EVERYONE WILL FLY

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 4

EVERYONE WILL FLY

What_iii to bo the future of flying? There cure indications that avialion will gradually become quite an ordinary part of civilian life. Mr T. O. M. iSopwith, whose biplane played, an important part in tbe war, has stated in on interview printed in ibe ‘Ulustrated Sunday Herald 1 (Ixindon) bis views on probabla developmental—- “ it. is easy to prophesy, and very easy to indulge in hot air," said Mr Sopwith. ”My views are the result of experience, step by step, and X can tell you only of what is practicable and reasonable. There is so much wild talk, but still wonderful things will be accomplished, coming about n« naturally as the various developments that have already taken place. “Flying now is very safe. If you take into consideration tho number of "miles or number of hours flown, ami eliminate any smaslws due to war risks or to stunting, you will find that your crashes are almost infinitesimal. The first real thing that is c.lining' in peace wiif be the demand for tho private machine. This is in tbe realm of immediate practical politic*. There will no doubt be wonderful Irmp-disbinca flying and all kinds of stunts, but what about tho thousands of pilots trained for (bo war, and the thousands of others who will rush for machines of their own as soon as flying restrictions are suspended, nud all regulations established. You see, wo can do Paris in two and a-haif hours In docent weather. Tumi, why not do it? Men who drove sporting ears will want sporting planes. There will be a considerable demand, immediately after peace is declared, for machines easy to fly. “TTe .are starting by adapting tbe ‘Pup,’ which did so much pioneer work in fighting, into a two-seater for peace purposes. In■stead of the pilot taking gmi and ammunition, he can take a ps-songer. It is a very light machine, cosy io fly, will not occupy very much space, and will fly 105 miles an bom' at. 10,000 ft, its landing speed being about 35 nines. You can land anywhere with the machine—in a very small I fee! confident that tho sporting motorist will make this his next stage. I cannot cay what the price wilt bo, but loss than a highclass car; I think it will be under £I,OOO. It is not only at home that the demand will be felt. All over the world there will bo an outbreak of private flying, and a machine like tbe one I hive indicated will not be beyond the means of the motorist. “The young man of fashion will think nothing of pushing over to Paris for dejeuner and getting back to dinner. Young pilots are not going back to ibe train or motor car again. Then, almost simultaneously, will arise tbe need for a bigger machine to carry pilot, passenger, and luggage—she business man’s machine. He will require a longer range of flight and mov- comfort. .Such a machine is also under construction. Then will come the demand for machines for varied work, such, for example, a« expiration. An adaptation of iln machine I hnvo been speaking about is already being made. It will bo an amphibian. It will do work where you have a lot of water intervening.** Solent aerial “ yadhtirta-” was suggested. “ I am thinking particularly of bigger work,” said Mr Sopwifh—■“ over big lake oountry__,lp and down ths .Amazon, for example. A type of machine that can be used by forest fire watchers, river patrols, and for exploration. Hut Tam not unmindful of bigger demands still. They can bo satisfied. Tho passenger bus, and so on. As a Proof, com*? «.ncl look at Hus.** JSt Scowitli showed a. monster triplsne, twin-engined, gigantic, but graceful in her lines,_ cleg-ant. This machine was under const ruction as a bomber. “It is designed now to carry about half a dozen passengers. They will neonclo'ed in a. comfortable cabin. There they can play cards, have lunch, look through the portholes at the landscape end sea below, and have the pleasantest of journeys. As everybody In™, the competition an{ development in flying during the war havf been things of wonder to_ +hc whole world It is tho sum of the experience pained by an these that will ho the basis of flying tomorrow. It will not to fancy speculation, Mr Popwith holds.