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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0859.PDF
APRIL 27TH, 1944 FLIGHT THE TANDEM MONOPLANE during the past few years ; it will be of even greater import ance in the later stages of the Pacific war. The Seafire and some new American carrier-borne types now cominajmo service do, of course, make a tremendous difference to the whole picture of sea warfare, but naval demands must inevitably have a deleterious effect on per formance ; probably the only hope of really conclusive tech nical Supremacy in this field lies in originality and the willingness to strike out new paths. Such experimentation, of course, should proceed parallel with more conventional THIS year's Cantor Lecture to the Royal Society of Arts was delivered last Monday by Sir Roy Fedden, who spoke on the subject of post-war civil aviation He covered the subject very thoroughly, dealing at con- .jt siderable length with the many aspects, political and tech nical, which require solution if the British Empire is to take its rightful place in the air. Lord Bennett was in the chair. Sir Roy began by referring to the general apathy of the average Britisher towards the future of civil aviation, but thought that actually the fact that we have so little back ground compared with America, for example, might prove a blessing in that it should enable Us to start entirely afresh. It was, he said, imperative that we should lay down a well- considered policy on airline operation in order to give a strong and virile lead which could be understood and approved by the man in the street both at home and in the Dominions. After outlining pa.-,t history of pre-war international and British civil aviation, Sir Roy turned to future require ments. He suggested five main principles as being neces- p —ary to ensure uniformity in the aerial " Rules of the Road": 1, for 25 years Germany and Japan should be allowed to operate internal feeder lines only; 2, aircraft of any country should have right of innocent passage and of alighting for refuelling or in emergency; 3, bases open to all countries in all territories for refuelling and repairs, including those leased by Britain to America; 4, there should be an air police force from selected nations for main taining peace; 5, there should be international civil control to regulate international rules. Setting Our House in Order For British and Dominion civil aviation Sir Roy sug gested another five points. We should set our house in order and have a policy with our own Dominions; come to agreement with America on broad policy; separate con trol of civil aviation from the Air Ministry and set up a proper civil aviation department; plan a short-term policy for the immediate post-war period and a long-term policy for future requirements. On the broad lines upon which we should plan Sir Roy listed the six most important requirements: Safety; regu larity ; speed ; comfort; cost; frequency He thought many would disagree with his order of importance. What may be termed the non-technical part of Sir Roy's lecture was concluded with a survey of airport require ments. The remaining portions of his lecture dealt with the more technical aspects, such as future trends of aircraft development; types of British airliners—long and short term; the future of the flying boat; fuels and oils; long and short-term policies for power plants; development of major components such as airscrews, undercarriages, pres sure cabins, and the effects of improved materials; radio; light subsidiary aircraft and helicopters. Space is not avail able in this issue to deal adequately with the technical development, but undue fear of abandoning the old and tried methods may lead to disaster, just as surely as can unmitigated faith in new and untried ideas. The design layout I have described has certain features in common with the canard, tailless and tandem-wing lay outs. To prevent confusion I would like to follow Professor Hill's exaxnple with the Pteradactyl and suggest the generic term " Libellula" for all reversed tandem-wing arrange ments. Its resemblance to the insect of that name would help to ensure its correct classification. sections of Sir Roy's lecture, but we hoj?e to refer to them next week. Sir Roy concluded his Cantor Lecture as follows: " In this short review of such a profound and all embrac ing subject, on which even those who have spent their life and are steeped in it cannot truly appreciate how far it will affect the make-up and way .of living oi the people of this globe, it has been impossible to do more than deal with the whole matter in a very sketchy and inadequate way. The problem of civil aviation is one of intense interest, romance and adventure, and it is not an exag geration to say that our future as a nation, and as a power for good in the world, is dependent in no small measure on the way we react and plan in regard to it during the next ten years There are fine opportunities for men with the right training and vision during the next 20 years hi civil aviation, and they will have greater interests and opportunity for endeavour and accomplishment than in the pioneering days of maritime development. " We must ensure that the present and coining genera tions of young British engineers and technicians are properly trained and equipped with the right mental attrib utes to do justice to this great subject. Of equal impor tance is it that we should provide nationally sufficient research facilities to ensure that we in this country can maintain the standard of our equipment for civil avia tion at a level second to none. " The all-important thing now is for the British public to l>e brought to appreciate the full significance of the whole matter, to realise just what is at stake, and to insist upon prompt and wise action by the Government. 1 feel that, to maintain our friendship with the United States. but at the same time to ensure that we get our rightful share of world civil aviation, is of paramount importance, and that to do so may, in fact, govern the future peace of the whole world. If any false step is taken, which might bring about a misunderstanding or a split on the question of international civil aviation, the repercussions will be so great that the prospects of close co-operation between our Empire and the U.S.A. on other matters n the vital years ahead are bound to suffer to a considerable degree. Whereas it would have been foolish for us to have rushed into any ill-considered national decisions on post-war civil aviation without due consideration, 1 believe that we have now reached the stage where the United Nations should get together to thrash out the whole problem of civil aviation without delay. "If, ivS we have been advised by those in authority in both countries, it is possible to hope that we may return to peace conditions in 1945, at least as far as Europe 's concerned, then it is essential that these matters should be wisely and fearlessly dealt with as soon as possible, and it is hoped that this paper has made some smail contribu tion to the subject by setting out some of the main points which affect the vital issues concerned." Future of Civil Aviation Sir Roy Fedden's Comprehensive Review Before the Royal Society of Arts : Anglo-American Agreement Essential
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