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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0794.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 24, 1931 !Baok JUuiew THE FATHER OF THE RIGID* IT is not generally known that Count Ferdinand vonZeppelin had this in common with British airman, that both, at different times, fought against the Prussians.Zeppelin was a Wiirttemberger, and an officer in the army of that kingdom. In the war of 1866 Wiirttemberg wason the side of Austria against Prussia, and Zeppelin took part in the campaign. In fact, he distinguished himselfby swimming in full uniform across a rapid river to carry a message to troops on the other side. This campaign,however, was not his first taste of war. Previously he had been sent as an accredited observer with the FederalArmy in the American Civil War, and is believed to have taken part in a cavalry charge. He did this, however,with an easy mind, for he carried in his pocket a letter of introduction to General Lee, which might have helpedhim had he been taken prisoner. Zeppelin was, in fact, from his earliest years, an unusualcombination of a student and a dare-devil adventurer. When he first entered the army, his brother officersthought him more of a student that befitted an officer, but presently his feats of daring filled them with admira-tion. After the German Empire came into being, Zeppelinbecame a diplomat. He was appointed Wurttemberg representative at Berlin, and he is supposed to haveannoyed the Kaiser by the resolution with which he upheld the interests of his own country. In his ownKing he always found a steadfast and admiring friend. It was only in his latter years that he began to designand build rigid airships on the principle which will always be connected with his name. In this pursuit his engineer-ing abilities, his love of adventure, and his great tenacity of purpose found full play. He had to face two mainproblems, the one engineering and the other financial. He put nearly the whole of his private fortune into hisexperiments, and when that was exhausted he proved himself to be one of the most pertinacious of successfulbeggars of modern times, as success began to shine upon * Count Zeppelin: A Biography. By Margaret Goldsmith (London:Jonathan Cape). Obtainable from FLIGHT office. Price 8s. post free, his efforts. He became the darling of the German peopleand a favourite of the Kaiser. Success never turned hi shead, and he remained to the end a youthful, sanguine and ingenious character. The British public may be obliged to the authoress ofthis book for giving this outline of a very interesting career. Weight is also lent to the book by a thoughtfulforeword from the pen of Dr. Hugo Eckener, in which he pleads that the British public should not condemnthe principle of airships because of the disastrous loss of gas on R.101. Both the authoress and Dr. Eckener,however, seem to claim that Count Zeppelin was not merely an eminent inventor and an interesting personality,but actually deserved the title " great." This claim is based rather on his general character and abilities thanon his specific invention of the rigid airship. The claim is interesting, for it suggests that for the greater part ofhis long life he was a " mute, inglorious Milton." Grey used that expression of a villager. Ferdinard von Zeppe-lin was a rich noble, favoured by kings, and given numerous opportunities to distinguish himself. That hepossessed considerable abilities is obvious ; but that they never brought him into world-wide prominence until latein life is somewhat of a mystery. This mystery is increased by the fact that, whereasDr. Eckener is a convinced believer in the utility of the rigid airship, the authoress of the book seems almostsceptical upon that subject. Her scepticism does not carry much weight, because she evidently knows compara-tively little about airships, and does not give due credit to the services which they undoubtedly rendered to theGerman Fleet. If, then, she doubts the greatness of Count Zeppelin's one gift to the world, how does shecome to find greatness in the man himself? It may be a case of a biographer being carried away by worship ofher hero. Such cases are common enough. That she has not proved him to be a great man may be due to herown limitations as a biographer. The book, in fact, is not a great work. It is, none the less, a readable book,fascinating in parts, which must attract readers by reason of the interest which the war forced everyone to take inthe name Zeppelin. F. A. DE V. R. IN PARLIAMENT Civil Aviation MR. BENN, on June 29, in reply to Lt.