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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0432.PDF
MAY 31, 1928 We have no exact knowledge as to whether any such troubles did occur during the great flight, but if so, they were obviously not of a serious nature, and could be set right on the spot with the facilities available. The Rolls-Royce " Condor " engines also have proved themselves equal to the task. That it was by no means an easy one will be realised when it is remembered that the Equator was crossed twice, and that consequently during long portions of the flight the engines were working in a very high tem- perature. From the technical point of view, Sir Alan Cobham and those associated with him in the Sir Charles Wakefield Flight of Survey around Africa may be said to have definitely proved the suitability of the flying-boat for Empire air communications. Never before in the history of flying has a British flying-boat accomplished a flight of this nature and extent, and we have cause to be well pleased with the results. The idea of continuing the flight to various seaports around our coasts is, to our way of thinking, a very happy one. It is most important that the shipping world should become interested in aviation, and more particularly in the seaplane, as the day must come when close co-operation between seafaring and airfaring people will become a necessity. It would be difficult to imagine anything better calculated to demonstrate to the shipping world that the flying boat is now a practical proposition than such a tour by a machine which has already completed more than 20,000 miles in all manner of climates and under all sorts of sea conditions. Details are not yet available concerning the routes and possibilities on which Sir Alan has reported to the various authorities, but it is known that he was impressed by the excellent opportunities for establish- ing air lines in Africa, thus bringing the various territories nearer to one another. That the people themselves are fully alive to the benefits which avia- tion has to offer British Africa is shown by the speech of Dr. Samuel Evans, Chairman and Managing Director of Crown Mines, Limited, at the annual meeting of that company at Johannesburg. " I am confident," Dr. Evans said, " that the time is not far distant when consulting engineers will visit outlying mines by air, and when parts of machinery or other things urgently required by such mines will be dispatched by air. Just consider for a moment what an air service would mean to a mine like the Shamva. By surface transport, it takes five days for the output of that mine to reach the Rand Refinery at Germiston. By air it would not take more than seven or eight hours. The advent of safe and reliable air transport is going to be helpful not only to the gold-mining industry, but to many other industries. Indeed, it is going to give a revolutionary impetus to the development of the mineral and other resources of those parts of Africa and of the world which have lain more or less dormant owing to their inaccessibility. ' Darkest Africa ' has remained ' Darkest Africa ' mainly owing to the absence of transport facilities." Dr. Evans then continued: "In my view, the one thing that is holding back aviation and other similar enterprises in countries under the British flag in Africa at present, is the anti-capitalistic taxation policy of the British Government and of the Union Government, introduced largely since the end of the Great War ... If some of the enterprising capitalists who are financing air ventures in South America and other tax-exempt countries did the same in the Union of South Africa, their investments would have to earn about double the amount of distributable profit in order to give them a net dividend equal to that which they get in tax-exempt countries like the Argentine." The conclusions one may draw, therefore, appear to be that, technically, aviation is able to supply the needs of the country ; the people themselves realise this, and are willing to go ahead, but are held back by the Government's insane taxation policy. We of the aviation world cannot remedy this state of affairs, which must be taken in hand by the Governments. Doubtless, Sir Alan Cobham's report will assist materially in bringing conviction of the necessity for Government assistance in making a start. THE ROYAL TOURNAMENT AT Olympia this glorious annual event is now in full stride, daily at 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and it is good to note that it is a case of a " full house " at every performance, which is hardly surprising, having regard to the surfeit of value placed before each and every assembled audience. One would think that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to improve upon previous years' shows, but every item in the present programme is so remarkably excellent that our personal view suggests all previous efforts have been sur- passed. Never for one moment is interest allowed to flag— one event following the other with record speed, each to be received with appreciation expressed in deafening applause. Probably the most exciting item is the wonderful Royal Naval and Royal Marines Inter-Port Field Gun Competition, which once again holds a place of honour. A mounted display by Weedon Equitation School calls for admiration as showing the perfection to which training can be brought, and an understanding between man and beast. To us the Display of Physical Training by 192 members of the Royal Air Force was, as before, an item particularly attractive. As the " troop " marched into the arena in their white and blue, youth was exemplified at its zenith. To the time of their own band, their movements throughout were carried out with the precision of the most perfect machine. With arms or legs in motion, together or separately, mostly in novel and unique exercises, the entire personnel went through their evolutions in such manner as to suggest a joyous delight in their work—in fact, so breezy are some of their " set pieces " as to excite the envy of the most expert jazzers. The finale of this turn is alone worth a visit to Olympia, when at the pipe of a whistle the men, in what appears to be a momentary scramble, in a few seconds form a human " R.A.F.," with " centre piece " topped by the R.A.F. colours. Altogether, a wonderful piece of drilling. Beyond the items already mentioned, there is almost a surfeit of good things to follow, including a Musical Drive by " M " Battery, R.H.A., Guards' Depot recruits drill, R.A.S.C. riding and driving display. Royal Scots Greys (and Dragoons) Musical Ride, Trick Riding by the 17th/21st Lancers, Army Physical Training Staff gymnastic display, the remarkably clever and amusing display by the boys from the Duke of York's Royal Military School, and last, but not least, the stirring and imposing historical display by the Royal Scots Fusiliers. The Service Charities ought, this year, to benefit even to a greater extent than in previous years, when, owing to the appreciation and support of a magnificent show by the public, have proved, year by year, more successful. The Display closes finally on Saturday, June 9. 396
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