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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0882.PDF
FLIGHT, APRIL 25, 1929 A.I.D. T.S.A., FOURTH ANNUAL DINNER THOSE who have been privilegedTto attend previousannual dinners of the Technical Staff Associationof the Directorate of Aeronautical Inspection might be forgiven for regarding each gathering as the " high-watermark," and for assuming that the next cannot possibly be as interesting, charming and altogether enjoyable. Yet,somehow, largely no doubt due to the genius of Mr. Jack Jarvis, in whose hands the organisation is, each succeedingdinner always manages to be just a little better and brighter than was the preceding one. Such again was the case of thefourth annual dinner which the A.I.D. Technical Staff Associa- tion held at Hotel Russell, Russell Square, on Friday, April 19,under the chairmanship of Mr. J. J. A. Gilmore. Some 300 diners gathered together in a spirit of good fellow-ship and did justice to a very excellent dinner. As one looked around the tables one was impressed by the numberof representatives of the aircraft industry present, and who provided the best possible proof of the friendly relationswhich exist between the industry and the A.I.D. After the loyal toast, Air Vice-Marshal Sir John F. A.Higgins, K.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O., A.F.C., Air Member for Supply and Research, proposed the toast of the A.I.D.Recalling that this was the third time he had had the pleasure of proposing this toast, Sir John remarked that the firsttime he knew nothing about the A.I.D., and moreover, every- one present knew he knew nothing. The second time he wasunder the impression that he did know something, and conse- quently he was able to speak with that authority and confi-dence which only comes of ignorance. This time he knew that he knew nothing. However, he was going to " boost "the A.I.D. This he could do all the better as it was a fact that when the A.I.D. had inspected and passed a thing, theRoyal Air Force knew that thing was right. " So long," Sir John continued, " as you do that, you are doing your job."Referring to the way in which the A.I.D. had kept up with the times, Sir John pointed out that when the change from woodto metal construction came, the A.I.D. was able to adapt itself to the change. So also, he was sure, if in the futureother changes were to take place, the A.I.D. would always keep up to date.Lieut.-Col. H. W. S. Outram, C.B.E., Director of Aero- nautical Inspection, in replying to the toast of the A.I.D.,complained that he was rather against holding the annual dinner on the same day as the annual conference, becausethis meant that he had already said all he had to say. He regarded it as a great achievement on the part of the A.I.D.that they should have Sir John Higgins proposing the toast for three years in succession, and still more that on thethird occasion Sir John should still desire to " boom " the A.I.D. He would not refer to the presence there of such a fullrepresentation of the aircraft industry, as the chairman would probably have something to say about that, but hewould like to draw attention to the fact that they had with them that evening one whom many of them knew manyyears ago. He was referring to Mr' Marcel Desoutter. It was, Col. Outram thought, gratifying to find that about amonth after he (Desoutter) started business as an aircraft constructor he was present at the A.I.D. dinner. Col.Outram also referred to the presence of Capt. Irving, who was responsible for the car on which Maj. Segrave had recentlyestablished a world's record. Mr. J. J. A. Gilmore said his duty was to propose the toastof the visitors and guests. The distinction, he understood, was that the visitors had paid for their dinner, the guestshad not! Referring to the presence of Sir John Higgins, Mr. Gilmore said it was an indication of the interest he tookin the A.I.D. that he attended these dinners every year. He was sure all present would have noted with pleasurethat His Majesty- had conferred added distinction on Sir John in the Birthday Honours List. He was also pleasedto welcome Sir Walter Nicholson, and thought the Air Ministry fortunate in having in his person such a distinguished perma-nent secretary. Another very welcome guest that evening was Mr. Mc-Anally. Last year Mr. McAnally had recommended him (Mr. Gilmore) to continue his biblical studies. This he hadnot, unfortunately, been able to do, as he had to go to Belfast on duty. While there, he saw one day a Latin quotation.Not being a Latin scholar himself, he asked a friend to translate it for him, and was told that the quotation couldbe. translated freely " tuppence ha'penny for a threepenny bit. He hoped the Promotions Board would keep thatbefore them. He was pleased to note that the Society of