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The Dominion TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1919. PROGRESS IN THE AIR

The air race to 'Australia has no doubt awakened in the people of this country a livelier interest than they had previously felt in the possibilities of aerial development. Many things have conspired to focus attention on this great pioneering venture. Its risks are extraordinary, liegarded simply as an exhibition of human daring and endurance—above all of the dogged courage that persists in spite of all but insuperable difficulties—it has not often been surpassed. The tragic fate of 'some of the brave airmen who entered in the race illustrates only too vividly the risks that each and every competitor was and is called upon to face. Looking at the conditions in which the flight from England to Australia \s being made to-day it may seem'little short of a crime thatairmen are allowed to take such risks, but it is the answer to such a contention that KoRS-SiiiTir and those who to-day are following in his track are pioneers in an enterprise which promises to revolutionise human history. Tho flight to Australia in 135 hours of actual flying time figures boldly in an orer-grow-ing list of achievements which are carrying the world forward to the time when air travel will take as well-recognised a place as sea travel doos to-day, and perhaps will exercise a vastly more important influence on the progress of mankind. All over the world to-day it is. recognised that any nation which wishes to keep abreast of the timen must give full hoed to the air, and the scope it affords for bold enterprise. In many directions the great developments which undoubtedly are in prospect are as yet but lightly sketched, and tentatively planned. There is a wide margin between such a pioneering flight as'lioss-SjiiTH has made from England to Australia, and the organisation of Em-pire-linking routes, equipped with .squadrons of guardian aeroplanes posted for defence, and traversed by air liner's running to schedule liko so many express trains. But oven where tho difficulties to be overcome arc most serious, tho pioneers are blazing the trail and pointing the way, and where opportunity is more obvious it is already being turned to practical account. Already there- arc many air mail services established in Europe and on the other side of the Atlantic, and in November such a service, was instituted between London and Paris. With this service in daily operation, o.\ - co|)t when it is unavoidably interrupted by weather, correspondence to Paris will be accelerated in normal circumstances by about 10 hours, while correspondence for places beyond Paris will normally be accelerated by 24 hours. As compared with existing conditions, there will be a gain of about 2<l hours in I he air transmission of letters from Paris to English provincial towns.

The cost of air mail services is at I present a theme of somewhat wide conjecture, but in the case of the London-Paris service a -{special fee of 6d. per ounce is charged, in addition to the ordinary postage and registration fee. While the aeroplane is at many points supreme it is not everywhere unchallenged. For instance, the American Aviation Mission which visited Britain, France, and Italy this year directed particular attention in its report to the fact that Airships are now building in England which will bo able lo carry five to ten tons of mail in addition to tho necessary fuel and crew, and cross tho Atlantic from London to New York in one-half the time mado by the fastest steamships. England (it was added) is already desirous of organising, with tho United States a Irans-Allaiitic airship lino for majl service which would give a five-day mail service from London to San Francisco. Such a sen-ice is entirely possible at this time, and its inauguration depends only upon adequate encouragement and financial support.

It is, of course, recognised that such ventures are outside the scope of private enterprise undertaken for profit, but in view of the acquisition by the United States of one of the largest and latest of the British airships it may not be long before- the five-day service from London to San Francisco is an accomplished fact. 'British and American authorities seem to be agreed that the most economical way to develop a strong air service for national defence is to encourage the use of aircraft for commercial purposes, and so build up a commercial fleet which would supplement purely military squadrons in time of need. Even in this country of small population on the outskirts of the Empire, what development is possible on these lines demands all possible attention. Sound enterprise is being shown in connection with tho experimental flights that have been inaugurated over possible air mail routes. Liko other countries in and beyond the Empire, New Zealand is bound to do what it can to keep,in touch with modern progress in aviation. Much has been and is being said about tho potentialities of aircraft as the most formidable instrumtnts of attack yet devised by man, and it is undoubtedly true that any country which ignores aviation is neglecting a vital aspect of .defence preparaAt the same time, there is no justification for regarding tho race of progress in aviation as merely the latest form of competition in armaments. The case to the contrary was ably stated a few weeks ago by Sir Frederick Sykes, British Con-troller-General of Civil Aviation.

Aviation (he said) is the antithesis of Chauvinism. Much of the mutual antagonism and mistrust between peoples of different countries has been attributed to lack.of easy inter-communica-tion and consequent misunderstanding. Tho cable and wireless telegraphy havo assisted in the breaking down of this party wall between the nations. Aviation will do more, as it will afford swift opportunities for the intercourse of living personalities and provides a means of fransiwrt that is unimpeded by natural barriers. . . . We must follow up. tho advance that was made . , .

last month when international Hying on an agreed basis was signed by eleven separate Powers, This is the most revolutionary braafe with international tradition since races iirst set limits to tho encroachment of the stranger, and ■when the civilised world is intersected by a system of air routes nations will learn that it is as absurd to declnrc war upon one another as it would be for the citizens of Birmingham to declare war upon tho citizens nf Oiewe. Sonic people may think that General Sykbs leans rather far to tho side of optimism, but it is not morn evident that aviation has added new terrors to war than that it is capable of becoming a mighty agency making for human unity and understanding.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191223.2.20

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 76, 23 December 1919, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,111

The Dominion TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1919. PROGRESS IN THE AIR Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 76, 23 December 1919, Page 6

The Dominion TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1919. PROGRESS IN THE AIR Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 76, 23 December 1919, Page 6

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