THE AIR ESTIMATES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1928, Page 3

THE AIR ESTIMATES

PROGRESS OF AIR TRAVEL. .■ f (Australian Press Association & Sun.) j i (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) i LONDON, March 12. | Sir lL Home in introducing the ; Air Estimates in the Commons point- , ed out that during 1928 both new t airships should lie completed and do- ] ing their flying test*, marking a. note- , worthy event in the history of British i (lying. A vital problem they are try- . ing to solve was quicker Imperial com- , muniention. Ship owners, apparently , for many years to come, would he , incapable of solving the problem as they declare it would not pay to expedite their services on longer routes. Aeroplanes would be invaluable for short journeys but their small range, size and need for landing places in foreign countries, were a handicap. On the other hand, an airship if it , proved safe and dependable could , carry passengers in comfort, and mails in quantity day and night, with a range of two or three thousand miles, and not be obliged to land in foreign countries. If these r—IN could lie achieved, they would ’• incalculable valuable to the Emp<"'. limy might take years to'achieve. but for the r > re • time in tlie history of airships they had coiicentrntedly attacked the pro iImn from all sides. They could probably have built airships withm a vear, but in their anxiety to el.u.iiiate avoidable rush they had spent , three years in research and experiments. He hoped and be .eved tin t airships would show the value of tins study. They had a stronger structure'than their predecessors, move powerful engines and every precaution was taken against i" . Meteorological Departments efforts m three years had gone far in perleeting weather warnings on the mmu airship routes. U had been deeded to make a new agreement with ; ■ perial Airways, based firstly on organisation of weekly mail sertiee which' would bring Delhi w.tl.m seven. and Calcutta lime days f »» London. Secondly a subsidy enabling a company to regularly substitute m s for the old type of machines; tl illy the Government's right to • • - in the Company’s ultimate prosperity. Me could not say when the oeu service to India would begin. It would be built up by stages. There «us still Persia’s opposition to the 'ou - which he hoped was only due to misunderstanding, as unlike oreign companies Britain was not Peking. Persian subsidy and was offering tlum all the advantages ol the se 1 ' Meanwhile lie was investigating the possibilities of an alternative route. AVl.cn the Indian service was opeiut'in<r he believed it would expand m revenue from the expeo.Led ma. s Sir R Honre continued: If the operintents succeeded they would revo utiottise transport, create a new Lilt s! industry, and bring further the cap - tills of the Empire to within a fortnight of London. He was glad to leel i in earning out the experiments. Bntain had the sympathetic support of the Dominions. All were doing wha ’ they could to help either m building l mooring towers or in improving mete--1 rolocdoal services. Regarding comme.- - ciaAir routes lie was asking for more ’ money for civil aviation, chiefly be- ; cause he hoped this year would ...im- - C urnte the biggest civil air route week- ' f v mail service to India. Experience 1 had convinced them that there must 3 he- frequent changes m the OB 6 ’'” t machine engines. For instance m 1- -- 1 the running cost of a ton per mile * was fiftv pence. To-day with the lat--4 ost three engined machine it was only twenty-two pence. In the new type I prime costs were operating apart .rom V standing charges. ff further non et | types were introduced he could toiosec II the. time was not far distant when civil flying would no longer need su'>t tidies This was at present impossible. -- ’ LONDON. March 12. 11 Sir Samuel Home said the parachute 10 lessened fatalities and the invention of slotted wings diminished the risk ol fatalities through Hie loss of control after stalling. This invention is hcinp applied to aeroplanes throughout tic l) "Emphasising the improvement » machines he pointed out the first post war Schneider Cup was won with . ”• speed of UK nnles hourly. In W2, "• There was every hope tha t 0 that at trials at Calshot would pass 3« I’’ lielieved British machines in speed -• load and range of elimh reached liighe Se standard than others. Me are definite ;; S h- ahead in the building of all-met: * .;»«»<-, ami taking a long j„ the provision ot two-men fl>m K bo. tlij'lits. rlv