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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0203.PDF
APRIL 6, 1922 later in the day when one solitary flying boat appeared, was tied up to a destroyer, and never managed to get started again up to the time the crowd left. A submarine was cruising around all the afternoon, and aroused more real interest than anything else by occasionally submerging and re-appearing. Several parachute descents were to take place at various times during the afternoon, but with the exception of one from a kite balloon, which occurred so far over the sea as to be almost indistinguishable, nothing came off until about 6.30 in the evening. In the case of the one mentioned, the parachute took some time to open, but I accept with all due reserve the report in a local paper that the daring aeronaut fell for the space of 22 sees, before the parachute opened, covering 100 metres at a terrific speed ! A good deal of looping and spinning went on at frequent H S ima intervals, and there were long intervals in which nothing aviatic took place. One missed sadly the brilliant organisa tion of our own Air Force Pageant, and the strict adherence to time-table which makes all the difference. The remaining days of the Aviation Week were devoted to numerous official receptions, luncheons, dinners and dances, with excursions for aviators and their friends to resorts in the neighbouring district. Among others who joined in these proceedings was Paulhan, long retired from active flying, and now engaged in the peaceful pursuit of floriculture in the region near Cannes. Several lectures were also given during the week on aeronautic subjects. The weather on Thursday and Friday broke down, and the sunshiae for which the Riviera is noted was conspicuous by its absence, to the great detriment of the joy riding which had been arranged and the open-air charity bazaar at the aerodrome. H H EMPIRE AIR SERVICES The New Airship Scheme VERY considerable interest has been aroused by the announce ment of the scheme for the formation of a company to estab lish an airship mail and passenger service to India and Aus tralia. At the moment of writing, the decision of the Air Council in the matter has not been made public, consequently it is not known whether this scheme, which calls for no capital investment by the Government, but only a contingent liability in the form of a State guarantee of interest of £91,000 per annum, will mature. The proposal has the backing of Vickers, Ltd., and of the Shell group, and the details of the scheme were explained at a private meeting at Caxton Hall, on March 30, by Commander C. Dennis Burney. Mr. A. H. Ashbolt, Agent-General for Tasmania, who has long been one of the stoutest advocates of Imperial airship services, presided, and Major G. H. Scott explained certain technical considerations. If the scheme meets with Government approval, it will presumably mean that existing airships will not be handed over to the Disposals Board. Briefly, the scheme submitted by Commander Burney to the Air Ministry is as follows : The company's capital of £4,000,000 would be made up of £1,800,000 in ordinary shares, and £2,200,000 in debentures, subject to the Government arranging, by means of a subsidy, a guarantee of dividend and interest for a period of years. On ordinary shares a 6 per cent, dividend (free of income-tax) would be guaranteed for 10 years, and the debentures would carry 4^ per cent, interest (free of income-tax) until redemption. It is proposed that £1,200,000 ordinary shares and £2,2x50,000 debentures should be issued forthwith, leaving £600,000 ordinary shares unissued. Of this share capital, Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., have under taken to subscribe for 100,000 shares at par and the Shell group for 100,000 ordinary shares or debentures at par. Both companies will give full technical assistance. It is stipulated that the Government shall transfer to the company free of cost all airships, airship material, and airship bases— such as Pulham, Cardington, and Howden, and will supply wireless telegraphy and meteorological services. The total contingent subsidy per annum in the form of a guarantee of dividend on the ordinary shares and interest on the debentures (on the capital now proposed to be issued) would be :—On £1,200,000 ordinary shares, £72,000 for 10 years ; on £2,200,000 debentures, £99,000 until redemption, divided as follows :—British, £91,000 per annum ; Australia, £40,000 ; and India, £40,000. These dividend and interest payments would cease as soon as the profits from the company were sufficient to pay them. It is suggested that no dividend or interest should be payable until- the middle of 1923, and accordingly the coming Budgets will be unaffected. E H Air Parcels Post Contract ~, Appointment as exclusive contractors for carrying the Air Parcel Post to Paris has been made by the Postmaster- General in favour of the Instone Air Line, who have installed a machine devoted exclusively to goods. The contract has been secured in open tender. London Papers on Paris Breakfast Table WITH this week most of the London papers will be carried by air and will be available in Paris between 9 and 10 a.m., under arrangements made by Messrs. Hachette. Excellent ! Royal Air Force Club THE Annual General Meeting of the Royal Air Force Club will be held at 5.45 p.m. on Monday, April 24. The programme of development would be divided into two stages—(a) a bi-weekly service to India ; (6) an alternate day service to India, with a weekly extension to Australia. Capital would thus be conserved until the necessary experience has been obtained, to render the service efficient on the first stage, before expanding to the second stage. Commander Dennis Burney asks that until time has been given for con sideration of this offer no airship or airship material should be broken up or otherwise disposed. It is estimated that, unless the public take to airship travel very rapidly, there will be a loss on running expenses for the first two j-ears. During this period nothing will be earned to write off depreciation charges, but, on the other hand, ex perience will give rise to large improvements in the design of airships, and consequently the airships originally con structed by the company will become obsolete with more than normal rapidity. The cost of this will be about £750,000, and it is suggested that when the profits have reached such a figure as to relieve the Government from their guarantee of dividend upon the ordinary shares, and the company can show to the satisfaction of the Treasury that it has established the business on a commercial basis, the Govern ment will refund to the company the £750,000. Estimates of expenditure and revenue were also submitted. They provide for the building of five new airships (the present fleet will be used for training and for short journeys only). The new ships will be much on the lines of the " LZ125 " so far as size is concerned, with a capacity of 3,800,000 cubic ft. On a bi-weekly service to India it is believed that there would be a return of £372,000 per annum, after paying all costs and depreciation charges. Details were also given of a proposed extension to Australia. The sum available for ordinary shares is estimated at £240,000 per annum. For the first year of full service it has been assumed that receipts will only equal one-third of the running costs, or £130,000 as against a total earning capacity of £1,482,200, and for the second year total receipts of £260,000. It has been further assumed in the computation of dividends that when the service is in full working order yearly earning of £1,037,000, against the total of £1,482,200, will be obtained. The airships to be used would have a maximum speed of 70 knots, and it is thought that an average speed of 55 knots could be maintained. It is proposed to establish bases with mooring masts en route, and allowing six hours at each, the following time-table is estimated :— Bombay .. 5\ days (now 17 days). Rangoon .. 7^ ,. (now 21 to 22 days). Hong-Kong . . &| ,, (now 4 to 5 weeks). Australia .. \\\ ,, (now 4 to 5 weeks). H S Air Mail to Denmark WE understand that arrangements have been made for inaugurating, this month, an air mail service between Rotterdam and Copenhagen. The company which is to undertake the new service is stated to be Danish, although it is intended to use British machines and pilots. The plan is to have machines leaving Rotterdam in the morning, after the arrival of the night boat from London, and it is expected that they will be able to reach Copenhagen shortly after noon, so that the mails should be distributed early in the afternoon in Copenhagen. In the opposite direction machines will leave Copenhagen at 3 p.m., and will reach Rotterdam in time to connect with the night boat to London. Thus, instead of taking 72 hours, the mails between London and Copenhagen should do the journey in about 24 hours. 203
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