THE AVIATION AGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19303, 16 April 1926, Page 15

THE AVIATION AGE.

UNIVERSITIES AND FLYING.

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE. " inevitable part OF LIFE." [FROM OUR OWN correspondent.] LONDON. March 10. Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for the Air, went to Oxford to inspect the University Air Squadron, which has been recently established. In the course of a speech at Exeter College Hall, Sir Samuel said it was only a few months ago that the idea took shape of forming two University Air Squadrons at Oxford and Cambridge, and the Air Ministry had not wasted any time in providing the buildings and the necessary organisation for this very interesting experiment. It was not intended to create a military unit, taking its place with the other military units of the Air Force, nor was it intended to provido flying training for undergraduates in term time. What flying there would be would be during the annual training in the summer vacation. Neither, therefore, the nervous patient nor the most conservative don need have the least fear of seeing the members of the squadron "looping the loop" over the High or landing upon college quads. (Laughter.) " I can imagino my old friend Sir Charles Oman interjecting a remark that he has already made to me in the House of Commons. ' In the space of our lives,' ho said to me, 'we have digested bicycles and motors; it is now rather hard to digest aeroplanes as well.' I am not sure that I do not to some extent agree with him, for I should certainly saythough I hope the balance will bo reversed in the next generation—flying has so far done more harm to the world than good. But there, it is; flying has become an inevitable part of modern life, and the need for us is to make the most intelligent use of it, and to try to counteract its destructive power in war by its development for the purposes of peace. It is on this account that I am anxious to make this flight with the new squadron in the humane atmosphere of Oxford, and to bring our work into touch with the life of thought of the university.

" The university has rightly ciaimert to embrace all branches of knowledge, and it is surely not inopportune that it should welcome the entry of a newcomer who, though still young, is full of enterprise and vigour. Perhaps great developments in flying will arrive sooner than we now expect. When I remember that even in the short period of my life no one had ever flown from an aeroplane when I was at New College, when I remember—Sir Charles Oman reminded me—that tho then warden of Now College still wore a pair of spectacles that, upon the advice of his mother, he had bought to protect his eyes against the dangerous speed of railway travelling, I am led to believe that we shall see great developments of flying in the immediate years to come. If this be so, surely the University of Oxford will play the part that it has always plavecl in great national developments. " (Cheers.) The squadron has recently been formed and has a membership of 27 undergraduates. It is laid down that during term there shall be no flying, but a fortnight is set aside at the beginning of Long Vacation during which tho squadron will operate as a unit at a service aerodrome.