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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0197.PDF
APRIL 3, 1924 Sir Samuel Instone, who proposed the health of the officials and the staff, said he wished to pay a tribute to the pilots and the technical staff for the fine record the line had achieved. He recalled the start of the Instone Air Line, when, in 1919, as a coal-exporting firm, they acquired an aeroplane to carry documents between Cardiff, London and the Continent, and in 1922, when they inaugurated the Brussels service. Thanks to the devotion of the staff and the skill of their pilots, the Instone Air Line had never lost a life. Their pilots had flown 628,000 miles, and the aggregate mileage of all the pilots who had been in their service totalled some where about a million. One of their machines (D.H. 34 G-EBBR) had flown 127,700 miles—a record for this type of machine—while the Vickers " Vimy " had done 107,950 miles, also a record, for a twin-engined machine. It was more wonderful still, con tinued Sir Samuel, that these machines were then outside on the aerodrome, as good as ever they were. One of the Napier " Lion " engines had done 1,100' hours' flying service, or about 111,000 miles, and still had a verv long life before it. Sir Samuel Instone referred to Capt. Barnard, the firm's first pilot, who had won for him the King's Cup, and had flown in the company's service the equivalent of 12 times round the equator ; and to Col. Bristow, of Messrs. Ogilvie and Partners, who had been the guiding spirit of their technical staff ; and to Major Greer and Mr. Eskell on the commercial side. Major Greer (general manager) said that the principle laid down by the Instone Air Line was that safety should come before everything. In his opinion, the status of commercial pilots was bound to rise, rather than fall, as longer routes were operated and faster machines became available. Greater skill would be required, and he thought the Directors were right in regarding pilots not as aerial chauffeurs,1 but as officers holding high responsibility. Mr. Holt Thomas and Mr. Alfred Davies also said a few words. A presentation from the staff to Mr. Alfred Instone took the form of a clock mounted in the boss of the propeller of the aeroplane in which Capt. F. L. Barnard won the King's Cup in 1922. Mr. T. Instone announced that the Directors had voted 500 guineas for division among the staff of the Air Line. H H H IN PARLIAMENT m Aircraft Carriers CAPT. VISCOUNT CURZON on March 26 asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many aircraft carriers are now completed for service in the Royal Navy ; what is the flying equipment of each carrier ; and whether each carrier completed and in full commission has her full flying equipment ? Mr. Ammon: Three aircraft carriers are now completed for service, and these are in commission. The equipment of each carrier varies as occasion requires, both as to type and number of machines. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative. R.A.F. Aerodromes SIR E. HUME-WILLIAMS asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, among the number of aerodromes which were first erected at great expense, and then after the War pulled down at a great expense, there remain any foundations or sites which can be utilised for the aerodromes now required for the proposed extension of the Air Force ; and where such sites are situated ? Mr. Leach : In answer to the first part of the question, it has been decided to re-acquire for the expanded Air Force a number of War-time aerodromes in which the aerodrome buildings are still standing, and the re-acquisition of others is under consideration. The existence of such aerodromes, with buildings or foundations, though an important consideration, is not, however, the most important one, which is the suitability of location in regard to defence requirements. I could only name at present a few re-acquired sites, such as Tangmere and Filton ; the remainder had better not be named while negotiations for purchase or lease are still proceeding. Air Ministry and Ex-Service Men LIEUT.-COL. MOORE-BRABAZON on March 28 asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what are the names and categories of all ex-Service men dis missed from the Department of Civil Aviation or transferred from that depart ment to other sections of the Ministry within the last 12 months ; and why such officers were dispensed with while an officer with practically no ex- Service qualifications is still retained ? H H "Ad Astra" MR. HERBERT G. HAMPTON, who set himself to record his impression of the very beautiful Air Force War Memorial on the Victoria Embankment, has now produced an exquisite etching of the monument, in keeping with the dignity of his subject. Sir Reginald Blomfield and Mr. W. Reid Dick, respec tively the architect of the memorial and the sculptor who modelled the bronze eagle