SCHOOL OF FLYING.

New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914, Page 4

SCHOOL OF FLYING.

Military aviation is estimated to cost Britain a million' pounds this year. It will probably cost, as a matter of fact, ft good deal more, but, meamvju'lo a million

is a nice round sum. Of this sum the central flying school on Salisbury Plain will absorb a considerable amount. The cost of its " establishment?' "alone will be nearly £ JO,OOO, it, will take a large bite out of the £201,000 set down in the Estimates for "land and buildings," and the aoKwm' contribßt « £W,OOO, as against £25,000 last year. • IJJ'® ceirtraf flying school is ,1 very important ' part o( the "organisation introduced bv the late Secretary of State for War It is also one of the few parts of that organisation Which havo been fortunate enough to escapo serious criticism, "hen it was first propounded indeed the experiment of training, soldiers and sailors together in one school was regarded with a Certain amount of anxiety by those who know how different are the ways of'the two services; - The success'of the experiment, depended entirely on tho personality of the men placed in charge of it. Tho right men were forthcoming, and tho result lias fully justified the adventure. The combination of the two 'Services works admirably, to the mutual gain of both. . The buildings dovotsij to aeronautics consist of gome l(j sJic<Ja of various sizes, Jtfcttiro rooms, offices, erecting and repair shops, 2nd ft meteorological department. The school is organised In four " flights " consisting respectively of 8.E.2?., B°E.Bs Henry farmuns, and Maurice Farnuns. lo each flight-instructor a 'certain number of pupils is allotted. A pupil, as he acquit proficiency,-is shifted from flight to flight, so as to become familiar with the various types of machine .both on-the ground and in the air. The school has at present about forty machines. In addition to" 1 ' those • above mentioned Avros' 'and Shorts have been in use, and there are likely to be Sopwiths before Jong. Tho machines of the -Royal Aircraft Factory appear to be very popular. Tho engines aro at present all foreign, being Gnomes and JRenarilts.

In addition to the permanent buildings already mentioned, living accommodation for officer;* and men is' provided in tho wooden buildings. There is a school for such- of the men as require it. As for recreation, the officers have a squash court, ttfo tenttis 'courts, 'and' a golf course, tho sergeants a billiard table, one tennis court, and football and- cricket grounds.- • But there does-not seem much -time to spare for recreation when a term is in full swing.' 1 " ' On a fine midsummer morning flying begins soon after 3 and lasts' till 8. Thereafter until noon there is work in tho sheds and sjiops. An hour's lecture* is given before lunch. Sleep supervenes from. "2 to 4. From 5 onwards' until dark there is flying. There hid 'been ' Over 3600 hours flown to tho end of last -year. It is perfectly useless 'to rive tho alleged number of miles flown, because it ignores tho wind, but obviously the distance covered is very great,.- -There is no living on Saturdays and Sundays. A 'careful log is kept of-' the career of every machine' dnd online; Arid the' school' does "its' own repairs.' After every 100 hours of flying there is a complete, overhaul, whether the aeroplane has already ' been repaired or not, * *'• —-•