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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0492.PDF
AUGUST 31, 1922 these columns for many years past, and we welcome the confirmation of our views by so well-known an authority as Admiral Kerr. We have never attempted to elaborate detail to the extent that the Admiral does, but in the general principles involved we see our own views reflected. We are not, however, quite so pessimistic as the gallant Admiral with regard to the formation of a Ministry of Defence, and we imagine, and we hope, that, sooner or later, our Fighting Services will be co-ordinated in some such manner. It is only a natural corollary to the successful one-command experience in the late War. • • • The list of entries for the Circuit of Circuit Britain for the King's Cup, which is Britain to start from Waddon on September 8, is published under the Official Notices of the Royal Aero Club in this issue of FLIGHT. No less than twenty-one machines have been entered, and there is reason to hope that they may all be starters. Many prominent men figure in the list of entrants, and a number of famous pilots are down to fly in the race. As the competing machines will be seen by tens of thousands, the race cannot fail to increase aeronautical interest throughout the country, and focus public attention on practical flying. This is all to the good at the present time, and we sincerely trust that His Majesty may see his way to honour Waddon with his presence on the day of the finish of the race for his Cup, as this would undoubtedly put the finishing touch to the encourage ment already so opportunely extended, and thereby mark another red-letter day in the history of Aviation. • • • The date for this year's gliding competi- Th® ..,,tion for the Daily Mail Prize of £1,000 Glider ^as now Deen fixed. The competition Competition will open on October 16, and the last day upon which competitors may try for the Prize is October 21. In.a way, it is a pity that such short notice has been given, as it will scarcely be possible for potential British entrants to H H ADMIRAL MARK KERR'S THE scheme suggested by Admiral Mark Kerr, to which reference is made above, is as follows :— The Air Ministry shall consist of :— Secretary of State ; Air Secretary. Air Council, consisting of : War C.O.S., with Deputy C.O.S., R.N.A.S., and Deputy C.O.S., R.F.C. ; Navy Member ; Army Member ; Finance Member ; Personnel Member ; Experimental Member ; Training Member; Civil COS., with Deputy C.O.S. for Lighter-than-Air and Deputy C.O.S. for Heavier-than-Air. 1. There shall be an Air Member on the Board of Admiralty and one on the Army Council. 2. All experimenting work, training, building and contract ing shall be done by the Air Council, Ministry and Air Force. 3. All the personnel will be entered and trained by the Royal Air Force under the direction of the Air Council. There will be both Naval and Military Air Classes of Instruc tion, in which the instructors are taken from the Air Service for which his class is being trained. The first term of instruc tion shall consist of general knowledge classes, and at the end of it pupils will be divided into the Naval and Military classes. Pupils will have the right of selection, but it will not be guaranteed that they shall join the branch that they select, as regard will always be paid to the qualifications and tempera ment of the individual in appointing him to any particular branch of the Service. If, in the course of training, a pupil be found to be more suitable for some other branch than that which he has been working for, he will be changed to . that line for which he is most suited. get machines built in time for the competition. On the other hand, the very generous prize offered may be instrumental in bringing to this country some of the German and French machines which have just done so well in competitions in those countries, and this could scarcely fail to add greatly by actual demonstrations 1o the interest already being taken in the subject of gLiLrg and soaring. It might also be pointed out that, in the French competition at any rate, some of the most successful machines were little more than small sporting aeroplanes, the engines of which had been removed. Probably certain structural parts had been lightened, but no great alterations were, we believe, carried out. Thus, in order to be in a position to make some sort of fight for the Prize with British machines, it might be possible to enter one or two machines of this type, such as the Avro Baby, the Austin Whippet and the Bristol monoplane, with the wings placed low on the body. If the Bristol Babe is still in existence, this also might be called into use. * • • ^ In order to encourage, even if but in a "n 'a a smau way> the production of specially Completion designed 'gliders, the proprietors of FLIGHT have decided to offer a Prize for the best design submitted before November 30, 1922. The competition is open to all, and we hope that many useful ideas, as well as at least one really practical design enabling amateurs or professionals to build, may result. The science of gliding is still very young, and no one can at present venture to forecast what a good glider design should be. There is ample room for originality, even while remaining within the rigid limits of present-day knowledge, and the author of the winning design will have to convince the Judges, by facts and figures, that his design is thoroughly practical, and worthy to be constructed in fair quantities. We hope that gliding clubs may be formed in different centres of the country, and cordially invite any such to collaborate and send in designs for the competition. IDEAL AIR ORGANISATION 4. The Navy and Army will indent on the Air Ministry for their requirements in personnel and material for the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps respectively. When such supplies have taken place, they will become part of the Service, R.N.AS. or R.F.C., and be under the complete control of the Admiralty or War Office, as the case may be. 5. Records of the officers and men of the R.N.A.S. and R.F.C. are to be rendered to the Air Ministry, and all informa tion as to performance of machines, etc., by the Admiralty and War Office. The Air Ministry will reciprocate in these matters with regard to the officers from the R.N.A.S. and R.F.C., who are serving under the orders of the Air Ministry. 6. The personnel of the Air Ministry and Royal Air Force shall be drawn from the R.N.A.S. and R.F.C. 7. In the case of disagreement on any subject of policy or other cause which the Secretaries of State and First Lord of Admiralty cannot agree on, the matter shall be referred to the Cabinet. 8. The Air Ministry's Estimates shall only be made out for the personnel and departments and the administration for which it is responsible, and which is actually under its orders. The personnel of the R.N.A.S. and the building of all aircraft hangars, etc., which the Air Ministry orders or builds for the Navy or Army shall be charged to the Naval and Military Estimates, as the case may be. 9. The Air Ministry shall have its own Medical Department, especially trained for the Air Services, arod they shall provide specialists for aerodromes and squadrons as necessary, as well as for the Air Hospitals. 492
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