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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0739.PDF
JULY 19, 1934. FLIGHT. 741 TMVXTEFDrTNG A SECTION FOR OWNERS-PILOTS AND CLUB MEMBERS T'HE burning topic of the hour is the necessity forbuilding up the air strength of this country, not as a The King's Cup Racegesture of aggression but as a means of ensuring the T TNDISMAYED by the fact that this thirteenth annual safety of our people in an age when the nations of vJ event was due to commence on Friday, the thirteenththe world are as unsettled as at any period in history. Adequate air protection is an essential insurance policy. In safeguarding our possessions by the ordinary methods of insurance we usually supplement the main cover by taking additional precautions, e.g., if we insure our car or aeroplane against fire and other risks, we carry, in addition, a fire extinguisher, and seek to maintain our vehicle in such a condition as to reduce the risk of accident to a minimum. If, therefore, we look to a strengthened Air Force to provide our main insurance against emergencies, we should not over- look the obvious method of supplement- ing this safeguard, which is the building- up of private flying, by every possible means. We have heard of the intention to provide a large additional sum for the increase of our Air Forces, which is an ad- mission that we must recognise in aviation our first line of defence. How much sounder this method of protection would be if it were backed by a large civil personnel trained in all aspects of air pilotage. There is, then, without doubt,, an unanswer- able case for Government assistance for private flying. That this is recognised in official quarters—to some extent at least—is indicated by the recently announced intention of the authorities to widen the scope of subsidies for flying clubs. In this connection we must also welcome the official financial support, meagre though it is, of the British motorless flying movement. The cost of these conces- sions represents, however, a negligible proportion of what we are preparing to spend on air defence, and those of us who are intimately concerned with "private flying " feel that this branch of aviation is deserving of a fuller measure of support, not only as a potential reserve which might be drawn upon in the hour of need but as representing in itself a source of future prestige to the country. A Case for Consideration APART from the question of direct subsidy, one might• mention a privilege, which, if conceded, would help to reduce the cost of the facilities offered by the flying clubs to their members. There is a growing body of opinion, recently voiced in the House of Commons, that the tax 011 motor spirit used for aviation purposes should be remitted. It is claimed that such a concession is justified by the fact that the tax imposed is mainly utilised by the Road Fund, and that, as aircraft do not use the public highways, it is hardly fair that 50 per cent, of the cost of aviation fuel should represent an impost which is largely devoted to other interests. Those who are familiar with the essential costs of flying will realise the considerable proportion which the provision of petrol represents. If the price of motor spirit were reduced by one-half, civil aviation generally would benefit enormously, and private and club flying could be made to appeal still further to those of limited means. NOTES by LORD SEMP1LL A.F.C., F.R.Ae.S. of the month, forty-three competitors entered. When I arrived at Hatfield in a drizzle the visibility was too bad to admit of a punctual start. This was discouraging after such a long spell of fine weather, but the delay of one hour and a half before the first machine could start gave an additional opportunity of looking round. It was of particular interest to those concerned with private flying to note that, of the forty- three entries, thirty-five different machines were represented, and, with the exception of three or four, all were standard types suited to the various requirements of the owner-pilot. No finer assembly of private aircraft have ever lined up for the race. Although most of the machines were of compara- tively recent design, a few of the older types were again in evidence. With scarcely an exception, however, they had been designed in the first place specifically for the purposes of civil aviation. This has not always been the case, as in previous years a con- siderable proportion of the entries were machines of the powerful service type. It is, therefore, good to see that the race has now become really representative of the skill of the private pilot and of the aircraft and engines specially designed for his use. Of those who had entered, three previous winners, Capt. Geoffrey de Havilland, Capt. W. L. Hope, and Capt. H. S. Broad, were again taking part. Capt. de Havilland had the unique distinction of competing with his two sons, Geoffrey and Peter. This must, I think, have been the first occasion on which three members of the same family have taken part in the race. Of the machines entered, fifteen were piloted by the entrants themselves. Very considerable interest was, of course, shown in the attractive "Mew Gull," entered by H.R.H. Prince George, and flown by its designer, Mr. E. W. Per- cival. Other particularly interesting entries were those of Viscount and Lady Wakefield of Hy the—a '' Dragon Six '' and a Comper '' Streak '' respectively—and the three. Hawker "Tomtits" with Wolseley A.R.9 engines, which again represented Lord Nuffield. Certainly one of the most notable machines was the new "Hornet" Moth, designed and flown by Capt. de Havilland. This little biplane is an enclosed, side-by-side two-seater with a good perform ance, and is extremely well thought out in all details. There is a good forward view from both seats, which are not only arranged in a sociable fashion but are roomy and comfortable. This machine could undoubtedly fill a deft nite need, and when put into production should come out at a price not greatly in excess of the present two-seater "Moth." With regard to the race itself, of the survivors of Round I the only lady participant, Mrs. G. Patterson, is to be congratulated on winning her heat. After her good performance in the first round, it was unfortunate that she should have had to contend with such bad weather conditions in the second. However, she had at least the
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