AEROPLANES' FUTURE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 175, 18 April 1908, Page 9

AEROPLANES' FUTURE.

EXPECTED TO. BE AS NUMEROUS AS MOTOR-CARS. Famous aeronautical experts recently gave their lopinion -concerning the flight by Mr. Farman of: a circular kilometre and the'signi-' ficancp oi tho achievement, • ' , "•Mr. Frank Butler,-the famous amateur bal-' loonist, who off erod in 1896. the first, prize 'for aeroplane flights in the shape of the ''Hedges ißutl'er" challenge, cup, .said':—?'. .. / '> "It is a-'remarkable achievement, and-marks t the start.' of' extraordinary. developments. Commercial and national interests' are, involved.- I 1 hiive : mysblf twice seen Mr. Farman'in the air with his 'machine, and a most; wondorful sight; it is.He/'goes along like a , huge; bird,' with tho same. graceful" up arid down motion. • •' .? .■

."Thcso- machines', will be "flying 50, miles ' within a year; within four years tho .'Daily-, , MaiV £10, GOO "prize for.'.a' flight- from-Lbn- • don to Manchester will have beem awarded. It can only bo a fow years before these small flying machines will be as numerous as motor- J cars. .'I know for .a fact that there aro 20 of *■' thorn on« similar lines already in existence in Paris.' It;will bo possible,to construct these simple flying,machines at a cost of £100 each. '. -"At.first they will be used,more or, less for pleasure and. sport. Afterwards business md .national, consiaerations , will arise. , It will be simple and' easy, to cross , from; Calais to i Dover.", - ' -v--..' ' '' . Other, opinions ;aro. as follows:—■■ . . : Hon;-C.-.S.,Rolls:'"The-problem was ' saved•by "the flights of ;th(i Wright brothers ;two .'' 'yoars' a'gb.; . Those'. bohind, the l scenes : knew it was only a matter of timp before''Mr. Far- ■ nian \foiild win tho prizo. 'Great credit is duo 'to M. .Voisin. ithb dosigner of the aeroplane, "' but the chief difficulty of this typo is-that ft will' not stand ;sido gusts. ; - Its .principal uso for a few years will bo military." . Colonel J. L. B. Templer, the well-known Army expert on balloons and-airships: "Mr. Farman's feat is both remarkable and. welcome.- At tho same timo I do not, believe that it has entirely solved the question of flight. Tho aeroplanes will, of course, bo useful in military, work, but I am a believer in tho dirigible balloon. For instance, in tho lifting of weight,'which, is oft-on required, tho" balloon scores; The dirigiblo balloon is thething." . .. - - . Major B. F. S. Badon-Powell, the kite and airship export: "Certainly it is a great triumph, though a. small' advanco on past achievements. .It seems to prove conclusively ' that the aeroplano will. become a practical vehicle in the near futuro, and will be a'bs'o-' lutely invaluable' in war. May England wake ' up!' I should like to see the Government immediately, spend £100,000 on experiments. It would'bo well worth while."''