BRITISH AVIATION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 March 1929, Page 9

BRITISH AVIATION

STRENGTH OF THE FORCE.

THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMME

STIMULATION OF CIVIL FLYING

(British Official Wireless.) Received 2.45 p.m. to-day. RUGBY, March 7. In the House of Commons, Sit Samuel Hoare, when introducing the Air Estimates amounting to sixteen I millions, said that while expenditure upon air armaments had been bounding up in other parts of the world, the British net expenditure for the fourth year in succession showed an actual decrease. There were four prominent features in the estimates. At the end cl the year the strength of the Air Force would be raised from 75 to 82 squadrons, but even so, it would fall considerably below the strength of certain other Powers. There still remained twenty-one’of fifty-two squadrons that were regarded as the minimum for home and Imperial delence. He claimed, however, that the standard of efficiency had increased greatly, and the auxiliary squadrons had shown themselves so efficient as to justify adding three squadrons to their number in the estimates.

The regular weekly air service to India would begin in a lew months, and lie would be able to make the necessary arrangements for a trunk line from l.olidon to Capetown. He expressed gratification at the co-opera-tion of Foreign countries, permitting routes to traverse tlieir territorv.

Th isum allowed in tile estimates for commencing the African project was purposely sniaiu, because it would take at least twelve months to get the service- regularly operating. The British Government was prepared to- bear its share of the cost, but it considered that the. other Governments concerned should play their part. In that ca-se, it- was prepared, in addition to the subsidy for the Fingi'niid-Egypt route-, to give substantial support to- the- African sections.

A definite provision had been made for a further advance in technical and scientific development of the Air Force. A further advance would he made in the field of metal construction, concentrated attention being given to- the development of the -slotted wing device. Upon the completion of this year’s programme, the whole force, with the exception of four Indian squadrons, would l be -equipped with -a. new type of engines, and the machines of the four Indian squadron® were due for re-armament in 1930.

The Ministry was -concentrating on the demonstration of new 00-to-daie machines for civil transport. Provision was made in the civil aviation vote for stimulation of air sense of aviation, making it easier for yonng men -and women to learn to fly. The grant they were proposing to- give to the National Flying Services Company was entirely restricted to payment -by results, and not the least important condition was the provision, directly or indrect'lv, of one hundred new aerodromes and laming grounds.