THE AEROPLANE IN PEACE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 281, 16 August 1918, Page 8

THE AEROPLANE IN PEACE

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES. (By Major Clement Ingleby.) The war lias caused aircraft production to increase by leaps. and bounds, and has greatly stimulated inventive minds. So far, all this progress lias advanced only military activity; the prosecution of tho war to. a victorious conclusion being the one paramount necessity of our time. As yet we have neither time, energy, or material to spare for the commercial development of aviation. For instance, the military macliine must ..have a quick climb and a big speed; : 'an exceedingly difficult combination since the aeroplane is essentially a compiomise between these two factors. The commercial machine does not require to climb very quickly, and can therefore be constructed for flying speed and large carrying capacity. The commercial aspects of flying are already worth the serious study of British business men. Great Britain lias acquired a certain military superiority, arid, wlten hostilities have ceased she should achieve at least an equal position commercially. The merchant aeroplane will be as essential to her as is the merchant ship.

Fiight lias not yet reached that happy slato when aeroplanes can alight in (he streets nnd draw up at warehouses or front doors. ' Vertical lift, coupled with horizontal speed, is not, yet invented; but it must come. Until then no city of any importance desirous of keeping abreast of the times should fail lo provide itself with an aerodrome. It is necessary to foresee Ihe day when the post ami Customs offices will be situated there, Machines will collect Continental, Atlantic, and Orient mails, taking them to a 'central aerodrome, whence tijey would be transferred to larger machines for flight across the ocean. The lighter, more compact, and valuable goods would be brought direct to the importer's town from the Continent. The Customs question gives food for thought. If a machine can land in almost any field in the United Kingdom, how it is sometimes asked can smuggling be checked. But the question is beset with no insuperr ble difficulties, and may safely be left for the future to solve.

Mr. lludyard Kipling, in a well-known stnrv written before the majority of mimls had become receptive even to the |K)ssibility of aeroplanes as a useful or prac-licnl' channel of commerce, outlines 'what is now regarded as a coming necessity. The idea of higher and lower air levels, tor craft Hying to or from certain localities, would assist in eliminating the danger of collisions in the air; whilst craft passing and overtaking could follow the samo rules of'tho road as ihose which govern the control of ships at sea.

One of Ihe existing difficulties in tho cnmiieri'ial aspect is the cost. This will doubtless be overcome in time, just as it lias been in the case of motor traffic. A drawback to the military machine is (lie large petrol consumption, due to the necessity for high speed and the comparatively small carrying capacity. ,The capacity fur merchant craft call he made larger, and the consumption could probably be reduced, which will obviate continual landings to fill tanks. This will save.time and conduce lo cheaper running. Every ship has on economical steaming, speed at which she will run (lie greatest distance for the smallest coal consumption. So tho aero engine will ba constructed to develop an economical Hying speed.

Aerial pusial service is already an accomplished fuel,. although only in its i.ilaiicy. The developments of it are tfiny to foresee, ami tiiey are many. Tlie piaclinability of passenger services is Jjucoming daily Ji'.ore apparent, though diHieulties have, of course, to be overcome. The quest ion that presents Hie Creates!; problem is the construction and economical development of freight-carry-ing machines. It is in this direction thai: we shall need study, research, and untiring perseverance, lor it is highly nc-cessary that I lie aerial superiority won by the Jiritislrin wir sluxild be retained and expanded by nil legitimate means when tho war ends, and the great period of reconstruction sets in which will decide tiio status and prosperity of peoples and empires, it may bo for many generations to come. Therefore it is that those who are not now occupied exclusively in war work should be occupied in studying and teaching tho elements of aviation. Public understanding is the consummation .to be desired.