FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1936
1936 - 0376.PDF
i66 FLIGHT. FEBRUARY 13, 1935 A strong Royal Air Force is, we are firmly convinced, an influence for peace. In this connection there can be nothing improper in quoting the words of our new King, spoken to the Cran- well cadets when he opened the new buildings of the College in October, 1934. The Prince of Wales, as he then was, said to the cadets: — "You have joined a great Service, and, though the Air Force is a junior Service, it, along with the Navy and Army, makes for confidence not only throughout the Empire but throughout the world—a confidence which is of vital importance and will continue to be of vital im portance until the make-up of the world changes very radically." For such reasons Flight has advocated, whenever it was expedient to do so, that the Royal Air Force should be strong—strong enough to meet any possible emer gency, and at all times to give weight to the opinions of the British Government. The wise old Romans said Si vis pacem, para helium, and it is chiefly because we, like all sensible persons, wish for peace that we want to see the Air Force strong. It is not only numbers which we wish to see; we want also to see the Force equipped with the very best of everything in the way of aircraft, engines and equipment, and we want to see adequate preparations made in time of peace for the vastly increased production which would be necessary if we ever had to go to war. Everybody must hope that the Royal Commission will be able to show the Government how best these vital preparations can be made. Congratulations I LONG-DISTANCE records are now very like nine pins. They are set up to be knocked down. The U latest to go is that of Mrs. Amy Mollison on the England-Capetown route. Although Mrs. Molli son took the shorter course down the west coast, while Fit. Lieut. T. Rose, D.F.C., followed the Imperial way through the East African colonies, the latter has set up a new record with a very handsome margin. What is more, the new record was established in spite of cer tain delays which must have been maddening to the pilot. If all had gone according to plan, the new record would have been even more impressive than it actually is; but, as Rose himself admitted, on solo flights one has to be prepared for things sometimes going wrong. Delays are what golfers call rubs on the green, and must be accepted with philosophy. Regular air transport services have to do their best to guard against such delays, and their ground organisation usually enables them to do so with success. The most impressive feature of the frequency with which new records on long-distance flights are set up is the marvellous reliability of the modern aero engine and the modern small aeroplane. Rose's engine was a Gipsy Six, and his machine was the identical Miles Falcon in which he won the King's Cup last summer. To all concerned in this fine feat Flight begs to offer hearty congratulations. ODYSSEY, 1936 : The Miles Falcon (Gipsy Six) in which, as related on page 174, Fit. Lt. T. Rose handsomely lowered the England- Cape record ; this Flight photograph was taken during a final test on the day before the successful attempt started.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
