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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 1271.PDF
AIRCRAFT ENGINEER First Aeronautical Weekly in the World Founded 1909 No. 2259 Vol. LXI. FRIDAY, 9 MAY 1952 ED/TOR MAURICE A. SMITH, D.F.C. ASSISTANT EDITOR H. F. KING, M.B.E. TECHNICAL EDITOR C. B. BAILEY-WATSON, B.A. ART EDITOR JOHN YOXALL Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices: DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.1. Telegrams, Flightpres, Sedist, London. Telephone, Waterloo 3333 (60 lines). Branch Offices: COVENTRY 8-10, Corporation Street. Telegrams, Autocar, Coventry. Telephone, Coventry 5210. BIRMINGHAM, 2 King Edward House, New Street. Telegrams, Autopress, Birmingham. Telephone, Midland 7191 (7 lines). MANCHESTER, 3 260, Deansgate. Telegrams, lliffe, Manchester. Telephone, Blackfriars 4412 (3 lines). Deansgate 3595 (2 lines). GLASGOW, C.2. 26b, Renfield Street. Telegrams, llifft, Glasgow. Telephone, Central 1265 (2 lines). SUBSCRIPTION RATES Home and Overseas: Twelve months £3 3s. Od. U.S.A. and Canada, $10.00 BY AIR: To Canada and U.S.A., six months, S16. IN THIS ISSUE : Marathons—Military and Civil 548 Canada's Aircraft Industry 554 Fastest and Highest - - 556 The Quest for Power - 559 Tapping a New Market 564 Commercial Aviation Commentary - - - 568 Normal and Special Sendees W RITTEN into their aims, objects or charters, many airlines have words to the effect that they will maintain the highest standards and, consistent with economy, seek to increase and improve their services to meet public needs. The first days of the month of May, 1952, will long be remembered for the great innovations which have occurred in furtherance of such pledges. Air-coach, tourist or high-density services, as they are variously called, have become a reality on the all-important North Atlantic route and, for first-class passengers, the first jet airliners have commenced operating to and from South Africa. Both moves represent only the beginning of world-wide route patterns of low-fare and luxury jet services. In a recent issue, Flight recorded with admiration the outstanding achievement of the de Havilland Enterprise in designing and producing the Comet and its power units, and the foresight and skill of British Overseas Airways Corporation in bringing these remark ably high-speed aircraft into public service on May 2nd. Here we turn to the introduction of international low-fare services—a matter of parallel importance in bringing air travel within the grasp of many thousands, perhaps milUons, more people. In 1950 over 31 million passengers were carried by the world's airlines; last year the figure was 39 million, and in the current year at least a similar percentage increase is expected. Last year's figure of 340,000 Atlantic air passengers may be doubled in 1952. Although no more than a start has been made with low-fare services, albeit on an inter national basis, the well-worn cliches concerned with making the world smaller and nations neighbours acquire a new meaning. Individuals or families with only fourteen- day summer holidays now have a chance to see something of the world. The cost of air travel is still very high—the new Atlantic single fare is £96—but a substantial reduction has been made from the £141 of last year. World operators are almost unanimous in their agreement that the introduction of low-fare services is timely. A few have said that, because of the financial difficulties in which most European nations find themselves, because of the possibility of a slump round the corner, and particularly because of the rising costs faced by the airline com panies, the introduction may be premature. But an immense and rapidly expanding airline organization already exists throughout the world, and the sooner the advantage of air travel can be extended to new strata of the peoples the better it must be for all. Some operators will have fleet difficulties, for new aircraft of the right sort, required for passenger services and freighting as well, are very difficult to procure. It is no mean task, moreover, to cut fares when costs are rising. Timely, costly, difficult or not, for the first time regular flying services have started to be offered reasonably cheaply to the ordinary family rather than being virtually restricted to the well-breeched or those travelling on business. Misleading Terms British airlines have long appreciated the importance of names and slogans. Whatever description may be adopted for low-fare services in other countries, we should remember that ordinary people will react to the mental picture conjured up by the name. We may recall the world's first named air service, reintroduced this week by B.E.A.—the always popular Silver Wing London-Paris service first flown by Argosies 25 years ago. On the other hand, "high-density," "third-class," "tourist" and similar terms should be avoided, suggesting as they do austerity, congestion, and even discomfort. Standard, comfortable transatlantic services in large modern aircraft are what the airlines now have to offer, and at new, more reasonable, fares. B.O.A.C. has given the name Mayflower to its new service in this category. It is, we believe, the first-class services to which we have grown accustomed which should now be regarded as out of the ordinary. Everything now depends upon the continued expansion of traffic and on the public maintaining its increasing desire to use the air. The growth in air traffic, especially low-fare services, within the United States — regarded by many people as a good guide to developments elsewhere—has been remarkable. The signs are favourable.
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