AIR RESEARCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 185, 7 August 1935, Page 7

AIR RESEARCH.

GIFT TO UNIVERSITY.

Qualified Acceptance at

Cambridge.

HORRORS OP ARMAMENTS

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 12 noon.)

LONDON, August 6.

Prominence is given to the -withholding till October by Cambridge University of Sir John Siddeley's offer of £10,000 for aeronautical research due to the receipt of a notice of non-placet, as it is contrary to usage to submit a controversial grace during vacation.

The notice says that the primary objective of the research is of a military character, the discoveries under which would be utilised in Britain and would be available abroad. Within the University and the world generally there are large and increasing numbers who view with horror the increasing production of armaments.

Resort to arms, and particularly aerial attacks on civilian populations, is condemned by every right-minded person. "We _ are fully alive to the value of aviation for human*; and useful purposes, and Sir John Siddeley's gift should be accepted with the express proviso that it be used solely for fundamental research into the improvement of civil aviation," states the notice.

There are 10 signatories to the notice.

The vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University announced receipt of a gift from Sir John Siddeley on July 6. It was to the extent of £10,000, spread over seven years, its object being to aid development of aeronautical research in the university. Sir John, besides being chairman and managing director of Armstrong, Siddeley Motors, Ltd., is a director of Sir W. G. Armetrong-Whitworth Aircraft, Ltd., also of Air Service Training, Ltd., and A. V. Roe and Company, Limited.

AIR PROGRESS.

Developments from Melbourne

Contest.

FAST BOMBERS AND FIGHTERS.

LONDON, August 6. The "Daily Telegraph" aviation correspondent states that as a sequel to the Melbourne Centenary air race, when interest in speed led a purchaser to hand over to the Air Ministry for research a special aeroplane constructed to his order, the Ministry now has ordered a quantity of new light bombers of the same type. They will be capable of attaining a speed of 275 miles an hour.

Single-seater fighters with a similar speed are nearing their trials.

A feature of these fighters is a new form of sleeve-valve engine notable for increased performance, greater economy, less noise and other improvements in design.