except in terms of 100 m.p.h. By this I mean what is termed cruising speed, and not the full speed of the aircraft, which approximates to 125 m.p.h. For the time being the speed of 100 m.p.h. is probably the most economical to adopt, but there is no reason why, in the future, we should not employ cruising speeds of 130 m.p.h. with top speeds of 160 to 180 m.p.h. No other form of transport can in any measure approach these startling speeds. To enable you to appreciate the advantage in speed which the aeroplane has over other modes of transport I have prepared a short table showing the times taken by the express train and boat to reach the principal towns in Europe, and also the time in which the aeroplane could complete the journey. The aeroplane times are based on an average flying speed of 100 miles per hour, allowing half-an-hour's delay to change machines at each stopping place. London to Paris Marseilles Brussels Amsterdam .. Hamburg Copenhagen .. Berlin Prague Madrid Rome* Distance in Miles 240 700 210 260 410 560 560 700 95O 1,150 By Express Train and Boat (hours) 9 22 10 i3i 25 47 25 36 44 43 By Air Day Flying 112-hour day (hours) 2i 8 2 5i 7* 1\ 9 Hi 26J Saving in Time .6* 14 8 11 I9i 17* 27 32i i6| N.B.—The times taken by train and boat are the approximate timestaken by existing express services. The air routes shown are all practical, and in fact those to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Prague should be in operation this year either by British or foreign aerial transport companies. On comparatively short distances, such as to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, there is no difficulty in travelling from point to point in a few hours, but to some of the places, such as Marseilles, Hamburg, Berlin, Copenhagen, the distance could also be covered for certainly nine months of the year • If flying by night, 13J hours. • in the day. For the greater distances, such as Rome, Bucharest, under present conditions a stop would have to be made when darkness fell and a start made at daybreak next day, with a consequent loss of much time and efficiency of service. If night flying is developed on right lines the efficiency and possibilities of aeroplane services will be vastly improved, but even on the figures of daylight flying only it will be seen that in the conveyance of merchandise of a light character, of mail matter and documents and newspapers, the saving of time by aircraft is so considerable as to, in all cases, justify the use of this mode of transport. I think you will agree, therefore, that, judged on speed alone, the aeroplane is the most efficient mode of transport. 2. The ability to Convey Merchandise, Mails, or Passengers from one point to another without Constant Handling or Changing It is obvious the less handling there is on any consignment of goods the more you reduce handling charges, combined with the more rapid movement of a greater amount of goods ; therefore any form of transport which reduces handling is making for efficiency. The aeroplane here scores a con- siderable advantage over other forms of transit. Take a parcel being sent from London to Paris. First of all it is placed in the van, from the van it is moved into the train, from the train to the boat, from the boat to the train again, then to another van, then to its destination. By air the parcel would be placed in the van, then into the aeroplane, and again into a van and to the destination, a saving of at least two handlings. To business houses whose goods are at all liable to damage the reduction of handling will be apparent, as it means less liability to damage, fewer charges for handling and greater safety. Another feature which is of real importance at the present time is the almost complete elimination of the risk of pilferage. This advantage of the air is apparent, and I may here mention that the rate of insurance against all risks for a parcel des- patched by air is anything from one-third to one-sixth of the rate when sent by land and sea. It may be objected that, on the longer routes, such as to Rome and Madrid, the relay system of aircraft would be operated, and that there would be a consequent transference of the goods and passengers at various stages of the journey ; but even so, these stages would be of considerable length, probably not less than 400 miles, with consequently infrequent changes, and part of the standard equipment of goods-carrying aircraft would be a type of specially made " containers " which would be rapidly transferred from one aeroplane to another ;' the handling would be in bulk and the risk of pilferage from these sealed containers practically nil. 3. Mobility Another important asset of the aeroplane is its mobility. The only factor controlling mobility is the necessity of using aerodromes for departure and landing. The operators of aircraft can, however, place their landing grounds at any desired point to serve great centres of population, or with equal facility, the small village. The value of this quality of mobility will be most apparent, however, in our great Dominions and Colonies and the other countries of wide distances. In the Colonies you have no such network of railways or roads as exist in Great Britain and Europe. There are great open spaces untracked by rail or roads, and it' is in these places that the mobility of the aeroplane will prove of the greatest service. In these places the land for aerodromes will be cheap and they will be easy of construction. In reviewing this question of mobility the development of the amphibian calls for our careful consideration, for operating as it does on either sea or land, there is a great advantage as regards the place of its departure or landing. If land aerodromes are not available, probably the sea or river would be available, and its mobility is therefore correspond ingly greater. In this connection the alighting experiments which have recently taken place on the Thames between Westminster and Albert Bridges are of the greatest interest. Safety and Reliability The next question we have to consider in relation to efficiency of transport is that of safety, and, linked with it, reliability. Although there is but a short history and experience behind the development of aerial transport, it has already an excellent record for safety and reliability. While accidents do happen to aircraft, and some of them
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