FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0202.PDF
APRIL 10, 1924 Taken in conjunction with Colonel Sempill's remarks in the concluding paragraph of his lecture, this state ment is significant, and should be taken seriously to heart by those responsible for British foreign aviation policy. The concluding remarks of Colonel Sempill's lecture ran as follows : " The policy to be adopted when friendly powers ask for assistance in the forma tion or reformation of their"air services has been much discussed, but no definite plan seems to have been followed; in fact, violent extremes are found. I venture to submit that had those in authority here in the past been more sympathetic, the sphere of British influence in aeronautical matters could have been vastly extended. Our aircraft and equipment gener ally continue to prove their superior qualities, the technique of flying is more highly developed here than elsewhere, and our methods of construction ensure the maximum of safety and durability, and it is for these and other reasons that foreign powers turn to us. Should they not, therefore, be welcomed and assisted officially to a reasonable extent, otherwise they will very naturally seek the aid of other countries more sympathetic to their needs, as has often been the case in the past." Taken in conjunction with the information con tained in the body of his paper, the case has been so admirably put by Colonel Sempill that we do not feel there is anything we could usefully add. The section of the paper dealing with the behaviour of the various types of machines and engines under the trying climatic conditions will be read with special interest, and it is worthy of note that Colonel Sempill expresses the opinion that, owing to the dampness of climate all-metal aircraft will possess very definite advantages. Round- the-World Flights So far but scant luck has attended the efforts of the British and American crews now attempting to circle the globe by air. A cracked crank-case has brought the VickeSrs " Vulture " down on a lake in Corfu, and various minor troubles have prevented the American Army fliers from getting beyond British Columbia. Lest it should be thought that a breakage such as that which occurred to the engine of the British machine is necessarily detrimental to the reputation of the Napier " Lion," it must be pointed out that, so far as we are aware, this is the first time on record that such a fracture has been known to occur, and that the " Lion " has established for itself an enviable reputation for reliability, not only on civilian but also on service machines, abroad no less than at home. The whole trouble may easily have been due to a small crack or flaw in the casting, which it was not possible to discover, and which spread during the journey. It should be remembered that most atrocious weather was met with nearly all the way out to Corfu, and this probably meant running the engine all out the whole time, especially as the machine was fairly heavily loaded. All who were present at the start of the flight from Calshot were unanimous in admiring the note of the " Lion," and many were the remarks made concerning the beautiful tuning-up and perfectly smooth and even running as the machine passed overhead " outward bound." It would appear that the whole thing is just a case of bad luck, and it is' more than likely that, after such a troublesome beginning, the rest of the flight will go through without further serious trouble. The American crews appear to have had difficulties in " getting unstuck " owing to the heavy loads of petrol carried for the flight, and, as an indirect result of this, minor troubles arose, such as damaged pro peller tips, punctured floats, etc. Nevertheless, they appear to have got away from Seattle at last and to have arrived at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. At this place one of the machines is reported to have made a bad landing, and to have damaged some under-carriage struts. Repairs will be made, and it seems likely that the two crews will be starting again approximately even, some time next week. Up to the present they have covered nearly equal distances— the Americans about 1,300 and the MacLaren expedi tion about 1,500 miles. Thus there is still the element of a race in the two attempts, and it will be interesting to watch developments during the next week or two. The British crew has a fairly simple journey immediately ahead, while the Americans are approaching one of the most difficult stages of the whole flight. THE NEW SUPERMARINE AMPHIBIAN FLYING BOAT : View of the machine taking off and, inset, in the air. 202
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
