IN EXPERT'S OPINION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 38, 14 February 1931, Page 24

IN EXPERT'S OPINION

"Plying': An Epitome and a Torecast," by Claudo Grahame-White, is not only a book for tho expert but can also be read with profit by those who merely "wish to know how far exactly we have got in the conquest of the air and where we are lively to get to next. The author stresses the civil aspect of flying rather than its military side, which is natural enough considering his own record in tho air, and he wisely remarks that our conquest of the air is likely to bo a barren one unless we recognise that the art of flight transcends national boundaries and brings us close to friends in foreign lands. It is much more important that people should know that it now costs only 3jd a mile to run a light aeroplane than that they should glorify the fact that there are Air Force machines capablo of flying at 200 miles an hour three miles above sea level. The failure of the British Government to foster a really extended research on aircraft for service over Imperial air routes is deplored. He indicates two main problems in the development of air transport on a large scale. Tho first is tho search for a design which will combine a long range with a high speed and a large paying load. The second is to ensure that passengers who are willing to pay high prices for saving in time are given roomy and comfortable quarters which do not compare too unfavourably with ocean-going accommodation. These requirements are leading, on the one hand, to tho giant flying wing adopted for alighting on water, and, on the other hand,- to tho giant airship. Mr. Grahame-White is convinced that the future lies with the German development of the large flying-boat, at present associated with the names of Junkers, Bumpier, and Dornier. Of tho big airships, Mr. Grahame-White suggests that their luxurious passenger accommodation does not in fact exist; that their airworthiness, navigability, and mooring capabilities in prolonged cruises in rough weather have by no means been established; and that the circumstances of their production have smacked too much of artificial propaganda work. In conjunction with the above may be read "Imperial Air Boutes," by Major A. E. W. Salt. The existing and projected routes which will almost girdl the continent of Australia with permanent air lines, the mail services and forest fire-fighting services of Canada —these alone are sufficient to show that notable developments are likely. The maps of these routes here given are accurate and up to dato, and they seem to point clearly to the probability that most of the shorter linos will be taken up into larger continuous systems. It seems likely that air routes will play a part of outstanding importance in the opening up of British Guiana as of other parts of South America, and it seems reasonable to suppose that these routes will eventually be linked or continued to Trinidad and Venezuela. Other subjects on which this book will be found suggestive aro the coming air line to the Cape, the limitations of tho land awoplane, and tho future of airships and marine aircraft.