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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1911.PDF
JULY 29TH, 1943 FLIGHT 123 Technical Training Postgraduate Research : Flying' Instruction for Engineers TIE second meeting organised by the Royal Aero-nautical Society to continue the discussion on theeducation and training of aeronautical engineers was held on Friday, July 23rd, at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. The meeting was animated by the same spirit of interest and keenness as the previous one, and the chair- man, Dr. Roxbee Cox, had to keep an eye on the clock to steer the discussion towards the draft of a broad and generally acceptable future plan. Many speakers from different spheres of aeronautical £ work expressed their views on the training of apprentices,s the need for post-graduate research and a better organisa-: tion of future aeronautical training. While some of them thought that existing facilities should be but extended, the ,. general feeling was that a centralised institution, whether under the name of an aeronautical university or some other suitable title, was the call of the hour. 4.. It was rightly urged that an institution of this kind should combine, the advantage of academic research train- ing with adequate facilities for flying and practical research • Vork. In general, most speakers emphasised the necessity i". to include in the training of aeronautical engineers a period of practical workshop experience. Whether such experi- I ence should be obtained before the young student em- barked upon his theoretical studies, or whether it should be done during or after the completion of his theoretical course, the views differed. Yet it can be said that the feeling was unanimous as to the inadequacy of a training limited to the academic side of the subject. In this connection it is noteworthy that the need was expressed by many speakers for an even closer collabora- tion between the training institutions and the industry than is at present the practice, and a number of sugges- tions to that end were put forward. Again, a point strongly expressed by some participants was-the need for actual flying experience for the future areonautical engineer, and the need to include flying training in the general aero- nautical curriculum. Interesting views on the training of apprentices came from a number of speakers with practical experience in this field. Typical of the go-ahead and keen spirit which ani- mates our industrial apprentice school was their opinion that the days of the night classes are gone, and the urge is for day training which seems to be an already accepted trend in the industry. The widening of aeronautical training facilities will IIJ doubt depend largely on the attitude which will be taken by the Government towards such plans, and the extent to which it will be interwoven in the general pattern of post- war planning policy. Rightly, it was emphasised that the realisation and success of such schemes will also depend on the number of available instructors and on the oppor- tunities offered to young women and women who take up aeronautical engineering as their career. The lengthy training, -the hard work that is squired from the student, and the importance of the aeronautical engineer in the general economy of the nation, justify the demand that his profession should be placed on a footing not lower than that of other professions. A central institute for the training of aeronautical engineers—the creation of which we have urged in this journal—an Aeronautical University, as it were, combining the various sides of practical and theoretical training fields, would go a long way towards establishing a uniformity of the higher training. The active and lively participation in discussions sponsored by the Royal Aeronautical Society gives one the confidence that a practical plan which emerges slowly from them will be translated into terms of reality. PLAN ENGINEER'S PEACE NOWS PEAKI.NG at a meeting of the Engineering Industries Association in London last week, Sir Roy Fedden covered much of the ground with which he had pre- viously dealt in talks to- the aircraft industry specifically. On this occasion he was, of course, addressing engineering industries generally. If Great Britain were to maintain a leading place after the war it was necessary that we should revolutionise our basic thinking. If we made full use of our national flair for engineering, and if we so trained and upgraded indus- tries that we could take steps forward into entirely new realms, we should be able again to lead the world in those branches which particularly suited our needs. '' We constantly hear,'' Sir Roy said, '' that this is an engineer's war. It must certainly be an engineer's peace, and I believe that now is the time to begin to think about being better prepared for it than we were for war." Our higher engineering training, although sound tech- nically, was- for the most part seriously out of date. There was a tendency to lay too much stress on the theoretical and mathematical basis and not give enough attention to the practical and production side. Sir Roy concluded by suggesting that it might be profit- able to set up a council of engineering institutions to con- sider the whole matter. From this council could be estab- lished panels to deal with the various aspects and to work out a plan. He suggested that there should be a suitable mixture of youth, age, business and technical elements. BOOK REVIEWS "Unsung Heroes of the Air," by A. H. Narracott. Frederick Miller, Ltd. js. 6d. net. rVTR- W- P- HILDRED- Director-General of Civil Aviation,IVi has written a foreword to Mr. Narracott's latest book, but the book is by no means confined to the war work of civilianpilots. The work of B.O.A.C., Air Transport Auxiliary, the Atlantic Ferry, the test pilots of aircraft firms, and othercivilians are given some of the credit which they deserve, but the work of many branches of the R.A.F. which is lessspectacular than bombing and fighting is also described. Among those who do important jobs with no hope of decora-tions for gallantry are flying instructors, members of the Met. Flights, the Handling Squadron, and the Ferry Command. Mr. Narracott has many good stories to tell about most ofhis unsung heroes, and he mitst have gone to immense pains to collect all the details of various incidents and adventures which he recounts. Above all, this book is a notable contri- bution to the history of the second world war, and as such deserves a place in every war library. "Aero-Engines for Students," by R. A. Beaumont, A.F.R.Ae.S. George Allen and Unwin, Lid. 5s. net.A BOOK for those who have already mastered the elementary principles of the internal combustion engine but desire that further essential knowledge of design and construction necessary for personal advancement. An insignificant appear- ance due to wartime restrictions is the one fault with this book, which ably describes and illustrates the various types, con- struction, supercharging, lubrication, etc., of modern aero- engines. An excellent stepping-stone recommended to the serious student before embarking upon a more advanced study of the subject.
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