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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0688.PDF
OCTOBER 20, 1921 ONE MILLION FRANCS FOR AN AERO ENGINE French Encouragement to Aviation THE announcement recently that a French Prize of one million francs had been offered for the " best " aero engine has now- been confirmed, and the text of the official announcement is as follows :— " The Administrative Council of the French Committee for Aeronautical Propaganda, in considering the importance of commercial aviation, which is intimately linked up with improvements in present aero engines, has decided : " 1. To provide a prize of one million francs, which will be awarded to the constructor of an aero engine which has given proof, in passing satisfactorily tests instituted for the purpose, of durability, reliabilit37, ease of dismantling, and erecting, etc., and similar qualities indispensable in & commercial engine. "The competition is to be international, under the reserva- tions of the present rules of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, but foreign manufacturers will only be allowed to compete after having undertaken to manufacture their engine in France, if it wins the competition, and that under conditions to be determined by the rules governing the competition. The engines must be ready for tests at the latest on June 1, 1923. " 2. To ask the Frepch Aero Club to be good enough to charge the Commission d'Aviation of the Club, whose com- petence in these matters is universally acknowledged, with establishing, in collaboration with the French Committee for Aeronautical Propaganda, the regulations for the competition and to undertake the organisation and supervision of the tests and the award of the prize." " The Committee of the French Aero Club has accepted, with gratitude, the offer of the prize, and has declared its willingness to charge the Commission d'Aviation with the task of organising, supervising the tests and of awarding the prize. The Club has also expressed its gratitude to M. Michelin, to whose influence the establishment of the prize is largely due, and who has thus once more proved his desire to further aviation. At the moment of writing it is not quite clear whence the million francs is to come. It is understood that M. Michelin has given a handsome donation towards it, and presumably the rest will be raised by the Committee for Aerial Propaganda, which was established last year, its president being General Duval, late Director of the Aeronautique Militaire. The offer is undoubtedly \a handsome one, and should be sufficiently generous to make it worth while for manufac- turers to compete. Even at the present rate of exchange, counting 50 fra/ics to the pound sterling, one million francs represents ^20,000, which should be sufficient to see a firm just about reimbursed for its outlay in producing an engine. It should also be remembered that a firm which produces an engine for the competition, even if not actually winning it, would stand a very good chance of selling a fair number, since it is scarcely likely that any one engine can be found which will satisfy all requirements", and in certain circum- stances and for certain uses non-prized engines might be found more suitable than the winning design. That the French Committee for Aerial Propaganda has chosen the right item for their competition cannot be doubted. If it be possible to evolve an absolutely reliable engine avia- tion's worst trouble is over, and remaining problems can be attacked with equanimity. Night flying and flying in fogs will lose most of their perils, and long-distance flying over the sea will become safe and possible. With an absolutely reliable engine (and by this we mean, of course, its vital accessories as well) and a proper organisation of wireless direction finding stations, there will be few places on the globe which cannot be linked up by air services. Further- more, when night flying becomes safe over long distances the speed of the aeroplane will be virtually doubled. That is merely another way of saying that the present high speed need not be maintained in order to compete easily with older means of transport. Consequently slower machines can be used and a greater paying load carried per horse-power. The result will be a reduction in the cost of air transport, which, in conjunction with safety and reliability and regu- larity, is what we are all aiming at and working for. When we come to the actual competition itself, the ways and means of ensuring that the competition shall produce the " best " aero-engine^are less simple. Until the rules have been drawn up and published it is little use speculating on the feasibility of meeting the conditions. Much will depend upon these. For instance, what will-the stipulated power be ? Will there be any restriction as to type ? Will the competition be limited to petrol engines ? and, if so, is it to be water-cooled or air-cooled ? What will be the maximum permissible weight per horse-power, taken in conjunction with the fuel consumption ? These and many other questions arise instantly. However, in the hands of the Commission d'Aviation of the French Aero Club doubtless a set of sensible rules will be drawn up, and in the meantime we can only congratulate the Committee of Aerial Propaganda on its generous offer, and on its far-sightedness in making the competition international. Commercial aviation of the future will in the very nature of things be of an international character, and what benefits one nation will benefit all. It is to be hoped that the excellent example set by France will be followed by other great nations, in which case we shall soon see splendid progress in commercial aviation towards that perfection which is bound ultimately to place it in the very front of means for intercommunication between nations. Avro Baby for India : This machine has been built for Mr. E. Villiers, who already owns a standard Avro type K. 504. In view of the special conditions, a large radiator has been fitted, and the mounting for the 35 h.p. Green engine has been specially de- signed, being built of steel tubing. The new mounting makes the engine remarkably accessible. A large locker is fitted behind the cock-pit to accommodate the personal luggage of the owner when tour- ing in India. Mr. Hinkler delivered the "machine to Northolt by air, and Mr.Villiers at once went up for a test flight, expressing himself very pleased with the machine. 688
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