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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 1072.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 2, 1981 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses 0/ Jhe writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters intended for insertion in these columns. AUSTRALIAN AIR SERVICES [2769] Having for the last few years been a constant reader of FLIGHT, having also always looked forward to your editorials, I was rather surprised to see a mistake re our airways in this country. It seems also that Norman Ellison, in his "Loop and Landings" columns of the Sydney (New South Wales) sporting paper. The Referee, dated Sydney, August 5, 1931, also noticed it, and burst into print on the matter ; and, as what he has to say is correct, I have taken the liberty to copy his article word for word, and place it in the body of this letter, in the hope that the information contained therein may really show just how things in the air are here. Before starting to write what Norman Ellison has to say, I would first like to say, as having had my " Wings " in first the •" K.F.C." and later in the Royal Australian Air Force, and having taken a little part in the 1914-18 misunderstanding, and being taken as a target by the " Circus," I have been well and truly a " Mud Lark " •ever since. But I simply still have to keep my eyes and mind on the " Game," and 1 would like to say that your magazine keeps me up to date and gives me a real interest m what is going on. It's good. I have, for one, certainly no fault to find ; your articles at all times are worth Teading, and your Royal Air Force section helps me to follow up the movements of many of my old friends of 1914, etc. Please keep up the good work. Now for what the Referee has to say. By the way, the article is written on your editorial in the June 5 issue, page 492, second column, starting second para. : " There are other parts of the world ... its chief commodity in such a country as Australia." The editorial in question deals with the maxims of Costes, French long-distance ace. Now for it. " FLIGHT, first aeronautical weekly in the world, attd •official organ of the Royal Aero Club, is usually a well- informed publication. But, judging by a recent editorial, it is not so well informed as it should be about Australia. FLIGHT may not agree with the maxims of the famous Frenchman, without qualifications. Fair enough ; but it says:— Firstly, FLIGHT is wrong when it refers to the " very •successful air lines of Australia." Where are they? True, Qantas and W.A. Airways give the public a really efficient service, all things considered. But would the services con- tinue unless a fat Government subsidy was forthcoming? No, it is not correct ; no civil enterprise can be termed " very successful," in the sense FLIGHT uses the phrase, •unless it pays of its own operations—like, for instance, New Guinea Airways. So far as service to the public was concerned, Australian National Airways was a " very successful " enterprise—its operations over three States only had one serious •crash. But, to all intents and purposes, the company went out of the airline business. And what of Australian Aerial Services, a pioneer in Australian air transport? Once their services also covered three States. But they, too, lost the bulk of their busi- ness when the subsidies were not forthcoming. We in Australia, then, are rather mystified about these very successful services " of ours. Likewise about that " cheapness of travel," also accredited to Australian aviation. Definitely, air travel in Australia is not cheap—as compared with other forms of transport. But, as a time-gainer, it does score heavily. And it taps areas unserved by the train. Those, and not cheapness, are the reasons why it wins the support of the public." That's the article, and, as far as we in Australia are concerned, it's true. Kingsford-Smith's line, National Airways, couldn't carry on without Government help, and, unfortunately, it's the only way air lines can carry on out here. I hope Norman Ellison's article may help you in seeing how things in the air business are in Australia. Here's wishing many more sales for FLIGHT. JOHN J. SMITH. Dandarragan, Western Australia. August 18, 1931. [We are much obliged to our correspondent for his appreciative letter. We can assure him that we are not in the least ignorant that the two main air lines in Austra- lia are subsidised. So, we believe, are all air lines except those in New Guinea and Colombia. In comparison with other subsidised air lines, we hold to our expressed belief that those of Australia are " very successful." The " Referee " has evidently quite misunderstood our remarks about cheapness. We did not allude to fares, but to cost of laying out an airway as compared with the construc- tion of a railway. Obviously, Australia finds that in undeveloped parts airways come cheaper.—ED.] AIR SCOUTS' ASSOCIATION [2770] I would esteem it a favour if you would publishthe following in your most valuable paper. With reference to Mr. W. Davison's letter regarding theabove, I would like to point out that the letters we have received are so numerous that it is impossible to reply tothem all personally, and we would like to thank the senders for their interest in this movement ; we will notify them assoon as a company is to be formed in their districts. Efforts are being made for an air pageant to be stagedin the near future on the Tees-side in the hope of raising funds to carry forward this worthy movement ; it is hopedthat a number of private owners will give their services, together with clubs. Hon. members are enrolled at 10s. ; patrons £50 ; scouts,whose ages must not exceed 21 years, £1 per annum, where instructors and captains can be found. Surely there are plenty interested in aviation who willsupport this movement. Those willing to bring their machines and give displays,joyrides, etc., or help in any other way should communicate with the undersigned. A. R. MARSHALL.Hon. Secretary. 59, Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough, August 28, 1931. '"" When the Swallows Homeward Fly "—by Aeroplane FROM the reports received from Vienna, it would •seem that in years to come it may not be an uncommon sight to see, when summer is ended, queues of swallows waiting at our airports to embark on the " Swallows' Southern Special." It appears that swallows on their way- south from Northern and Central Europe have been held up in Austria by the premature winter weather conditions prevailing there. Thousands of the poor creatures, chilled by the extreme cold and rain, and unable to obtain food, sought shelter in barns, factories and other buildings— many dying from exposure and lack of food. Then man —in the form of the Viennese Society for the Protection of Birds and Animals—came to the aid of nature with a plan to assist the stranded migrants over the Alps into Sunny Italy by means of aeroplanes—although there is little mony to spare in Austria just now for the expense involved. Thousands of the birds have been collected from all parts of the country, fed (not without difficulty) and placed in specially-prepared crates, and on September 26 a machine of the Austrian Air Transport conveyed 20,000 of them, free of charge, to Venice, where some nine-tenths of the consignment survived the journey and were released. A further 25,000 were despatched the next day, and the good work was continued thereafter. It was found subse- quently that Venice was not the best locality for sending the swallows on their way South—for they were faced, in their weak state, to crossing the Adriatic. Later consign- ments were, therefore, transported by way of Buck'reSj to Braila, near the Black Sea, whence they could pr^cep via South Russia to Egypt, etc. The Vienna Animals Protection League, at Heidenschutz, Vienna, asks bird lovers of all countries to send small contributions toward the expense it has incurred—to which we add " Hear, hear.'' Well done, Austria! f 1002
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