WEEK-END AIR TRIPS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 7

WEEK-END AIR TRIPS

. SMALL MACHINES AT LOW COST CHEAP FLYING IN FUTURE A lecture on "Aviation and the Possibilities that await the Development of the Aeroplane" was delivered by Mr. ]?. Handloy Page recently in connection with the London County Council's series of lectures on scientific subjects for teachers. ,; Handloy Page pointed out.,that during the war economy in tho cost of ™>ning played no part in the design. Tint since the war is over and peace has broken out," said Mr. Page, "we have had to contend with running a service at a cost commensurate with the number of passengers, and at a price that thev would pay to fly? Everyone is satisfied that the stability" is good; but everyono is not satisfied that the price is low enough for their pocket, or to carry goods,'and our attention has been directed to finding a means whereby economy can be improved and the cheapness of machines increased, and I am pleased to sa/ that we have had very successful results in that direction. "Our experiments have been directed to finding out whether it would not bo possible to fly with smaller 'planes, and one of our interesting discoveries indicates that wo shall be able to uso 'o'anes of at least half the size of the present area." Experiments showed that they would be able to land slower with these smaller'machines, and that with 25 h.p. instead of 100 h.p. they would be able to fly with pilot and passenger, and with enough petrol and oil for five hours at a speed of 100 to 110 miles an hour. Such a machine would co6t from ,£l5O to ,£2OO. "Which means," said Mr. Page, "ihat we shall be a)blo to get a small machine that you can put perhaps in the c.al6hed, and drag it out on a fine Saturday afternoon, so as to take your ovn, or somebody else's, 'best girl'—l was going to say to Paris, but to any destination that you choose—and have a rangei of 500 miles at a cost no greater than that of running a small motor-car." The price of flying from London to Paris mil bo comparable in the future, said the lecturer, to travelling by oirnibus from tho Bank to Charing Cross, though it will be a long time, ahead yet, as at present wo have only tho old typ» of machines. Development, however, would be along the cheaper lines ho had indicated. With the coming of rachines smaller in 6izo and cheaper in cost and running, there can bo no doubt, said Mr. \ Page, that on appeal will bo'mado to a far wider public than can bo made to- ■ day. With the possibility of liaving a i cheap machine, by which one could bo in - Paris in tho afternoon, and at a cost no ' greater than driving a small car, though at a speed ninny times in excess, tho prospects wero very alluring.

"With the enormous production of motor-cars hero and in America and other places," said the lecturer, "the day is not fnT distant when it will bo impossible to move along the. roads; and tliero will toe only one thing left to do if you want to go anywhere, and that is to travel by air. So that those \<ho aro far-«eeing and wish to travel in the futnro will bo now turning their thoughts very attentively not to purchasing an aeroplane*- but to getting accustomed to new means of travelling."