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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0158.PDF
obstructive—attitude of the Admiralty, Mr. Leach's department seems to be fully justified in believing, as he stated, that this country is well ahead in all branches of naval aviation, or at least is not behind other nations as regards quality, whatever may be the position numerically. The Under-Secretary also stated that the scheme for co-operation drawn up by the Imperial Defence Committee had been accepted by both services, and he hoped it would be in operation in the near future. Here the Under-Secretary seems to have been somewhat too optimistic, as it is now stated that the scheme has been " voted " unworkable, and that a number of anomalies were claimed to exist. It seems, therefore, that the whole question is again to be referred to the Committee of Imperial Defence with a view to finding a solution. Regret table as this fact is, it need cause little surprise. Nobody who knows the Admiralty could expect that any opportunity would be lost of making another attempt at getting its own air service, and apparently the change of Government was considered to form such an opportunity, although from recent utterances this would seem to be as hopeless as all the other attempts. It is to be regretted that the Admiralty insists on thus deferring the amicable co-operation between the two services. The Air Ministry has done all in its power to reach an understanding, but the obstinate, hide-bound tradition spirit in Whitehall has been too much for them. We have not the slightest doubt that when the subject is again referred to the Imperial Defence Committee, the result will be the same, and probably by then there will be another change of Government, and the Navy will have another try. The only ultimate solution seems to be a Ministry of Defence, as has been repeatedly urged in various directions. Mr. Leach's reference to light aeroplane clubs is interesting, and seems to indicate that when suitable types of two-seater light 'planes have been evolved as a result of the competitions to be held in September under the competition rules and auspices of the Royal Aero Club, the Government may be prepared to give assistance in some form or other to the formation of such clubs. Mr. Leach stated that at present he was not asking for any money, but that possibly in a year's time, with some luck, the scheme might be ripe for presentation. A certain amount of criticism was levelled at the Air Estimates for not including definite provision for airship development, but frankly, we are not greatly perturbed on that score, as it must sooner or later be arranged, and it should be remembered that, after a m At St. James's Palace AMONGST those present at the Levee held by His Majesty the King at St. James's Palace, on March 11, were :—Air Chief, Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard, Principal Air Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant-Aviateur Chevalier Willy Coppens, Captain Silvio Scaron, Commander J. C. Hunsaker, the Rt. Hon. Lord Thomson, Secreta y of State for Air, Air Vice-Marshal Philip W. Game, Air Commodore C. A. Longcroft, Sqdn.-Ldr. P. Bebington, Sqdn.-Ldr. G. R. Reid, etc. The following were amongst those presented to the King.— Flight-Lieut. A. Brooke, Sqdn.-Ldr. W. Bryant, Flight-Lieut. T. Clogstoun, Sqdn.-Ldr. A. Cole, M.C., D.F.C,, Flying Offr. G. Dean, Sqdn.-Ldr. H. Gordon-Dean, A.F.C., Sqdn.-Ldr. F. Don, Sqdn.-Ldr. J. Everidge, M.C., Flight-Lieut. O. Gayford, D.F.C., Sqdn.-Ldr. H. Hanmer, D.F.C., Staff Chaplain the Rev. S. Jones, M.C., Flight-Lieut C. Pilkington, A.F.C, Flight- Lieut. E. Simpson, Flight-Lieut. F. Vincent, Pipt Offr. G. Worthington, etc. MARCH 20, 1924 all is said and done, those whose fault it is that Great Britain does not count at all in the matter of airships today are those who were responsible for abandoning our airship services two or three years ago. On March 17 the four American Douglas T A e ro™| ht "World Cruisers" left California on rthen tne first stage of their attempted flight World around the world. This was a fortnight or so earlier than had originally been announced, and as a result the British attempt will commence also somewhat earlier than intended. If all goes well it is expected that the Vickers " Vulture," amphibian with Napier " Lion " engine, will leave Southampton Water on Tuesday of next week, March 25, on the first stage of its flight. The crew of the " Vulture" will be Squadron-Leader A. S. MacLaren, pilot, Flying-Officer W. N. Plendeileith, navigator, and Flight-Sergeant Andrews, engineer. Whereas the American attempt will be made from east to west, etc, the British machine will fly from west to east, and will follow to a considerable extent the same route, but in the opposite direction. There is a distinct difference in suitability of the two routes, or rather courses, and it is generally thought that making the flight from west to east, as our people are doing, is more favourable. Certainly the long stretch across the Atlantic is more easily covered in that direction, as the prevailing winds are westerly or south-westerly. There is a further considerable difference in the equipment of the two attempts. The Americans have pinned their faith to land machines which can be fitted with floats for certain stages of the journey, while the Vickers is an amphibian flying- boat, equally capable of starting from and alighting on land and water. The Americans have four machines flying together, so that in case one gets into trouble the others may either alight and render assistance or may divide and go after help, according to circumstances. The British machine and its crew must mainly rely on their own resources. On the other hand, it is possible to argue that with four machines there are just four times as many chances of something going wrong, and so the fact that, on the face of it, the British machine is handicapped as regards numbers need not necessarily be the drawback it seems to be. We are sure all our readers will join us in wishing the gallant crew, British and American, saie journeys and success to the most meritorious " team." U.S. Army World-Flight Starts At 9.32 a.m., on March 17, Major F. L. Martin and Lieuts. Lowell H Smith, and Leigh Wade, of the U.S. Army Air Service, left Clover Field, Santa Monica, Cal., on the first stage of the flight round the world. The fourth member of the expedition, Lieut. E. H. Nelson, who flew to San Francisco the day before for compass calibration, will join the flight at Washington. As previously announced in FLIGHT, the machines used for this flight are four Douglas " World Cruisers," each fitted with a 420 h.p. Liberty engine. Each pilot is accompanied by a mechanic, but at the time of writing their names are not known. The day before the start was the occasion for an " aerial circus " at Clover Field, where a large number of machines of various types gave aerial displays. On the day of the start big crowds were present to witness the departure of Major Martin and his companions. Particulars' of the machine were published in FLIGHT, December 13, 1923.
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