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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0885.PDF
\ 30 I'JZI. AIRCRAFT ENGINEERAND AIRSHIPS ^^ bounded in 1909 by Stanley Spooner* FIRST AERONAUTICAL DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS, PRACTICE AND PROGRESS OF AVIATION ' OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB No. 1340. Vol. XXVI. 26th Year AUGUST 30, 1934 Thursdays, Price 6d.By Post, 7Jd. Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices: DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.I. Telegrams: Truditur, Watloo, London. „ Telephone: Hop 3333 (50 lines). HERTFORD ST., COVENTRY. GUILDHALL BUILDINGS, 260, DEANSGATE, MANCHESTER, 3. 20B, RENFIELD ST., NAVIGATION ST., BIRMINGHAM, 2. GLASGOW, C.2. Telegrams: Autocar, Coventry. Telegrams: Autoprcss, Birmingham. Telegrams: Iliffe, Manchester. Telegrams: Iliffe, Glasgow. Telephone: Coventry 5210. Telephone: Midland 2971. Telephone: Blackfriars 4412. Telephone: Central 4857. SUBSCRIPTION Home and Canada: Year, £1 13 0 ; fi months, 16s. fid.; 3 months, Ps. 3d. RATES: Other Countries: Year, £1 15 0; (i months, 17s. 6d.; 3 months, 8s. 9d. Re-equipment THE Centenary Celebrations of the State of Victoriaare to be attended by No. 203 (Flying Boat)Squadron from Basra in full force; that is to say, flying three " Rangoons." The visit will cer- tainly be a compliment to the 100-year-old State, for Basra is a long way from Melbourne, and it will be no small feat to fly from the Persian Gulf to Australia. That the "Rangoons " and their " Jupiter " engines should carry the flight through successfully we feel no doubt, for both boats and engines are as trustworthy as the best. Incidentally, the officers and men of the Royal Australian Air Force will be interested to see the '' Ran- goons," for the flying boat equipment of that Force for a good many years past has consisted of two wooden " Southampton" and a flight of deck-landing "Sea- gull" amphibians. Some years ago Australia received a visit from four metal " Southampton" of what is now No. 205 (F.B.) Squadron, but that is the sum total of what Australia has seen of the flying boats of the Royal Air Force. The "Rangoon" was produced by Short Bros, as the R A.F. version of the "Calcutta" commercial fly- ing boat which once served Imperial Airways very well on the crossing of the Mediterranean. The three-engined "Calcutta" has long since been replaced on that_route by the four-engined "Scipio" class, but the Ran- goon" still remains the most modern flying boat owned by the overseas Commands of the Royal Air Force. In fact, with the exception of the "Perth," which has re- cently been supplied to No. 209 (F.B.) Squadron at Mount Batten, it is the most modern boat possessed by any R A.F squadron. It was only about a fortnight ago that the Air Ministry announced that No. 205 (F B ) Squadron is to receive the "Singapore with four "Kestrels" instead of the time-honoured " Southampton," with which, as we remarked above, Australia is familiar. It is not impossible that some confusion may arise from stationing Singapores at Singapore, but, apart from that, this news is very wel- come. We should like some more of the same sort. It is impossible to help wondering what spirit oi lethargy has fallen upon the department of the Aii Ministry whose duty it is to decide upon the re-equip- ping of flying boat squadrons. For months past it has been known that some squadron was to get the " Singa- pore " and some other squadron or squadrons should have the " Scapa" ; while it has also been common knowledge that a real desire had arisen to equip No. 202 (F.B.) Squadron at Malta with boats instead of their ancient floatplanes. That a definite programme had been drawn up seemed fairly certain, and all seemed going swimmingly when some technical reason caused a halt to be called. That was probably inevit- able; but why halt for so long? Re-equipment of the flying-boat squadrons is overdue, and we do not want the new types to grow out of date before they are issued to the squadrons. More (generalities MR. FOKKER has given an interview to somejournalists, in which, following the injudiciousexample of Mr. Baldwin, he has indulged insome generalities on what will happen in tho next war. Mr. Fokker's opinion will command some respect, possibly too much. He is reported to have said that in the future an air attack will be made before there has been any declaration of war. Great skill in aeroplane design hardly makes him an authority on the future of diplo- matic relations, and we may listen to this personal opinion of his without accepting it as gospel. If any Power were really likely to behave in such a way there would be no great competition among its nationals for the post of Ambassador to the capital of the country which might be so attacked. Next, he is reported to have said that the attack would be stronger than the
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