GERMAN AIRCRAFT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 12

GERMAN AIRCRAFT

THE NEW RESTRICTIONS.

The conditions, announced by the In-ter-Allied Aeronautical Commission detarmihing .the character of the aircraft that may Be manufactured in Germany* realise the worst fears entertained by the German aircraft industry, writes the London' Daily Telegraph's aeronautical expert. '■'• The programme .for inland air lines already drawn up will, however, be carried but; and for tHe rest, we may expect to see additions to tho number of manufacturers _who have entered into arrangements" with firms in neutral countries for tho production of their designs. The restrictions, of course, are not for all time, and it is quite possible that' within a year changes will be made. Until January, 1923, Germany, must not extend her air lines outside German territory ; but she has a weapon for retaliation, inasmuch as she can refuse to permit foreign air lines extending across her frontiers. . She could, mi effect, quite easily make such a;prohibition by the simple process of'refusing to provide.aerodrome, and signalling facilities and by declihing to use sufch lines for passengers or freight of any kind; The new regulations' .render useless; all the commercial aircraft designed since the war, except a few that-will be permitted oh the air lines (as was the case last summer). The protest against' the rules takes tliib form of pointing out 'thai:,- whatever, their ostensible reason may bei their affect is to retard tlte commeVcial development of aviation and to put a premiuiii.oil. dangerous machines. Horr Felix Kasinger,, director of the Association of GorJtian Aircraft Manufacturers, asserts .that there is not at. this stage a sharp distinction between Military arid civil aircraft, and that the prohibitions will prevent German designers and inventors from carrying out important experiments for safe flying and . for extending the conquest of the air, He ridicules the idea that freedom of manufacture would have enabled Germany to prepare for war.

"With regard to sea aircraft," he remarked to me,' "of what use are sea aircraft 'for offence without warships or airdraft carriers—in short, without a navy? Ahd Germany has no navy. That condition is absurd. Again, everyone knows that by restrietiijg the power of aeropianos you are not only reducing their power 'of ' offence,. but may be so restricting their .command over tho elements as to make them vinsafe to fly. Aeroplanes riiiist have a reserve of power. Thus,, the International Air Traffic Association laid it -down that it is hot right that the required travelling speed of an aerorilahe is oiily td be obtained by employing the. full power of the engine. Tttothirds of. the total power must be. suflcißnt for cross-country, flying, so that at least one-third is available for dealing with difficult conditions of weather. The new rules, indeed, appear to have been drawn up without' thought of Germany's essential, military helplessness, aiid for the narrow purpose of crippling her industrially. And this., although, the Supreme •Council declared that Germany's economic. life should not bo weakened,, and, again, that tho development of commercial aviation is importaht to the economio life of a nation."

The restrictions ori airship building will have the effect of preventing airship construction in Germany, with tho oiio exception of the big airship to. bo bailt for the United States .Friedriehsha-vcin. German airshin ehginpers and > mechanics mil go abroad, and already preparations are bein» made to begin the construction of Zeppelins in Spain ■ for a service td South .America.