BRITISH AVIATION LAG

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIX, Issue 35, 3 May 1938, Page 8

BRITISH AVIATION LAG

CLOUSTON'S GREAT FLIGHT

"The greatest value of Clouston's flight was its merciless showing up of the defects of British aviation," says a recent issue of "Aeroplane." "These defects—so severely criticised in the Cadman report—are lack of enterprise, foresight, initiative and intelligence," the periodical adds. "The heroes of this performance showed the Empire and the world how mails could be carried to-day. They also showed how the farthermost Dominions could be reinforced to-day by the Air Force, if things v/ere properly organised. * "We can only hope that these lessons will not be lost on those responsible for both the Royal Air Force and civil aviation at the Air Ministry. "The fact that such a shattering performance can be done with an ancient machine is the best possible proof of the need for a general shake-up of British aviation, such' a rj the Cadman report advocated. "Clouston and his co-pilot, , ; Ricketts, deserve full credit f Qjy* having made the world's greatest flight. There have been several j flights around the upper part of the world, but none of these involved the continuous effort or precise navigation which were needed in a :. flight to New Zealand and back." "-jK