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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0380.PDF
138 FLIGHT. -FEBRUARY IO, 1938. to ensure that the standards of design and construction were kept at the high level at which they had been before the Board took over. Sir Maurice pointed out that originally the Board took over renewals for Certificates of Airworthiness for all types of civil aircraft. They also took over examination for ground engineers' licences, and he expressed the thanks of the Board to the De Havilland, Chelsea and Hamble schools for their co-operation, which he hoped would continue. The Board also issued Certificates of Airworthiness for subsequently modified aircraft. During the time the Board had been in existence many surveys had been carried out for under- writers. There were offices at Croydon, Glasgow, Hatfield, Heston, Liverpool and Southampton, while new offices were being established as far afield as Alexandria and Singapore. They hoped in time to set up the necessary machinery for being able to issue Certificates of Airworthiness in all parts of the world. He recalled that so far the Board dealt with aircraft up to ten passengers. He thought that aircraft constructors should consider very carefully whether or not it was worth while to take advantage of this division of aircraft. He was person- ally a little dubious about the wisdom of withdrawing all supervision. He was not sure that constructors, in their own interests, ought _to do so, and pointed out that ship owners were not compelled to class their ships, but most of them did. If they did not they had to comply with certain points of, law imposed by the Board of Trade. Yacht owners, for instance, found it an advantage to class their yachts, because doing so helped them to sell them afterwards. He personally would like to encourage constructors to submit to inspection for Certificates of Airworthiness. Co-operation Mr. James Norman, principal surveyor to the Board, pro- posed the toast of the guests. He expressed the hope that the relations of the Board with the industry would always be happy. To the operators he would say, "Co-operate with the Board—let us know your grievances." Sir James Ross, K.B.E., C.B., said he was glad to respond on behalf of the Air Ministry. The Ministry would do all It could to help the Board. He recalled that in 1925 the idea of giving self-government to aircraft constructors and opera- tors hardly seemed possible. At the Ministry they were very much in doubt about the feasibility of it. By 1932, how- ever, they were getting closer and closer together, like people working in a tunnel from opposite ends. In the Air Ministry they could hear the pneumatic drills worked by Mr. Handley Page. Ultimately, the partition was cut through and they met and shook hands. Concerning the solution of the finan- cial difficulties, it was difficult for him to express sufficiently eloquently their appreciation of the helpfulness of the D.C.A., Sir Francis Shelmerdine. [The Air Ministry has agreed to pay four-fifths of the cost of the Air Registration Board, the other one-fifth being divided between constructors, operators and insurers.] Mr. Graham Mackinnon, responding for the insurance in- terests, said he had had only one thirty-second share in the formation of the Board. Lloyd's, the British Corporation and the Air Ministry had co-operated in making the Board pos- sible. Contrary to popular belief, underwriters did not mind claims. In fact, they lived on them, but the claims must not be out of proportion to premiums, and they welcomed a standard like the Certificate of Airworthiness to formulate their ideas of the size of premium. Underwriters were passing on their collective knowledge. One department he would like to see established was something on the lines of Martlesham. He rather feared that such things as controllability and stability were likely to be overlooked. An establishment something like that at Martlesham would ensure that they were not thus overlooked. Operators' Views Mr. H. H. Greig replied, in the absence of Mr. G. P. Olley, on behalf of operators. One year ago they were deal- ing with the Air Ministry and things went smoothly. Then the A.R.B. came along, and the operators wondered. Actually they could not wish for better people to work with. They had found the Board very helpful, and one thing that had pleased him was that they did not have to wait for a decision. He did not think anyone need worry whether an aircraft had fewer or more than ten seats! The work of super- vising its construction was done equally well in both divisions. Mr. F. Handley Page said that on an occasion like this their minds must inevitably go back to Lloyd's coffee house. They were meeting that evening for the first time over the modern equivalent of the beginning of Lloyd's. They were beginning something, the ends of which could not be foreseen. They had moved away from intimate Government control and were enjoying the fruits of liberty, because the Government realised that they were able to control themselves without misuse of that liberty. The Air Ministry had seen that the people who were interested in the economic aspect of civil aviation were the right people to carry out the work of the Board. Mr. Handley Page paid a warm tribute to the work of Mr. Thomas during the formation and organisation of the Board. Mr. James Norman had set up a good standard to which they should work, and now that they had obtained the ser- vices of Dr. Roxbee Cox the design end would be well looked after. They were also indebted to Lord Swinton for making the Board possible. It was he who put the Bill through Parliament. Finally, he said, the Board was conscious of the burden put on it, and it was up to them to see that the foundations were well and truly laid. They owed a great deal to the chairman, who had made this possible by giving so much of, his very valuable time to the work. THREE-DIMENSIONAL METEOROLOG Y NOW that transport flying, at least of the long distancevariety, is being carried out at fairly considerable altitudes, the study of meteorological conditions, and particularly thpseconcerning the upper air, is becoming increasingly important. The Bartlett Weather Service, of 6, Racquet Court, FleetStreet, London, E.C.4, has recently developed an interesting device by which the weather maps at different altitudes maybe easily studied in relation to one another. This device con- sists of a transparent box in which the different maps, alsodrawn on transparent sheets, take the form of shelves. On the base of the box is drawn a map of the area covered, andwithin reason the number of shelves need not, of course, be limited. The entire affair is collapsible, and can be foldedwhen not in use into a rectangle of about 6in. x 6in. x Jin. The maps are traced in Indian ink from .1 basic sketch madein the usual way from the reports obtained, and there is no reason why the different layers should not be drawn in differentcolours in order that they may be easily distinguishable from one another. The examples so far made by Mr. Bartlett havebeen of the three-tier variety, the lower shelf indicating surface conditions, the middle shelf those at 1,000 metres and the topshelf at 2,000 metres. Any other necessary information may be written on the sides of the box and the ink can be washedoff very easily. This three-dimensional weather map should be particularlyuseful in training schools, apart from its value at control centres, where the day's " picture " may be looked at by pilots. For keeping deep depressions in captivity : The Bartlett three-dimensional weather map for various altitudes. When the shelves have been removed the top may be lifted and the device folded into a conveniently flat shape. Astigmatic^ ? " Night Hawk," by ]. Raillon Holden ; 75. 6d. ; Newnes.H ARD flyin', hard shootin', and hard drinkin' on the U.S.- Canadian border. The eyes of the Lady in the Case were . . twin automatics blazing eternal obliteration at every- one connected with the force." But this book touches on much more than the optical armament of fair females; par- ticularly gun-running under the auspices of a master mind called, as the reader may have guessed. The Ghost.
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