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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0323.PDF
Editorial Director G. GEOFFREY SMITH, M.B.E. Editor - -CM. POULSEN Assistant Editor - MAURICE A. SMITH, D.F.C. and AIRCRAFT ENGINEER Art Editor - (WING COR., R.A.F.V.R.) JOHN YOXALL FIRST AERONAUTICAL WEEKLY IN THE WORLD .- FOUNDED 1909 Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices : DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.1 Telegrams : Flightpres, Sedist, London. COVENTRY 8-10, CORPORATION ST. BIRMINGHAM. 2:KING EDWARD HOUSE, NEW STREETTelegrams : Autocar. Coventry. Telegrams : Autopress, Birmingham. Telephone : Coventry 5210. Telephone : Midland 7191 (7 lines). Telephone : Waterloo 3333 (60 lines.) MANCHESTER. 3 : 2« 0, DEANSGATE. Telegrams : Iliffe, Manchester. Telephone : Blackfriars 4412. GLASGOW. C.2: 26B, RENFIELD ST. Telegrams : Iliffe, Glasgow. Telephone: Central 4857 SUBSCRIPTION RATES : Home and Abroad : Year. £3 10. 6 months, £1 10 6. No. 2046 Vol. Llll March 11th, 1948 Thursdays, One Shilling Outlook The House on BombersC OINCIDING with Flight's survey of British and foreign bombers, last Thursday's Commons Debate on the Air Estimates was another glaring symptom of national anxiety for our striking power. Having regard to Defence Regulations, we deliberately refrained in our own review from numerical assessment of Britain's bomber strength, but M.P.s—rugged non- conformists that they are—freely declared their estimates. G/'C. Max Aitken doubted whether we could put many more than one hundred bombers into an operation, but even this meagre valuation seemed encouraging when set against the reckoning of "nearer twenty-five " by Mr. Quintin Hogg. A point which we did feel constrained to make last week was that the Lincoln, fine machine as it is, is Ktrsrally inferior in performance to America's wartime f!^£.', already being joined in service by the greatly superior B-50. Bearing this in mind, the Air Minister's "revelation" that the re-equipment of our bomber squadrons with Lincolns will be completed this year is hardly reassuring, nor does his doubly-hazy pro- nouncement that '' the prospect of jet bombers is in sight," give hope that the quality of our striking force can be improved in under three years. Meanwhile, American squadrons will receive short-range jet bombers and ultra long-range piston-ehgined "heavies," one type, of Brabazon proportions, being capable of carrying 10,000 lb of bombs for 10,000 miles. A. Cdre. Harvey, in his contribution to the Debate, referred to an " interim bomber'' of which he had heard. Certainly a type vastly superior to the Lincoln, with a speed in excess of 450 m.p.h. and capable of penetrating, as Mr. Ward had the temerity to suggest, "beyond the iron curtain," could be built without re- course to unproven jets or even airscrew turbines, and it is earnestly to be hoped, having regard to the grave situation which now confronts us, that the possibilities of such a development will not be overlooked. Foolish Virgins •O NE cannot help being most alarmed by the over- all position of aviation in this country, and, in particular, by the irresponsible and complacent attitude of many of those whose task it is to maintain our strength and prestige. Whether the Government accept it or not, we have commenced an air age, and from now on air matters will continue more and more to influence the life of every individual. The history of this country for centuries past has been vitally linked up with our Navy. Air is now taking over from the sea, and in a world made so much smaller by the speed and freedom of air travel we owe it not merely to ourselves alone to maintain our strength in the air. As a major power, we have a great responsibility to the British Empire, and to those free and friendly neigh- bours who depend upon a strong Britain for balance and stability. In the world to-day we must face the fact that strength is the only near-guarantee of security and the freedom to think and act in our own way. It is the weak who should fear attack. There is neither the need, nor have we the ability at the present time, to launch a vast development scheme in the field of aviation, but it is vitally important that the present policy, which amounts almost to the suppres- sion of the flying movement, be reversed at once. The United States, with its vast resources, has seen fit to institute a co-ordinated, nation-wide movement which will bring aviation into the daily lives of almost every American. Many of the European countries, according to their means, are giving aid and encouragement to everyone interested in flying, from the modellers and glider pilots to the captains of Service and commercial aircraft. Aircraft and the men to fly them, no matter on what sort of duties, cannot be produced overnight. More- over, no continuity of flow from year to year will be possible if the youth of the country, who will in a few years become the producers, operators and crews of the
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