SLUMP IN AVIATION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17395, 4 March 1922, Page 8

SLUMP IN AVIATION.

BRITISH EXPERT'S VIEW. Squadron-leader F. S. Barnwell, one of the foremost British aeroplane designers, has arrived in Melbourne, and will shortly assume duty to the technical staff of the Royal Australian Air Force at Victoria Barracks. Joining the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (now known as the Bristol A via tion Company) in 1911, Squadronleader Barnweil became one ot the best known of British aeroplane designers. He joined the lioyal x-lyrng Corpa m the eariy stages of the war, and afterwards w as attached to the Bristol Company as designer. Owing to the superiority of German airerait, the British Government revoked its decision _ prohibit the designing of by civil aviation firms. and the Bristol. Company was kept busily engaged throughout the war. . „ Altnough civil and military aviation has vastly improved as the result or war experiencfe, conditions in lireat Britain, according to Squadron-leader Barnwell, are not favourable. _ Work on aeroplanes in Great Britain lias been dying slowly since the armistice, ho said in an interview. "The reason is that we have not convinced people with money and influence that the aeroplane is a commercial proposition. Great Britain is unfortunately situated in that resDect. Climatic conditions aro bad. but the roads and raili ways p.re good. and. *th© aeroplane cas to compete with railway and motor traffic. The only advantage in-Great Britain is . that the population is larce, and there are many wealthy people. The London-Paris air services. haye been regular, and tliere is a certain amount of 'air taxi' work, but aeroplane firms ■ have . been £oine down slowly." j'. . "i dn not think there is anything in. the helicopter," Squadron-leader Barntvcll said, in reply to a question whether the helicopter would supersede the aeroplane. "It is rather a bad substitute for a captive balloon! Mathematically, it is not as efficient as the aeroplane. The aeroplane will leave the ground with a thrust equal to onetenth ■of its weight. The helicopter, however, must have a thrust at least equal to its own weight, or it will not rise at all. A certain amount of experimental work has already been done with the helicopter, but if it is perfected, it will be of more military service value than commercial." j ' Asked how the helicopter was regarded by aviation firms. Squadron-lead-er Barnwell replied:— It leaves them cold! There is a great ignorance amiut flight in the minds of the public. It is a great pity that people should become ihopeful about something which' is pot- particularly hopeful. I cannot see the salvation 'of aeronautics in the helicopter I" Referring to:" the statement that an aeroplane service to Australia, >;in which delays would be obviated by merely 'changing engines, was likely ;to bo introduced, Squadron-leader Barnout that the majority of commercial aeroplanes ,in Great Britain were, now designed with an easily'removable* engine-mounting. "It would have been done during the war," _he added, "but we simply had no time to bother about a little detail like that."