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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0462.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 16. 1981 THE PRINCE OF'WALES AND SOUTH AMERICA THE PRINCE FLIES TO MANCHESTER: On May 9 the Prince flew in his " Puss Moth " from Hendon toBirmingham, and thence, on May 12, to Manchester. Our picture shows the Lord Mayor of Manchester (centre), presenting Aldermen to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. On left is Lord Derby, who received the Prince on his arrival at Barton Airport. AM very interested in the development of aviation.Although not very apparent at the moment, there is undoubtedly a great future for aviation in SouthAmerica. The West Coast is served efficiently by Chilean and North American enterprise, but on the Atianticside little has been done to make use of this form of trans- port. With the exception of one journey, my brother andI did all our travels in the Argentine by air, and in English machines all the time. From experience I can describeArgentina as one vast aerodrome. There are local diffi- culties which stand in the way of immediate development,but these could be overcome. It seems to me a real oppor- tunity for the railways, who will be confronted with com-petition, to anticipate that competition by initiating some form of air service in co-operation with the railwaysystem." , This was a striking passage in a very striking speechdelivered by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales to a great gather- ing of business men in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester,on Tuesday, May 12. On the day before His Royal High- ness was entertained at a banquet by the BirminghamChamber of Commerce, whom he also addressed. He journeyed from Hendon to Castle Bromwich, and fromthere to Barton Aerodrome, Manchester, in his own Puss Moth. Prince George accompanied his brother, flying inanother aeroplane. The Princes returned by air to Hendon on the eveningof May 12. AN ATTRACTIVE PROPOSAL N Tuesday, May 12, a lunch was held for a gather-ing of Press Representatives by the Automobile Racing Association. This Association has beenformed in order to reclaim some 16 square miles of the north-western shores of the Wash. Thescheme embodies grandiose proposals for the formation of a Speedway Track some 15 miles in length ; a speed-boatcourse of the same length ; a gliding school and ground ; a large aerodrome ; tennis courts ; bathing pool ; boatingaccommodation ; road-racing motor course ; two golf courses ; football and cricket grounds ; bowling greens ;Zoological and Botanical gardens ; a trotting arena ; put- ting greens ; dog and dirt racing tracks ; cinema, danceand concert halls ; pleasure gardens ; hotels and residen- tial areas ; the majority of which will all be situated onthe reclaimed ground. Earl Howe was the Chairman who presided at the meet-ing, and in his speech he outlined the scope of the scheme. Amongst others who spoke were Mr. Devereux, the Manag-ing Director of the parent company, Mr. Palmer, M.P., Col. the Master of Sempill, Lady Bowden, the Earl ofMarch, Col. Shelmerdine, and Major Paulet. As it stands, there is no doubt that, if properly carriedthrough, it will provide England with a site upon which it should be possible to centre the speed attempts of theworld, both in the air as well as upon land and water. Every other country has its own roadway track and awell-organised speedway course. Apart from the Pendine Sands, however, England is dependent upon Brooklandsfor such attempts, and, as is well known, Brooklands has already become inadequate for present-day motor-carspeeds. Such a scheme as is suggested by the Automobile Racing Association should undoubtedly foster very great interest in speed records and attract a large number of theracing enthusiasts of the world. As was pointed out by several of the speakers, the site selected embraces withina radius of 125 miles some 80 per cent, of the total popu- lation of England. It should, therefore, have a wideappeal to the general public, whether they wish for thrills or for quiet recreation. The member from the House also endeavoured to link upthe scheme with romance, by suggesting that it might be profitable for visitors to seek the lost treasure of KingJohn, but Col. the Master of Sempill, in his usual accurate and illimitable manner, brought this suggestion to earthby pointing out that during the war the particular area, where the treasure was supposed to have been lost was usedas a practice bombing ground, and that, while many of the bombs exploded, there were large numbers which dmnot ; in consequence, searching for buried treasure m^? mean that the searchers would be in danger of being rapidlytransported to other regions. From our own point of view, the establishment of a really well-run Aerodrome andGliding School in this district," which is one of the pa^ of England with the smallest annual rainfall, would ^doubt be qf great value to aviation, and it is for fcy- reason, if for none other, that we trust the scheme wingo forward. " . It may, perhaps, be grandiose and magnificent in !••>conception, and would at first sight seem beyond tc*. bounds of possibility, but, given the necessary capital, _-course, anything can be done, and, whether or not <" adequate return can be obtained for this outlay is en™:\;.a matter for the promoters, and we can but hope that m , will see their way to obtaining a satisfactory return athereby place the whole scheme upon a sound footing- 430
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