NEW BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 21630, 27 January 1934, Page 19

NEW BOOKS

THE ROMANCE OF THE AIR f When Bleriot crossed the English Channel by air in 1909 it was acclaimed as a wonderful feat. It whs indeed a remarkable demonstration of vision and„ technical skill and of daring on the part of the pilot. Few then realised the revolutionary character of the achievement. It was the forerunner of a new means of travel. Who would have imagined that in the short spell of twenty years aircraft would be travelling in security and at great speed from London to the farthest outposts of Empire ? So it has proved. Over every thickly-inhabited part of the globe a network of airways is traversed by these new carriers of passengers and mails and the lighter kinds of goods. The war stimulated flying. Under the urge of a great necessity and intense competition among the. warring nations, aircraft were brought to speedy efficiency that would have taken years to perfect in times of peace. In the developments Britain has played a leading part, and it is an excellent thing at this stage to have placed on record the accomplishments of the Empire’s airmen, designers, constructors, and engineers. Sir Harry Brittain, K.8.E., has rendered this valuable service in a book entitled * By Air.’ Sir Harry Brittain is well known as an enthusiastic Empire builder and as an advocate of an English-speaking union. He, has been associated with air developments since the days when the Wright brothers carried out their experiments, and probably no map is better qualified by practical experience of flying to place on record, with detachment, the various and rapid stages of this new method of transport. Though much space is given in the book to the progress of aviation within the Empire, the author takes no narrow view. He gives a full and generous measure of praise to the accomplishments of the airmen of the Continent of Europe and the United States. In the building of the amazing network of airways in the world, Imperial /Airways, under the driving force, of Sir Eric Geddes and others, and helped by the British Government, has played a conspicuous part. To-day Imperial, Airways maintains regular daily services between London and the principal cities of Western Europe, and weekly services between England, India, Burma, and Singapore, and betwen England and South Africa. Altogether these services cover over 16,000 miles of routes. The machines of Imperial Airways, the author says, are establishing that prestige abroad that was once the pride of the British Mercantile Marine. British workmanship, British engines, and British construction have now conquered the skies, and .even , the . [[Continental nations admit British superiority in aeroplane building. This is borne out by the large orders that have been placed by Bel-, gium, Poland, and other countries with British firms in the last few years. The Schneider Cup contests were also striking examples of British efficiency. It is only possible to indicate the great amount of ground covered in this book. Every phase of aviation is discussed—individual accomplishments and records’, the construction of aircraft and the development of engines, established routes and possible routes, what is being done in Canada, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, matters of political and international importance, and the probable developments of the future. The book is profusely illustrated. It is a valuable record and a tribute to Sir Harry Brittain’s industry and enthusiasm in developments that must have a profound effect on the future of the Empire. The publishers of ‘By Air ' are Hutchinson and Co.. London.