-Com. Kenworthy, Major GrahamPole, and Capt. Peter Macdonald, said, I have received the following telegram from the Government of India :—" The policy of operating a State air service across India has been referred to the Retrenchment Committee which may be expected to report in 3 or 4months. In the meantime, all action in connection with the State air service has been suspended, except that the construction of aircraft, for which - -. _ ..reducingexpenditure on the ground organisation, including the possible closing of wireless and meteorological stations. Investigations in this connection arenow in progress. The stations required for the Karachi-Dalhi chartered service will be maintained until the expiry of the charter agreement. Theorganisation at Karachi will be maintained for the operation of the England- India service. The Imperial Airway Service to India will not be aSected.No alternative for the operation of an air service east of Karachi has been considered." I have no further information, and cannot say to what extent the workof raising the level of the landing ground at Juhu, Bombay, will be affected. The Government of India are of opinion that in the present state of theirfinances they cannot spend more on civil aviation during the current year than is strictly necessary. I should make it perfectly plain that the firstobject of the Government of India is a stable financial position. Australia and Air Services MR. MONTAGUE, in reply to Mr, A. M. Samuel, said the net cost to theBritish Exchequer of the two experimental air mail flights to and from Australia is the amount of the subsidy to Imperial Airways, which is approxi- ^^^__ 1^1 TT 1 H f\f\t\ A J—i Bi-ifVI H_3n ^__« _t „«•« A -* £ _* __ _* 11 TTT\C -^ 11a in 4 \* -v --V-A __ f-m.mm -* **. n_ni _v **. _p« • _•. «* -.»-_ *-_i-u_iii/u_ u.ui m___ jigui-s. wu i."- 4—c_nmi ui a regular service,the flights have certainly shown that a regular service is technically feasible. West Riding Aerodromes MR. MONTAGUE, on July l, in reply to Mr. Louis Smith, said there isone permanent civil aerodrome licensed for public use in the West Riding of Yorkshire; this is at Sherburn-in-Elmet. The provision of additionalaerodromes would certainly be in the best interests of civil aviation, and in October, 1928, municipal authorities throughout the country, includingSheffield, were circularised in this sense. The Corporation of Sheffield have had the matter under active consideration, and, at their request, one or twopossible sites in the neighbourhood have been inspected by the Air Ministry. 1 hope that the result may be the provision of an aerodrome at Sheffield. Women's Auxiliary Force, Miss Douglas-PennantMR. W. J. BROWN, on July 9. asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the request made to him that he should receive a deputationwith regard to Miss Douglas-Pennant's dismissal from the Women's Royal Auxiliary Force : and whether he proposes to receive the deputation ?Mr. P. Snowden : The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Prime Minister has proposed to the chairman of theineetmKfrom which a request for a deputation came that he. with the solicitor who is said to have new facts in his possession, should, with any others, see tbeAttorney-General who will in due course report to him the results. Mr. Brown : Is it not the fact that the Attorney-General's power to producea statement upon this case is entirely destroyed by the over-riding obligation laid down by the Prime Minister that any settlement must have the priorconsent of Lord Weir, and that as long as that provision remains there is no hope of a settlement ? ,_Mr. Snotvden : Thare are a number of statements in the hon. Member s supplementary qu»Uion which could not be substantiated.Mr. Brown : Would the Chancellor of the Exchequer mind saying which statements cannot be substantiated ? Public Scb ool Cadets and FlyingCAPTAIN BAI.FOUR, on July 13, asked the Secretary of State for War if anv alterations had been made for this year in respect of the regulations in 'or''eduring the past few years allowing public school cadets taking part in the Officers Training Corps summer training camps to fly in aircraft of tbe Roy"Air Force : and, if so, what reasons. . . Mr. T. Shaw.—Yes. Flying has no relation to, nor part in, the training oithe Officers Training Corps, and experience has shown that the practice in th. past, of granting special facilities for casual flights on the part of cadet;during their summer camp, is deprecated by many of the parents. In-' majority of parents undoubtedly prefer that these flights should not be associa-ted with training in the Junior Officers Training Corps, and, after full con- sideration, it has been decided that this practice shall be discontinued.Sir. S. Hoare asked if any opinions had been received from the headmaster of the schools concerned, and whether he was aware that no boy was allowecto fly without the special permission of his parents. Did not that dlspos entirely of the answer given-. ,Mr. Shaw said he was not aware of the facts mentioned. Action had Deei taken solely on the expert advice of men who knew the subject infinite!better than he did himself. He was willing to inquire into the points raise if it were possible that a mistake had been made. 740
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