British AircraftConstructors was well represented that evening, and particularly glad to note their general appearance of affluence in spite of the Directorate of Contracts. Particularly wouldhe mention the presence of Mr. Handley Page and Mr. Pate. It was good to reflect that (perhaps helped just a little bythe Air Ministry) British aircraft were highly esteemed all over the world. He recalled that in the earlier days theA.I.D. was apt to be blamed for the misdeeds of the Air Ministry. Now that was all changed, and he hoped the mainburden would be shifted to the R.T.O. (Resident Technical Officer), while the A.I.D. might be regarded as angels indisguise. Sir Walter F. Nicholson, K.C.B., Secretary of the AirMinistry, in the course of a very witty speech, remarked that his name had been coupled in the toast with that ofMr. Handley Page. That recalled to him the fact that he and Mr. Handley Page had had quite a good deal of corre-spondence in their official capacities, and that correspondence did not always give an impression of unanimity of opinion.Perhaps he would have a communication from Mr. Handley Page concerning some product of that well-known firm,and would reply, in a week or two, or perhaps three, that matters were progressing. A little later there would beanother letter from Mr. Handley Page going into more detail, to which he (Sir Walter) would reply in a monthor two, or perhaps three. Then from time to time there would be a suggestion by Mr. Handley Page of payment ofa million or so. In a year or two, or perhaps three, Sir Walter would reply and suggest payment of ^10 or so !Turning to the subject of the A.I.D., Sir Walter complained that he did not, like most of the other guests, know thework of the A.I.D. from beginning to end. To him the work was rather a mystery, and he pointed out that one alwaystook the unknown as the marvellous. He admitted, for instance, that he had never seen an A.I.D. inspector atwork ! This remark caused much merriment, and Sir Walter then explained his meaning in a different phrasing. Hehad to observe the A.I.D. from the Air Ministry, and form his judgment of it and of the industry mainly from reports.His observation led him to think that the A.I.D. certainly came in on the ground floor.Mr. F. Handley Page said he felt rather like a lamb being led to the slaughter. He was also surprised, as he neverexpected such true revelations of the way in which the Air Ministry conducted its business as those made by-Sir Wralter Nicholson. He felt relieved that no M.P. was present, otherwise some searching questions might havebeen asked. On the subject of inspection, he said his first introduction to it was a picture of Adam and Eve whichused to hang in his nursery (that was many many years ago when he was a child, and before he became a grown-upchild in the care of the Air Ministry !) The picture also included a rabbit, and they used to call the picture the" looking-on " picture. It was, he understood, shortly after that incident that the Chosen Race went into the clothingbusiness, and had never left it since ! One thing that had always puzzled him was the basis on which A.I.D. inspectorswere " approved." After outlining various unsupportable theories as to standards required, Mr. Handley Page saidhe had come to the conclusion that the common feature of all A.I.D. inspectors was a very good heart. He was happyto think that in British aircraft construction such a high standard had been achieved, and pointed out that thiswas only accomplished by the good feeling between the industry and the A.I.D.Mr. Pate, of the Napier firm, spoke on behalf of the aero engine firms, and said that if Sir Walter Nicholson wouldcome to Acton he could easily have an opportunity of seeing an inspector at work. As a matter of fact, theyworked hard. He summarised the position by remarking that half the time the firms did not know how to get onwithout the A.I.D., and the other half they did not know how to get on with it. He was sure that Capt. Irving wouldagree with him that if it were not for the Air Ministry Great Britain would not now hold speed records in the air,on land and on the sea. Maj. J. S. Buchanan, O.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., A.M.I.M-*--.Assistant Director of Scientific Research (Aircraft) propped. the toast of the hosts, and Mr. L. Warner responded. I10™confined their remarks chiefly to " domestic" affairs of the A.I.D.Mr. H. W. W. McAnally, C.B., Principal Assistant Secretary of the Air Ministry, proposed the toast of Mr. Jack J^^and the evening came to a close with the singing of An Lang Syne."Artistes entertained the company in the intervals betv,-een speeches, the radio comedian with two christain names anno surname, Mr. Leonard Henry, being a favourite. 346
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