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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0354.PDF
man, moving at a speed probably something like ten times the best Eric the Red was able to get out of his boat. Small wonder that Lindbergh's flight has stirred the imagination of the whole world. Small wonder that he is being feted and idolised. He richly deserves it. After any great flight, such as the two made during the last few days, there are always those who say : " Yes, very excellent, but what is the use ? " Now that is a perfectly natural question, but unfortunately it is one which, like so many apparently obvious things, is not very easy to answer. The two flights have so many uses, direct and indirect, the nature and value of which is somewhat difficult to explain to those not already familiar with aviation. Of the indirect values perhaps the most important is that it makes people talk aviation. In other words, it tends to make people " air-minded." When the man in the street dis- covers that modern aeroplanes are now able to cover nearly 4,000 miles without alighting, he begins to think that after all " there may be something in it." And once he gets to that stage, he becomes curious ; he begins to ask questions ; in other words, he begins to learn something about flying and flying machines. He begins to take them for granted, and to realise that the possibilities of flying do, perhaps, after all go beyond military aims and objects. The value of that alone can scarcely be exaggerated. Technically the two flights have without a doubt been of very great value. To take the flight from Cranwell to beyond Bander Abbas. Does it not seem evident that the Royal Air Force, several squadrons of which are equipped with the Hawker " Horsley " day bomber, will feel all the more confidence in a machine which has been shown to be able to get into the air with very nearly twice the "loaded weight of the standard service machine, and to remain in the air for more than 34 hours ? Does not the fact that its " Condor " engine has been shown capable of running for that length of time, the first 10 or 12 hours of it at nearly full throttle, inspire confidence ? We think the answer to both must be an emphatic yes. And nothing could be more calculated to improve the work of a flying service than implicit faith in its equipment. For that reason the flight of Carr and Gillman, although Karachi was not reached, as had been hoped, will, we feel sure, have done much towards increasing the regard in which the machine is already held in the R.A.F. What was the cause of the descent in the sea is not yet known, but we may be MAY 26, 1927 sure that it was nothing which need shake the confidence in the machine or its engine, and we may be equally sure that the flight has taught Carr and Gillman many useful lessons, lessons which will ultimately be to the benefit of the Royal Air Force as a whole. In the case of the Atlantic flight, the outstanding technical lesson would seem to be the proof which the flight has provided of the high state of reliability- reached by the Wright " Whirlwind " engine. To hav- three such flights to its credit as that to the North Pole and back, the world's duration record of 51 hours 11 minutes, and the Trans-Atlantic, is a record of which any firm may well be proud, and after these flights it will be difficult for anyone to deny that the radial air-cooled engine has now- reached a stage of development where it need not fear comparison with water-cooled engines. •& o- la- in our admiration for the two long- Cairo- distance non-stop flights we should not *ose s'£ht of the value of another meritorious flight, which has terminated successfully during these eventful days of May. The R.A.F. flight of four Fairey III F machines, with Napier " Lion " engines, from Cairo to the Cape and back to Cairo, although perhaps less spectacular than the two non-stop flights, was certainly not less useful. Undertaken as a piece of ordinary Service training, under Air Commodore C. R. Samson, C.M.G., D.S.O., A.F.C., chief staff officer of the R.A.F. Middle East Command, the flight was calcu- lated to afford many opportunities for discovering weak points in machines and engines. Vet so far as is known, no trouble of any sort has been experienced. In view of the fact that the Fairey III F is a comparatively new type, this must be very gratifying to the makers of the machines. As for the Napier " Lions " with which the four machines were fitted, this engine has already more than proved its worth, and so the flight could do little more than confirm a well-established reputation. In this connection it is worth while recalling that four " Lions " did the Cairo-Cape-Cairo-England flight last year. Thus twice four of these engines have success- fully come through a strenuous test. In a flight by a single machine, luck may play a certain part. When, however, eight separate machines and engines get through without trouble, the element of luck is reduced pretty well to vanishing point, and the demonstration becomes very convincing. THE ROYAL TOURNAMENT OPENING last week, this great annual event will continue to entertain at Olympia daily at 2.30 and 8 p.m., until Satur- day, June 4. This year, in giving value for money, the organisers of the Tournament have surpassed themselves. It would be difficult to make the daily programmes more attractive than with the feast of amusement and thrills which follow one another without a halt. Whether it is our old friend, the Royal Naval and Royal Marine Inter-Port Field •Gun Competition, the Musical Ride of the Royal Horse Guards, the Display of Drill by the Royal Marines or one of the many other attractive items which are staged, each and •every one simply " holds " the audience. Very near to our heart, not perhaps unnaturally is the Physical Training Display by the Royal Air Force. Some 136, in pale blue singlets and white shorts, take part in this positively perfect example of a body of men moving in unison—at times " com- munity singing " being added during their evolutions. This turn is very original and very beautiful with its rhythmic movements to the music, the finale taking the form of a human grouping to form the initials R.A.F. In the mounted section, the mounted display by the Royal Dragoons is out- standing, particularly pleasing being the rein-less, bare-back and crossed arms exhibition by a section of the corps. Another item which is superb, and a credit to both man and beast, is the Musical Drive by " M " Battery, Royal Horse Artillery On the lighter side will be found Trick Riding by the Ip/^ Lancers, disguised as Arabs, weird and wonderful, a veritable circus in itself. This " diversion " is not only a highly humorous interlude, but calls for the greatest dexterity u accomplishing the many difficult items of trick riding—no., forgetting the frisky hyena specially imported—the wnou conception being the work of a great humorist. vyit:" " presentation of the Grand Pageant, " Scotland "—havi there ever been so many pipers gathered together before . comes the climax. Altogether one of the most wonderiiu entertainments ever staged at Olympia, and remarKau to relate, throughout it is equally attractive to juniors an- elders. Upon its merits there should never be a vac^\ seat at Olympia until it closes on June 4, much less so w one remembers that the proceeds go to service chanties. 322
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