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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0303.PDF
FLIGHT, MARCH 27, 1931 i ive lost their lives. On behalf of the Air Council and oval Air Force, I send you my profound sympathy on the reparable loss which the Regia Aeronautica Italia has • iffered by the death of these gallant and distinguished ( tice Canadian Airways Loss THE first annual meeting of Canadian Airways, Ltd., ) "Id recently at Montreal, disclosed a net operating revenue of §1,817,543 (.£363,508), with a net loss, after all charges, of >68,704 (^13,740). Nearly 2,000,000 miles were flown by eastern and western aeroplanes. The weight of mail matter carried was 333,913 lb. and other freight brought the total t.i 835,352 lb. Canadian Airways, Ltd., was formed last autumn by a merger of the leading air lines. The Cie. Gfenerale Aeropostale IN our leading article last week we gave a brief historical resume of the activities of the Cie. Generale Aeropostale, in the course of which we stated that " more than one account has been published by travellers which mention the old types of aeroplane used on parts of this route, and the discomforts thereof." We also gave the excuse for the past policy of the line which was put forward by the advocates of the company—namely, that France had to get ahead or be left behind. We did not intend to imply that the company still continued to use machines of a war-time vintage on its main services, and we are aware that only up-to-date types are now in use on the company's line from France to South America. In our issue of April 11, 1930, a full account of the activities and the fleet of this company was published, which, we think, did full justice to its enterprise and efficiency. Meanwhile, it is gratifying to note that the company still has a chance to carry on, for, while the French Senate rejected the plan of reorganisation voted by the Chamber on March 20, the motion for a simple credit of ^48,000 was passed when the Premier suggested this step in order to prevent the company closing down forthwith. Night Flying on the India Route NEXT month (actually on April 11), Imperial Airways will inaugurate regular night flying between Baghdad and Basra, on the route to India. This will shorten the schedule time of the journey to Karachi from six and a half days to five and a half days. The aerodromes at Baghdad and Basra have already been equipped with lighting apparatus for night landings. The distance from Baghdad to Basra is 300 miles, and the pilots will rely on directional wireless and on their compasses to keep on the direct route. They will not follow the windings of the river, but when they are above it they will probably be able to see the water and lights on the banks. If this experiment proves a success, the section from Cairo to Gaza may next be flown by night. This should be an easier section, as, after crossing the Suez Canal, most of the route follows the line of the coast. It is not proposed to fly the whole of the desert route by night in the immediate future. This would imply setting up beacon lights at intervals, and the desert is not a place where valuable property can be left without sufficient guard against hostile or mischievous Bedouins. Combined Rail and Air Parcels Service AN arrangement has been made between the railway companies and Imperial Airways, Limited, by means of which urgent freight and parcels addressed to a destination -r on any air route operated by Imperial Airways may be handed in at certain railway stations and forwarded at an inclusive freight charge. A similar joint air and railway service will operate in the reverse direction, goods being accepted by Imperial Airways at any point on their routes for through transit to railway stations in the United Kingdom. The arrangement will apply to about 140 centres in Great Britain at which it will be possible on and from April 1 to hand in a parcel for transit by express train to London and thence by air freighter to any of the air stations of Imperial Airways on the Continent and along the main or mail routes to such places as Egypt, Iraq, India, and Central and Southern Africa, or vice versa. The scale of rail and air freight rates chargeable will be in accordance with the published figures. Full particulars can be obtained at all the principal railway stations in the country and from Imperial Airways, Limited. Grant for Civil Aviation in Free State Estimates IN the estimates for the Public Services, 1931-32, for the Irish Free State an item is included under the heading " Assistance to Civil Aviation," £W. Our Irish correspon- dent learns that the item was not included as a practical joke, but as a " token " vote to enable the Minister of Industry and Commerce to introduce a supplementary vote if necessary during the year. We wonder if this is a good omen, perhaps the Free State Government has at last awakened to the fact that it is at least ten years behind the " flying " times. Air Survey in Tanganyika A BILL has been sanctioned by the Tanganyika Legisla- ture providing for a loan of /2,850,000 to cover development works, including railways, roads, harbours, automatic tele- phones, tsetse fly research, and air surveys. Segrave Trophy THE Awarding Committee for the Segrave Memorial Trophy, meeting at the Royal Automobile Club on March 19, decided that the trophy be awarded to Wing-Commander C. E. Kingsford-Smith, in consideration of his Atlantic flight—- the second East to West flight—and his record England- Australia flight. The trophy is awarded to the British subject who, in the judgment of the Awarding Committee, accom- plishes the most outstanding demonstration of the possi- bilities of transport by land, air, or water. Stroke of " Mercury " Engines. WE have been asked by Captain Andrew Swan to point out that in his tables of aero engines, published in The Aircraft Engineer of February 27, 1931, on page 15, the stroke of the Bristol " Mercury " engines series, V, VI, VII, and VIII, should be 7-5 inch, and not 6-5 inch. Will readers who wish to have their copies accurate please make the necessary corrections. The only " Mercury " with 6-5 inch stroke is the series IV A. Dinner to Dr. W. Hoff THE Lecture given by Dr. W. Hoff before the Royal Aeronautical Society on March 19, on " Research work in the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt fur Luftfahrt," was followed by a dinner in honour of the lecturer, given by the President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Mr. C. R. Fairey. Among those present were : Dr. Seydel, Dr. Van Scherpenberg, Secretary of the German Embassy. Colonel the Master of Sempill, Immediate Past-President of the R.Ae. Society, Mr. H. E. Wimperis, Director of Scientific Research, Sir Richard Glazebrook, Chairman of the Aeronautical Research Com- mittee, Professor R. V. Southwell, Mr. F. G. T. Dawson, Mr. F. Handley Page, Major T. M. Barlow, Dr. G. V. Lachmann, Major A. R. Low, Mr. C. C. Walker, Mr. M. L. Bramson. Aerial Mapping in Canada NEARLY 4,000,000 acres of land were mapped from the air in Northern and W'estern Canada during the last year. ON TEST AT FELIXSTOWE : The Avro Trainer, type 621 S, has now been fitted with floats, and has just passed very suc- cessfully its preliminary tests at Hamble. The machine has now gone to Felixstowe for official tests. The engine is an Armstrong Siddeley "Lynx IV C." 'i79
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