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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0476.PDF
which has overridden the better judgment of so many aviators and caused them at the last minute to leave behind their wireless apparatus. Throughout the flight from San Francisco to Brisbane, or at least very nearly so, the machine was in wireless com- munication with one ground station or other, so that ashore it was always possible to know how the flight was progressing. Interruptions occurred, when there were anxious moments, it is true, but that was as nothing compared with the many instances last year when machines " barged off into the blue," and nothing was ever heard of them again. For instance, take the very dramatic moment when, after sending the message " Hit air pocket," the machine was silent for two hours. That might have meant the end. Fortunately it did not ; but if it had, would that not at least have been better than the days and weeks of uncertainty and anguish which have attended so many Atlantic attempts ? Truly wireless has proved itself during the last few weeks. Not only on this flight from America to Australia, but also in the Arctic, where Nobile and his companions have at last been able to com- municate with the outside world, and have, in consequence, a very good chance of being rescued. After these two experiences we think it can rightly be claimed that the authorities have every justifica- tion for insisting that on all such flights in the future the carrying of wireless, and a member of the crew qualified to operate it, is made compulsory. We are not in favour of Government prohibition of trans-oceanic flights, as we have frequently stated, but we do feel that nothing but good can come from a demand that every reasonable safeguard shall be taken, and the canying of wireless is surely one. From a British Empire point of view the San Francisco-Brisbane flight is extremely significant. At one stroke, so to speak, it has brought America much closer to Australia, even if it will be some considerable time before a regular service can be operated. From San Francisco to Brisbane, by the route followed by Kingsford-Smith, is a little over 7,000 miles. From London to Port Darwin, bv any ' JUNE 14, 192S air route likely to be operated within the next few years, is very nearly double that distance. Australia is already doing considerable trade with the United States, and if a seaplane air mail between the two countries should prove feasible, and thus bring the time down to about one week, there is little doubt that the eastern portions of Australia will find it convenient to extend that trade. From an Empire point of view, we cannot afford to overlook this fact, and thus the flight of the " Southern Cross " provides one more, and a very strong, argument for speeding-up British Empire air communications. In this connection we cannot refrain from publish- ing a cutting which a FLIGHT reader in Benares has just sent us. The cutting is from the Statesman of May 16, from the " Here and There" column by " Kim," and is forwarded by our correspondent " without comment." It reads as follows :— " Captain D'Oisy—what a bird-like name—has flown from Karachi to Calcutta in two hops. It will presently be done in one, and I wouldn't be surprised if in due course flying night and day, some 'plane will not be bringing us letters from London in four days. But I would certainly be surprised if the machines or pilots were British. While we are talking about Imperial air service and what not, the Dutch and Japanese are inaugurating them. Their machines will drop letters as an act of grace upon Calcutta. We will see the British air service about the time we see the new Howrah Bridge. What a scandal. Enough to make any Briton shave off his moustache, do. up his hair in Marcelle waves, put on silk stockings, and walk down the Strand with a Burmese parasol in his hand." Now that the daily newspapers have got hold of the " story," it is, perhaps, permissible to refer to a great "secret." The Fairey Aviation Company is building a machine specially designed as a long- distance aeroplane. Perhaps when this and others contemplated materialise we may see letters dropped on Calcutta, not as an act of grace, and thus be spared the necessity for the Marcelle wave and the Burmese parasol ! NEW THREE-ENGINED TORPEDO-CARRYING FLYING-BOAT : The Supermarine " Solent," which is drivenby three Armstrong-Siddeley " Jaguar " engines, carries two 1,500 lb. torpedoes, slung one on each side of the hull. 432
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