AVIATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 197, 9 August 1930, Page 3

AVIATION

(By

“Wing Tips”)

SERVING THREE MASTERS.

The following article, taken from tho latest issue of “Flight,” should bo found interesting:— To the average uninformed person it is not generally known that the Royal Air Force has to perform various functions. it has also to serve three masters, namely, the Royal Navy, the Army, and tho Royal Air Force itself. That statement sounds paradoxical, but it is not so in reality. The Royal Air Force serves itself by providing the command known as Air Defence of Great Britain and by providing for air control in Iraq, Aden, and the Middle East. ft serves the Royal Navy by provinding the Fleet air arm. or at least part of it. It serves the Army by providing squadrons to work with the troops and for tho troops in Great Britain and in India. _ If our defences had reached an ideal state of preparation, which they have not, the aeroplanes which serve each of these forces would be able to perform all their four functions for each of those forces, at least so far as each of those forces desired to have those functions performed. As a matter of fact, the need does not always arise for fill four functions to be performed. Let us first consider the Royal Air Force proper. The command. Air Defence of Great Britain, contains only squadrons of bombers and fighters, with one squadron, No. 24, known as the communication squadron. It has no squadrons of transport aeroplanes, for the ground transport in Europe is thought adequate tor the purpose. In Iraq and the Middle East it has no need of fighter squadrons, because there are no enemy aircraft there for it to fight. It does need transport in those two commands, and the squadrons of troop-carriers can be used to give a hand to India in an emergency. According to the names given in the Air Force List the squadrons overseas are all either bomber squadrons or Army co-operative squadrons. The troop-carrier aeroplanes are in the hands of so-called bomber squadrons. The actual bomber machines are gradually being supplanted by “gene ral purpose” aeroplanes, and it is not unlikely that before long the Army co-operative squadrons will also receive the same type. What tho R.A.F. in Iraq and the Middle East needs is a type of aeroplane which can be used for medium bombing, for reconnaissance and for photography, for wireless, and for any other odd job which may turn up, including occasional co-operation with ground troops. Turning to the services which the Royal Air Force does for the Navy, we find that the needs are reconnaissance and spotting for guns, bombing and torpedo dropping, and fighting. So far the need for transport has not emerged, but if it does, the squadron of Hying boats will doubtless be able to rise to the occasion.

These flying boat squadrons are not part of the Fleet Air Arm, but they do on occasions accompany a fleet to sea and work with it. They can, in addition, perform an umber of other duties, such as patrol of the coasts mid the seas and bombing. As connecting links between the various parts of the Empire they are the fastest of all vehicles, and they could take high commanders about the Empire in time of war, even as they have transported civil officers about in time of peace. .So far as the diverse functions of aircraft go, the Navy may bo said to bo adequately provided. The Army requires air assistance in Great Britain and in India. Taking India first, the ordinary requirements there are bombing and ordinary Army co-operation. Fighting,, as was pointed out above, is not necessary there because no enemy aircmraft are likely to be encountered.

Transport has only been needed once, namely for the Kabul evacuations, and then Iraq was able to supply tho necessary aeroplanes in a couple of days. In India, therefore, the squadrons are all either bomber squadrons or Army co-operutive squadrons. The distinction ill the title of the individual squadrons will doubtless bo maintained, but it is probable that before long the distinction in the types of machines with which they are equipped will disappear, for both are likely to use the “general purpose” aeroplane. In Great Britain, however, the position is very different, and far less satisfactory. The needs of the Army are far more diverse and far greater than in India, but the supply of air squadrons is much smaller. The Army at Home needs specialised aircraft, suitable for neatly all forms of air work. It may not need large transport aeroplanes, but it certainly needs (1) Army co-operation, (2) bombers of more than one calibre, and (3) fighters to protect the rest while they are doing their jobs. At present, it has only got squadrons of the first category, namely, Army co-operative squadrons. During Army manoeuvres the difficulty is got over by borrowing other squadrons from Air Defence ot Great Britain, but in time of war this would not be possible, at any rate as a regular practice. It may bo taken as universally agreed that any European campaign will open with a war in the air, while armies are mobilising. Lord Trenchard once prophesied that during this air campaign the losses of aeroplanes on both sides would be very heavy. One need not tie Lord Trenchard down to the exact figure which he mentioned, but if he is approximately correct, it is quite certain that the Air Defence Force will have no squadrons to spare for loan to the Army. The present position of the Army with regard to its air arm is so serious that it can only be justified on the grounds that no European war seems likely to break out in the near future. GENERAL NOTES. A toy balloon filled witu hydrogen was released at Caterham, Surrey, England, on May 21st of this year in u competition at a church bazaar. It had a label attached requesting the tinder to return it, and stating where found.. 'Hie label lias been returned from New York, postmarked June 4th, the tinder, Mr M. J. Israel, saying the balloon lauded on tho roof of 107 West bfitli street, Columbus Avenue. The management of the Cosy Picture Theatre, Hastings, invited a number of Hastings members ot the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club to be present on Tuesday evening last at the' screening ot the talkie picture “The Night Hawk.” The action of the manager (Air Foote) was very much appreciated, and thanks is extended to Mr Foote by those members who availed themselves of the kind invitation.

A working bee composed of some of the more energetic members of tho club got to work during last week end and did some salvaging and clearing up of what was left of the wrecked hangars. Flying machines, whether used for defence or civil purposes, do not use the roads and help to wear them out, so why should Aero Clubs have to pay towards the tost of tho upkeep of the roads? Members have to Use tho toads in getting to and from tho aerodromes in tuoir cars, aud, of course, being users, win pay tias mi ; but it will come bard to pay a double tax ou the petrol used for air travel and training for defence purposes. The Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Club is a heavy consumer of petrol, and the Government should be approached in that the petrol supplisa of Aero Clubs should be free of the extra tax of 3d per gallon. Gisborne members report that over £2OOO has already been raised towards the establishing of a municipal aerodrome in that town. Work on the formation of runways has already commenced by ploughing and grading tho area selected.