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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0070.PDF
The flight is claimed, and not unnaturally so, as a Spanish performance. Actually it was a very inter- national affair. The crew were Spanish. The machine, a Dornier " Wai" was designed by the well known German designer, Claudius Dornier, of Friedrichshafen, on Lake Constance, and built under licence in Pisa, Italy. The two 450-h.p. engines were Napier " Lions," designed and built at Acton, London, and a great number of the instruments used were of British manufacture. Thus Great Britain can justly claim what one may, perhaps, be forgiven for terming the " Lions' share " in the adventure. That the " Lions " did their duty and did it well is amply evident, and it is a testimony to their stamina that when the propeller of the rear engine was damaged by the rough seas, the last part of the flight was completed with only one of the engines at work. This must necessarily have meant that after having been run for some 33 hours (a good deal of the time at or near maximum power) one of the " Lions " was then run to its full capacity for the last 100 miles or so. Yet apparent 1)' it was none the worse for its gruelling test. One begins to realise the vast possibilities of a three-engined flying-boat, in which the stoppage of one engine deprives the machine of but one-third instead of one-half of its engine power. In this par- ticular case the stoppage was, of course, due solely to the" propeller and not to the engine. We extend our heartiest congratulations to every- one concerned in this splendid flight, and wish the Spanish aviators all possible good fortune on the further stages of their flight. The eleventh annual report of the aiid American National Advisory Committee Security f°r Aeronautics has just come to hand, and although it is, of course, the administrative report without the technical reports, there is much in it of interest to British readers. On the subject of the American aircraft industry, a passage occurs which we quote below, as it has a very distinct bearing upon the position in this country at the present time. The passage, which is headed " The Problem of the Aircraft Industry," reads as follows : "In its tenth annual report, the committee outlined the relation of the aircraft industry to national defence, and emphasised the need of maintaining a satisfactory nucleus of an industry. This was denned as ' a number of aircraft manufacturers distributed over the country, operating on a sound financial basis, and capable of rapid expansion to meet the Govern- ment's needs in an emergency.' The committee pre- sented certain definite suggestions of steps to be taken by the Government and by the industry to meet the situation that existed at that time. There has been •substantial progress during the past year along the lines outlined by the committee, and it is believed that the condition of the industry and the relations of the Government to the industry have been much improved. The greatest single jactor in bringing about FEBRUARY 4, 192P this improved condition has been the increased volume of Government orders for aircraft made possible by increased appropriations and contract authorizations for the purchase of aircraft. The present situation, on the whole, may be regarded as more satisfactory at this time, and as offering promise of further improvement." The italics are ours. The fundamental principles involved are the same in America as here, and this statement, coming from the body governing research in the United States, draws attention to a basic fact which, if rumour be true, is apparently being over- looked in this country at the present time. It is accepted as a piece of reliable information that in the forthcoming Air Estimates it is intended to suggest considerable reductions in air expenditure, and particularly that these reductions are to be effected under Vote 3A (aeroplanes, seaplanes, engines and spares). At the luncheon given by the Air League of the British Empire recently, Mr. Fairey stated the posi- tion fearlessly, clearly and. we think, moderately. The British Aircraft industry has settled down under the present conditions to steady progress, but it will take but very little to upset the balance, as the number of orders that have been received by the industry have been only just sufficient to keep all the twenty or so firms in the industry, and that to a very large extent because it had been accepted as a definite understanding that the present rate of ex- pansion would be maintained for several years. If that expansion is slowed down, more than one air- craft firm will have to close down, and designing starts will be lost. For each firm closing down the Royal Air Force would be deprived of the supply of machines which that firm could, and would, provide in time of emergency. It is estimated that the British aircraft industry as at present composed, is just sufficient to meet an emergency, should it arise. A reduced industry, would not be sufficient, and the proposed " cuts " would seriously hamper the air forces and would actually, in the opinion of many, reduce our " factor of safety to a dangerous extent. The American N.A.C.A. annual report shows how seriously America is treating her air problem. Yet America's position is in no way comparable with ours, and the time when an air attack on the United States becomes a possibility is still a long way out :n the future. In the case of Great Britain, every day. every step forward in progress, adds to the risk we are running. Research is necessary if we are to pro- gress, but orders for machines and engines are a vital necessity if our industry is to bv kept alive. Yet, apparently, those in authority are contemplating not merely a slowing-up of progress but the decima- tion of that industry. Truly, the slogan " Wake up England," was never more needed than at the present time, and it is to be hoped that the general press will unite in using its influence to prevent from being made what we feel would be one of the most disastrous mistakes of recent years. The Spanish Transatlantic Flight The Air Ministry announces that Sir Samuel Hoare, has sent the following telegram to the Minister of War, Madrid :— " Air Council have learned with great pleasure of successful completion of Transatlantic flight by Comandante Franco and Captain Alda. They desire to offer Spanish Army Air Service cordial congratulations on most brilliant achievement." D. Napier and Son. Ltd.. have received from Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for Air, the following telegram :— " I congratulate you on fresh success secured by Napier engines in Transatlantic flight by Spanish Army Air Service. This achievement is one more proof of the unexcelled reli- abilities of the products of the British aircraft manufacturing industries." 58
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