FLYING GAMBLES

Evening Star, Issue 19999, 17 October 1928, Page 3

FLYING GAMBLES

LONDON -PAPER’S- COMMENT . TjjtO;cs(;uo 'Of Gapl.arii CouiTncy.irom the Atlantic has been capped by that ei' the two I’olisli airmen, whoso nn.sncccssrul attempt ■'to cross it followed Ids (says the London 4 Daily Chronido ’ in a leading article). Everyone must he heartily glad that those gallant men have escaped with their lives. But the fate of the two attempts only confirms our strong opinion that, in the present state of flying development, the barren repetition of such enterprises ought to ho frowned upon. It can prove nothing and do no possible good. Some day, no doiibt, flying machines with many, qualities which, ours lack will cross the Atlantic as a matter of course. But the machines of to-day can only cross it by a fluke. Everyone knows this before they start, . in the event of success the _ lucky -ilycp reaps big money a fid a big advertiser ment; but the science of flight gets nothing out of it. In the event of failure the airman either loses his life —in a gamble which morality can hardly justified—or else he is rescued by tiie liners at heavy expense to the shipping companies. On the last point, take Captain , Courtney’s case. The liner Minnewaska received his S.O.S.at 6 a.m., and it was after 7 p.m. that she took him on board. Search and rescue wasted over thirteen hours of her lime. Now,, thirteen hours of the lime of a great liner, representing that much delay to her cargo and passengers and that ranch addition to all her overhead costs, are no trifling matters. The exact figure of cost may bo varied widely by chance factors, but in no event can it be other than a very large one. Is there any reason wliv those who promote the flying gandflos should nob be made financially, 'liable?' - "Onght ridi : '-'some -deposit or some insurance premium to be a condition of starting?,