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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0202.PDF
MARCH 31, 19 7 were somewhat jealous of each other, and the only secret lay in how to make them jealous enough. This reply was received with applause, and with good reason. In this country it was suggested, quite a number of years ago, that the race for the King s Cup should be flown by machines representing various towns, cities and counties in Great Britain, as in this way a sporting competitive spirit might be fostered which would be all to the good of air racing in this country. The suggestion was a very excellent one, but so far as we know nothing came of it. Whether that was because those responsible for the organisa- tion of the race did not grasp how to make the various English towns, " jealous enough," or whether due to other causes, we do not know. Possibly the explana- tion is that Great Britain was not at the time suffi- ciently " air minded " for such a scheme to be prac- ticable. Although things have changed somewhat for the better since then, mainly as a result of the excellent propaganda work done by the light 'plane clubs, it is to be feared that in the matter of " air mindedness " Great Britain is still a long way behind Germany. What impressed one most in Major Wronsky's lecture was the evidence it furnished of Germany's determination to push on with a very vigorous air policy, a determination of which the very post rilled by Major Wronsky is proof. The duties of the " political director " of the Luft Hansa are connected with paving the way for international air lines, to negotiate with foreign companies and governments in the organisation of lines to all parts of the world joining up with Germany's existing and projected lines. In spite of Major Wronsky's admission that these lines do not pay—in fact, cannot be expected to pay within a measurable period, as evidenced by the fact that the receipts cover but 30 per cent, of the cost, Germany is determined to carry on, firmly convinced of the necessity for doing so at whatever cost may be entailed. In these days of criticism of aviation from a variety of sources, this fact should be kept in mind. So long as other nations see the necessity of keeping civil aviation alive by subsidies, so long must Britain do the same. In fact, the British Empire is probably in greater actual need of rapid communications than is any other country in the world. The difficulties in our way are greater than those of many other nations. While Germany is favourably situated geographically, we are placed in a rather out-of-the- way corner of Europe, aerially speaking, at any i te until trans-oceanic services become a pract al proposition, and Empire aviation is our only solut m to the problems. But we should take heed of ,'ne signs around us. France is doing magnificent pion-er work by extending her lines to and through Aiiua. What Germany is doing was clearly illustra ed by Major Wronsky. Italy, under the beneficent dictatorship of Mussolini, is setting the world an example of what courage and determination can do. It is not the slightest use thinking that Great Britain can abandon her air policy, even if she wished to do so. In the early days, it should be recollected, sub- sidies became necessary because France commenced to subsidise her companies on the London-Paris route, so that competition by the unsubsidised British company became impossible. So in modern times, so long as other nations subsidise their air lines, we have no option but to do the same, even if there were no hope of ever making civil aviation pay, a view which we do not share. Major WTronsky very rightly claimed that Germany is the centre of European civil aviation. No one can look at a map without realising the truth of this. Major Wronsky also disclaimed any desire on Germany's part for air supremacy in Europe. Whether one accepts his statement that " Germany solely fulfils an economical and cultural duty, imposed upon it by its geographical position," or whether one ascribes to Germany ulterior motives, even putting it on the lowest basis and assuming that Germany does desire air supremacy in Europe, who could seriously blame her for doing so ? As the centre of European air lines, Germany might have decided to have no air lines at all, and to prohibit the machir.es of other nations from flying over her territory. In that case, would not the cry have gone up that Germany was following an obstructionist policy, and was stopping everyone else from running really useful air lines ? Instead, she has resolved to make her air lines, internal and external, as efficient as Teutonic thoroughness can achieve. That in doing so she will reap her reward is scarcely a thing for which she could be blamed. The object lesson presented should have the effect of making us realise that just as Germany has taken advantage of her geographical position, so should we take advantage of our status of an Island Empire scattered over the surface of the globe and make every effort to place British Empire aviation in the lead. The King Dines with the Air Minister THE King honoured Sir Samuel Hoare with his presenceat dinner on March 29 at 18, Cadogan Gardens. His Majesty was attended by Lord Claud Hamilton. The following hadthe honour of being invited to meet His Majesty :— Sir Philip Sassoon, the Duke of Sutherland, Marshal of theR.A.F. Sir Hugh Trenchard, Air Marshal Sir John Salmond, Air Vice-Marshal Sir John Higgins, Air Vice-Marshal Sir PhilipGame, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Oliver Swann, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Ivo Vesey, Air Vice-Marshal Scarlett, Air Vice-MarshalBrooke-Popham, Air Vice-Marshal Lambe, Air Vice-Marshal Sir John Steel, Air Vice-Marshal Longcroft, Air Vice-MarshalMunro, Sir Walter Nicholson, Sir Sigmund Dannreuther, Sir Geoffrey Butler, Mr. Oliver Hoare, Mr. C. LI. Bullock, andMr. Paul Paget. The Duke of York at Sydney FIFTEEN aeroplanes of the Royal Australian Air Forceand the Aero Club, formed an aerial escort, strengthened by a number of newspaper aircraft carrying reporters, and photo-graphers, when the Duke and Duchess of York arrived in Sydney on March 26. Sir Sefton Brancker on Flying in Central Africa AIR VICE-MARSHAL SIR SEFTON BRANCKER, Director of Civil Aviation, recently returned to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam, and said that he was satisfied with the reception to his suggestion that Tanganyika should share in the extension and the financing of the Khartum-Kisumu air line. Sir Donald Cameron, Governor of Tanganyika, was certain that the country would contribute towards a permanent service as far as it was able. Sir Sefton Brancker also said th.t he had communicated with representatives of the Aircraft Operating Co., Ltd., who were carrying out an aerial strvev in Northern Rhodesia, and had asked them to send oie oi their party to visit Dar es Salaam to consult with the Go em- inent as to the possibility of and the cost of carrying o--t an aerial survey of the forests in the tsetse area sou*"1- ° Tabora. He also hoped to arrange a large-scale experimental rrtacK on cotton pests in the Sudan by means of aircraft "e expects that both proposals will be considered at the C ;>ve.rj nor's Conference in London in May, at which Sir L\.ialCameron will be present. 184
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