IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1916, Page 8

IN THE AIR.

BRITISH AERIAL ACTIVITY. One of the remarkable developments of the war is the progress made in military aviation in Great Britain. "The strides made in the last year," says an American writer, "are nothing short of marvellous, and there is little doubt that England to-day has near completion the most wonderful fleet of heavier than air machines in existence, not excepting France. The first base visited was Northolt, where a few months ago there was nothing but rolling, vacant land. To-day long lines of modern hangars border the great field, and there are machine shops for experiments and repairs. At this point are no fewer than 40 of the latest type of 'planes, all used in training raw recruits from the regular army under supervision of some of the world's famous flyers. The training is extremely rigid, and the men are not considered fit for service until they havt had about 30 hours of actual instruction in the air. This is something like seven times the length of schooling the average American pilot receives. If a man cannot show in a very short time that he is capable of making a good aviator he is rejected without ado. There is no time to waste with poor material when first-class men are obtainable." After describing visits to other 'busy establishments, the writer adds: —"Taking into consideration that we only saw a tiny fraction of the aerial service, I do not believe it possible, for-any other nation to overtake the lead which the British so quietly stole on the world last year. And all lias been done with so little sounding of trumpets that it scarcely seems possible. But we shall hear from it later."