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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0551.PDF
FLIGHT, MARCH 14, 192» That, in view of the growing menace to civil communities in the developmentoi methods of air warfare, this House regrets that His Majesty's Government have failed to make any proposals for securing international agreement onthe question of aerial disarmament, and urges them to take the initiative in proposing a programme for the abolition of military and naval air forcesmd the establishment of international control ot civil aviation." He said that the experience of the late war had shown that the use of airscience for military purposes was inhuman, and one which, if it was allowed to continue, would mean the ultimate end of civilization. Mr. Malone (Northampton—Lab.), in seconding the resolution, said he didnot think there was any topic, or policy, more vital than disarmament. It should be approached from a consideration of all three Fighting Services.There was a very strong feeling in the House for the formation of a Ministry of Defence, and he believed it would receive support from members of allparties. He thought that properly handled and directed civil aviation might be the greatest factor for world peace that we could have. Col. Heneage (Louth—Con.) said they were all in favour of the abolition ofwar, but he did not think the world was sufficiently advanced and civilised to accept the total abolition of all naval, military and air forces. He thoughtthat at present the air sense of the country was in need of development. It-was difficult to get sites for aerodromes and landing stages outside townsand cities, and they were not included in town-planning schemes. Mr. Stanford (Leeds W.—Lab.) said that during the past ten years there hadbeen a snecession of conferences, pacts, and agreements on war and disarma- ment, yet all these put together had not helped the world forward a singlestep towards the realisation of any real measure of disarmament. The present .xjrnpetition among nations in armaments would end in war between thecivilised nations of the world. Sir P. Sassoon, replying, said that in urging the Air Ministry to be willingto take its part in a scheme of all-round disarmament, the supporters of the resolution were forcing an open door. The Air Ministry' did not yield eitherte the army or the navy in a desire to be associated with such a scheme. The Air Ministry was also equally concerned with the other services in thematter of national economy. Drastic as were the reductions in the naval and mflitary forces after the war, the reductions in the air force were moredrastic still. From being the first air power in the world we had sunk to the fifth, in spite of the fact that the air weapon had lost for us our age-longsecurity as an island nation and had made the greatest city in the world more open to air attack than any of the other capitals of Europe. We hadmade proposals in regard to the question of international agreement on air disarmament. At the meetings of the Preparatory Commission at Genevaa formula had been agreed on. That formula was a combination of the strength of first-line machines plus the horse-power of the engine. It was duechiefly to this country that 90 much progress had been made. There was now little more that the Preparatory Commission could do, and it was upto the countries and governments concerned to apply the agreed principle. This country was not the country that should take" the first step in thatdirection, because no one could say that Great Britain had shown the slightest intention of engaging in a race for air armament. \Vr were the only nationthat could show in the past five years consistent reductions in our Air Esti- mates below the figures of 1925, but man for man and machine for machine,our Air Force could more than stand comparison with the Air Force of any other country. In all questions of international disarmament it was the powerthat was strongest in the weapons concerned that could put forward proposals for reduction with the greatest hope that those proposals would be accepted.The concluding sentence of the Amendment advocated the international control of civil aviation. That proposal was also made last year, and theHouse was then satisfied with the arguments advanced against it. The situation had not changed since then, and the arguments presented thenstiH held good. The difficulty was that the air transport companies of Europe were not State-owned. They were commercial enterprises and thedifficulties in the way of nationalising them would really be insuperable. Moreover, if by some miracle, those difficulties could be overcome, the objectwhich hon. members opposite sought to obtain would still be no nearer, because in order to meet the needs of the nations concerned the machines wouldsttfhave to be located in centres and at aerodromes as they were to-day and it would be no more difficult than it would be to-day for any ill-disposed persousto commandeer all the machines and put them to any military use which was desired. The amendment was defeated by 152 votes to 65. The v-te for men, andthe various votes for money were agreed to. THE NAVY ESTIMATES rT"'HE following are points concerning aviation brought out in the statement I explanatory of the Navy Estimates, 1929, presented by the FirstLord of the Admiralty to Parliament, issued on March 8 as a White Paper (Cmd. 3283, 3d. net) :—The net total of Navy Estimates for 1929 is£55,865,000, which is a reduction of £1,435,000 below the Estimates for 1928 This considerable reduction is being made, although no diminution in strengthof the Fleet and the Fleet Air Arm has taken place, and, on the contrary modern developments have shown the necessity for two additional flights forthe latter. —o~~ The provision under Vote 4 for the Fleet Air Arm is increased by £220,090principally in order to meet the cost of a further instalment of aircraft /two flights) for the Glorious. This vessel will complete her reconstructic* as anaircraft carrier and be commissioned during 1929, but under the modeet programme which thev are following she will not have her full equipment ofaircraft until 1930. The advancement of the new construction programme and of the SingaporeNaval Base, and the gradual expansion of the Fleet Air Arm have been since 1925 the main developments which they have kept in view. la themeantime, their polic57 has been to effect economies wherever possible in the maintenance charges of the Navy in order to offset the expenditure on thosethree main objects. The aircraft-carrier which was to be commenced in 1929 will not be pro-ceeded with this year, as it is desired to obtain more experience with the Courageous and Glorious before laying down another large aircraft carrier. The reconstruction of the Courageous as an aircraft carrier was completedin May, 1928. The reconstruction of her sister ship, the Glorious, is expected to be completed in the latter part of 1929. The Courageous has joined theMediterranean Fleet. The Glorious, when her conversion into an aircraft carrier is complete, will replace the Argus in the Atlantic Fleet. Steady progress continues to be made in the employment of aircraft withthe Fleet, and the number of hours flown from the carriers has increased by 73 per cent, over the preceding year. Seventy-four naval officers have beentrained and are employed as observers, and eight more are under training. One hundred and twenty-one naval and R.M. officers have been trained aspilots, and 12 more are under training. Of this total of 121, 19 officers have reverted for a period of general service, on the conclusion of which they willresume flying duties. Steps have been taken to bring the service of naval officer pilots in theFleet Air Arm into line with ordinary naval specialized service (gunnery, torpedo, etc.), and such officers, provided they remain fit and suitable forservice in the Fleet Air Arm and also willing to serve as pilots, will, in future, serve on flying duties for the whole of their time after selection until theyreach six years' seniority as lieutenant-commander, except for a minimum period of two years' general naval service as lieutenant or lieutenant-comman-der. Those who do not wish to continue on flying duties after four year» of such service may revert permanently to general service or apply to specializein another subject. Progress in utilizing the latest improvements in radio-te'egraphic techniquecontinues to be made, both in connection with work in the Fleet itself and communications with shore stations and Admiralty. Close collaborationcontinues with the Army and Air Force on technical matters connected with wireless telegraphy, and is of the gieatest benefit to all three Services. Catapults of different types for the launching of aircraft are now on trialand in process of development. To the Grand National by Air THE Automobile Association has made arrangements for a landing ground to be at the disposal of members for the Grand National on March 22. Members who contemplate flying to the meeting are asked to supply full particulars to the Automobile Association, Aviation Department. Fanum House, New Coventry Street, London, W.I. Glasgow Indignant GLASGOW councillors have strongly criticised an Air Ministry refusal to contribute towards a municipal aerodrome. For the Australian Flight: Our picture shows Flt.-Lieut. Moir and Pilot-Officer Owen inspecting the Armstrong-Siddeley Geared "Jaguar" engine which will be fitted to the Vickere " Vellore " machine on which they hope shortly to fly to Australia. 225
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