FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0813.PDF
NOVEMBER 4, 1926 demonstration flights to the capitals of the Empire.If these demonstration flights were to take place to Australia and New Zealand, to Canada and South Africa,the co-operation of the Dominion Governments was essential. We could not fly the two airships to the Dominions even fordemonstration flights unless two conditions were satisfied. Firstly, there must be mooring masts to which the airshipscould be attached at the end of their journey. Secondly, there must be meteorological data upon which the choice of datesfor the flight could be based, and a meteorological organisation for keeping the airship supplied with the necessary weatherintelligence. These two conditions were vital to the pro- gramme, and, what was more, they were very urgent. Although the expense need not be heavy, the provision ofmasts and meteorological organisations took a considerable time to complete—he was told as long as two years. If theprogramme of demonstration nights was to be carried out without delay, the orders for the mooring masts ought to begiven immediately, and arrangements made without delay for the meteorological organisations. "There, then," concluded Sir Samuel, "was a picture ofthe Empire air route programme upon which I ask for your advice and co-operation. I do not believe that I am eithera fanatic or a visionary in asking your support for these schemes. If they prove successful they may give a physicalunity to the Empire that it has never possessed before. Hitherto the invention of flying has brought more harm thangood to the Empire and to the world. The aeroplane, the symbol of the terrible methods of modern warfare, has madethese shores for the first time for centuries vulnerable to foreign attack. It has added to the budget of Nationalexpenditure, it has complicated almost every problem of defence. Let us try to redress this balance by insisting thatthe aeroplane shall be used not only for the purposes of destruction, but also for the objects of peace and goodwill.Hitherto the air has been the scene of glorious though terrible conflicts ; it has been the background from which deathand destruction have been hurled upon camp and cities. The purest of the elements was not intended for the destruction ofcivilisation by high explosive or poison gas. The invention of the flying machine, which the pioneers of successivecenturies strove to achieve, was meant for something better than an instrument of concentrated frightfulness. With thehorror of the last war in our memories and the limitless terrors of any future war in our minds, let us make the aira highway of peace, and the aeroplane an instrument, not for severing nations and destroying civilised life, but for makingcloser and more constant the unity of Imperial thought, Imperial intercourse and Imperial ideals." In the discussion that followed Sir Samuel's speech, severaloi the Dominions' representatives, made some important speeches, from which we quote as below. Mr. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, said theyhad been thrilled by the survey given by the Secretary of State for Air of the Air Communication Programme of theEmpire. It was, he thought, prophetic, but it certainly suggested a solution of many of the problems of communica-tion between different parts of the Empire to which hitherto distance had presented formidable barriers. " May I, first, say " proceeded Mr. King," that theCanadian Government will only too readily co-operate with the British Government in the way Sir Samuel Hoare has suggested, by immediately taking steps to see that mooringmasts to secure the landing-places for airships in Canada are erected ; also that the work of meteorological organisation iscommenced forthwith." Canada, he said, was assisting civil aviation by doingpioneer work ; by establishing air harbours and aerodromes ; by training of civilian pilots ; by design and manufactureof new types of machines ; and by the training of mechanics in technical schools. Air survey work had been developed toa greater extent probably than by any other nation, and a great deal of mapping of undeveloped and unexplored countryhad been accomplished, or was in the programme for future work. Aerial photography had been greatly developed, andthe visits to Canada of Colonel Winterbotham, of the Geo- graphical Section, General Staff, War Office, and ColonelRyder, of the Aerial Survey Company, had helped to bring about close co-operation between Canada and the other partsof the Empire. A main duty of the Aerial Services of Canada, Dominionand Provincial, was Forestry Protection. In no part of the world had it reached such a state of efficiency as in Canada.As civil aviation had a direct relation to the creation of a military air force and served to create a reserve thereto, inthis field Canada might be in a position to lend very great assistance in Imperial defence. By the Air Force Regulations,an individual who obtained a pilot's certificate automatically became a reservist. Regulations had been prepared governingthe formation of an Air Force Reserve and outlining the organization of an Aviation Association with branches in eachprovince. Finally, when it was desired to extend an airship service to Canada the Canadian Government would be readyto consider methods of co-operation, as, for example, by the establishment of air bases. Possibly Canada would also beable to assist by the provision of helium gas, which could be extracted in the Dominion. Mr. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, in his openingremarks referred to the pioneer flights by the Smith Brothers, Parer, Macintosh, and Sir Alan Cobham as examples of whatcould be done in regard to air development as put forward by the Secretary of State for Air. If, said Mr. Bruce, Indiaand Burma would, co-operate as suggested, they (Australia) would most certainly be prepared to consider the question ofdoing their part by way of experimental flights with the British squadron—such flights being of great value from thetraining aspect, apart from ascertaining the possiblity of an air route from Singapore to Australia. The services that had been established in Australia pointedto the fact that commercial flying was now established on a practical basis and that one could cover great distances withvery great advantage. Both Mr. Coates and he had flown 500 miles during their journey to the Conference, thus savinga four-days railway journey across Australia. Mr. Bruce then gave some particulars of the civil air services operatingin Australia, which he said had proved of inestimable value to settlers in the outback, by carrying mails and light freight,and by conveying medical aid or transporting sick and injured to hospital. One contemplated air service of considerable importance toEmpire development would operate on the trans-continental route between Perth and Adelaide. If this service wereinstituted, English letters could be delivered in Adelaide and Sydney three days and in Melbourne four days earlier than at AT THE CROYDON DEMONSTRATION LAST WEEK : Some of the single-seater fighters getting ready to leave for their " Home Stations." 721
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