and globe, can be gratified at so charming a memento of their work as embodied in Mr. Hampton's picture. The aspect chosen by the artist brings in a suggestion of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge, whilst the perfection of reproduction by Mr. W. J. Stacey, of 71, Great Russell Street, W.C., adds further to the reality of the picture. As altogether, we understand, only 400 signed and numbered artist's proofs have been printed (200 of which are delicately printed in colours), the plate already having been destroyed, those who are fortunate enough to secure one of Mr. Herbert's etchings will have something that the few only will be able to include in their collection. The plain artist's proofs are published at 1 guinea and the coloured specimens at 1J guineas. Mr. Leach : In answer to the first part of the question, the appointments of Brigadier-General Festing, Controller of Aerodromes and Licensing, and Lieut.-Commander Bernard, Senior Assistant, were terminated on abolition of their posts, and no other suitable appointments could be offered to them ; Mr. Ransom, Junior Assistant, was transferred on reduction of Civil Aviation establishment to the educational staff; and Mr. Lilley, Junior Assistant, whose appointment in the same directorate was terminated on reorganisation, has been offered a post in the Aeronautical Inspection Department. As regards the second part of the question, the officer referred to is filling a post for which he was considered to be more suitable than three of the officers named above, while the fourth (General Festing) could hardly be regarded as a candidate for it. Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether, in view of the fact that competent ex-Service men at present in the directorate of contracts are not to be discharged from the Air Ministry, he will give an undertaking as to the minimum length of time that such men shall be retained, in order that they may not work under the constant anxiety of knowing that they may be discharged at any moment to make room for the promotion of permanent civil servants; (2) whether it is his intention to replace the ex-Service men who mtve been employed in the engine and supply sections since the inception of the Air Ministry by non-technical permanent civil servants; and whether, in view of the undesirability of transferring such important work as the purchase of technical equipment for the whole of the Air Force to non-technical non-flying permanent civil servants, and of the hardship involved in discharging ex-Service men who have devoted 10 years of their lives to Army and Government service, he will find some other way by which avenues of promotion can be opened to permanent civil servants already in employment 1 Mr. Leach : As regards the first question, I regret that I am unable to give the undertaking suggested, which would be contrary to the policy of the public service in regard to unestablished staff. As regards the second ques tion, I would refer the hon. and gallanrmember to my reply to Mr. Hogge on March 6. H E Aeroplane Attack on Moors IN connection with the Spanish operations against the Moors, it is reported that the Moors secured the services of a foreign pilot, and that the Spanish air observers had spotted some improvised hangars, near Alhucemas. A flight of 32 Spanish aeroplanes, therefore, set out, amongst other things, to destroy them. Some 500 bombs were dropped, the Moors replying with rifle fire, and wounding one of the pilots, Lieut. Ansaldo—who, despite a serious leg wound, managed to reach the Spanish lines in a 40Tminute flight. Australian Air Force to be Enlarged IN addition to expansions in the Navy, the Australian Federal Government, it is reported, also intends to strengthen the Air Force. It is expected an announcement to this effect will be made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, in his speech on the work of the Imperial and Economic Conferences held in London. Further Prizes for Lympne IT is now announced that the Society of Motor Manu facturers and Traders have offered a prize of £150 for the longest distance covered during the forthcoming light 'plane competitions which the Royal Aero Club is organising at Lympne between September 8 and 13 next. This brings the total of prizes up to /3.750, which amount should be sufficient to ensure an extraordinarily good entries list. There is even a possibility of further prizes being offered. Congratulations READERS of FLIGHT, and especially our older readers, will be interested to learn that on March 27 a son was born to Dr. Marie Stopes, wife of Mr. H. V. Roe, of Givons Grove, Leatherhead. It is scarcely necessary for us to remind our readers that Mr. H. V. Roe was associated with his brother Mr. A. V. Roe in his early pioneer work in aviation, retiring from the firm ofjA. V. Roe and Co., Ltd., in 1917. 19T
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