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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0157.PDF
O* Monday the French Civil Air Estimates, particulars of which were recently published in FLIGHT, came up before the Chamber. Having regard to our own outrageous estimates upon the Civil side and all that hangs to them, it is highly significant that the figures were adopted practically without a word of comment—the vote being passed imme- diately by a show of hands. During the morning session the Military Air Estimates were passed with equal absence of discussion. Comment would be superfluous. How our dear Allies must chuckle ! LAST week the Paris Anglo-French-Belgian Air Conference came to an end, and the next meeting will be held in London during the first fortnight in April. COMMENTING in the same strain as FLIGHT has done in the past upon the absurdity and the harmfulness of the senseless air " sttmts " indulged in by certain acrobatic perverts in America, in the form of jumping from one machine to another whilst in flight and similar abominations, our French con- temporary L'Auto recently let itself go upon this same subject. Our contemporary rightly called upon the authori- ties to sit up and take notice that it was proposed by these suicide merchants to perpetrate the same follies in France for the acquiring of filthy lucre in the form of gate money. Fortunately over the water officialdom does not take a decade to grasp things of this sort, and so with promptness^ to be emulated in our bureaucratic circles the Service de la Navi- gation Aerienne has telegraphed to the Prefet of La Vendee, in whose district the opening exhibition was to be exploited, forbidding the performance to take place. We only hope that any attempt to transfer the same show to this country will be as effectually quashed by the proper authority. WHEN are our railway-men going to take the long view lor air-travel in co-operation with present-day existing transport ramifications ? It is quite heartening to see that in the U.S. they are waking up to the enormous future and possibilities of the air-way, if only it be fostered in the right spirit. Mr. R. E. R. Cowie, President of the American Railway Express Company, in an address on Transportation delivered before 1,200 members of the Society of Automotive Engineers at their Annual Dinner, held at the Hotel Astor, New York, in January, was most emphatic in his views upon the subject. " In my opinion, we—and I mean by ' we ' the United States Government and all the citizens of this country," he said, "should adopt a consistent, forward-looking policy, amply supported by legislation which will ensure the immediate and vigorous growth of commercial aviation in the United States." MR. COWIE went on to say that he saw no reason why the United States Government should not give as much support to commercial aviation as it does to navigation, and that he believed that for the safety of the country, for its defence in time of war, and for its continued commercial prosperity, it was absolutely imperative thata system of commercial aero- planes be developed which could be readily altered in two or three days so as to become effective weapons of war. " If the occasion should arise when a large number of aero- planes should be needed by the Government, either for commercial purposes or war, where could it get them today ? What provisions have been made for night-flying ? How many landing-fields have we that are suitably marked, lighted, supplied and equipped with directional wireless and all the other necessary aids to successful aero navigation ? " queried Mr. Cowie. " Why should not the Government," he urged, " control this in the same manner as it does our merchant marine, by providing laws, licences, suitable light-houses, maps, proper routes, life-saving apparatus, licensed pilots and all the other things that go to make up a successful working organisation ? " CURIOUSLY we thought, from the news-columns of our home contemporaries, all this sort of thing was in active operation out yonder, whilst here at home there is " nothing doing." But according to Cowie, "we have none of these today, and although America is the home of the aeroplane, and we have among our engineers some of the best designers and manufacturers of aircraft, nothing of importance seems to have been done to conserve the valuable aeronautical assets which we have." SEEMINGLY, therefore, as we are credited in the States with the most wonderful commercial progress, we shall have to go to America to find out how we really do stand. Still Cowie is a kicker, and means keeping up his crusade—in which more power to his elbow. He concluded his advocacy of air progress as being helpful all-round to transport by saying : " I am a great believer in the future of aviation, and I believe the more we get behind it the more automotive vehicles of all kinds will be manufactured and sold. This country of ours is a great country of vast distances and unexplored resources, but it is a country where transportation is a para- mount issue, where the transportation cost of articles makes up a large part of the selling price. For that reason, there lies in your hand a vast and far-reaching opportunity." ^ A PARTY were visiting the aerodrome, and they stopped in front of a refractory engine on which a very oily A.M. was working. The leader of the sightseers said : " Will you tell us what you call this particular engine ? " The A.M. grunted, wiped an oily hand across his brow and ventured : " D'ye mean its name, mister, or wot / calls it "" —Exchange. LEVEL CROSSING AT WADDON AERODROME : Lieut. Courtney taxying a Westland across the road: which divides the Waddon aerodrome, what time the red-flag man holds up the approaching traffic. 157 . : ••:••
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