"LEARN TO FLY!"

Shannon News, 12 February 1926, Page 2

"LEARN TO FLY!"

BRITAIN'S NEW SLOGAX. On all sides comes evidence of a new and determined effort on the part of Great Britain to establish herself in the eyes of the world as holding complete supremacy of the air. At the moment her designers are burning under tho recent failure and defeat of her fastest seaplanes by America in tin' race for the Schneider Ctip. She has lost her height aad speed records for land machines; France has s'. cured records for nonstop flights, a;ul the speedy journey of De Pinedo to Austalia and back has taken the gi't off many famous (lights by Ala a Cobham and other Knglishmen wio have accomplished ieng and hazardous journeys. The Air Minister, Sir Samuel J-ioare, has declared that the Schneider Cup defeat is to bo avenged next year it' British brains, skill and money can porsibiy accomplish the feat. Every invention or suggestion that can possibly add to the feafety or .speed of Bri kiln's commercial or military craft is being investigated with a" zeal heretofore unknown rn official circles.' Sir Samuel J.loare/s slogan, "Learn to fly!" is, goir,;,' through the country like a fiery cross. The applications for membership of the new Light Aeroplane Clujs are far more than van be coped -v it.li The British Jmpire is better suited for big dev' lopm'ents in living than any ■ country in the world, and from tin '.-£ clubs" it is hoped will spring i ;\v ideas and new jcrsonncl to 1 uld and man the Kiant'Empire ; i'.--liners of the future. There is uo .oehnical reason why

Bombay should not be brought within four days of London instead of 14; why Calcutta and Colombo should not. be reached in six or seven days instead of 16 or 17; why Singapore should not be reached in eight days, instead of 24, and Sydney in 14, instead of 32. ' With the development of Britain's long-distance commercial air-routes in view, the Air Ministry is instituting endurance flights as part of their training. A fine but little advertised army flight has just been accomplished by three British airplanes under Squadron-leader Coniwgham, which have flown from Cairo to Kano (Nigeria) and back ,a total distance of about 6000 miles. They passed over tropical districts, where ground facilities from a flying point of view are few, and alighted at only seven depots to replenish their fuel supplies . The Air Ministry has been severly criticised lor allowing this flight, to be made with foreign engines, but this was part of the Air Ministry's to test every new thing—thoroughly and adequately, under the most .severe conditions. However, to satisfy the critics, an important R. A. F. flight from Cairo to Ihe Cape will be; undertaken next March or April .with engines and airplanes of all-British design and eon. struction. The objects of the Government are no secret. They aim at the establishment of regular air routes, whether by airplanes or airship, between the capitals of the Empire, the start to be made on the route to India ,and eventually a Cape-io-Cairo route.