FUTURE OF AVIATION.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 March 1919, Page 5

FUTURE OF AVIATION.

KEEPING EMPIRE SUPREMACY

ASSISTANCE OF DOMINIONS,

LONDON, February 28,

Discussing the future of commercial aviation, The Times says that MajorGeneral Sykes (Controller of Civil Aviation) did well to insist on the importance of civilian flying. Britain and her Dominions have won a foremost place i war-flying, but the question of maintaining commercial supremacy depends on a number of conditios. ho geographical position of Britain is decisive for sea-borne commerce, but has evident disadvantages of commercial flying, for the sea is a hostile element for flying. The ctentre of civilian flying is likely for may years to be Europe, West Aais and North Africa. Have the B'ritish Dominion Governments, the paper asks, realised that State subsidies arc necessary to k’eop the Empire’s flying supremacy, and to establish 'regular air services? The Daily Mail says Major-General Sykes’s anticipation of a five or six days’ flight will bring Australia as close to Britain as the Eastern American States are to-day. The Empire starts well-equipped in the now flying age. The possession of Egypt is the key to most of the great flying routes, and the time is approaching when it will be the junction of the air routes from East Asia, India, the Straits Settlements, Australia, land South Africa, by which ways the future main Africa, by which ways the future mails will probably pass. The paper concludes:—When the Atlantic is crossed and the Daily Mail £IO,OOO prize is won, we shall approach a stage when heavier than air machines will boldly cross the broadest ocean.