AIR DEVELOPMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10640, 13 July 1920, Page 5

AIR DEVELOPMENT

EXHiBITION OPENED IN LON DON. COMPARISONS WITH GERMANY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 10. Lord Londonderry, in opening the International Aero Exhibition, referred to recent alarmist and exaggerated statements concerning «tho air developments in other xlations, especially in Germany. He said that Germany at present had forty-nine undertakings licensed to carry on air traffic. _ These wore nineteen transport companies, of which only two were actually working ; and thirty factories, four of which wore engaged in research work, and two in engine designing. The Allies’ Control Commission had sanctioned _ a few commercial machines of no military value for the purpose of resumption of air traffic in Germany on a small scale. General Sykes, Controller-General of. Civil Aviation, alluded to tho presence of many Dominion representatives as proving the universal interest aroused by aviation. He _ expressed satisfaction with the exhibits, which included tho most modem seaplanes, flying-boats, and ‘‘amphibians.” _ He said: “It is essential' that wo, in a sea-girt Empire, should develop these types of aircraft.” Since April 26th, 1919, when international flying 'was first permitted, air services had. been established between London and Paris and London and Amsterdam; while a Lo ndo n-to- Brussels sendee would shortly ho inaugurated. Ho mentioned tho remarkable fact that throughout the winter months there were only ten days when tho London-Paris service was interrupted. General Sykes gavo the following striking figures:—Number of flights carried cut in tho first year of cavil aviation, 33,933; approximate mileage flown, 734,200 miles; number of passengers carried, 70,000, with only on< fatality; weight of goods transported 116,493 pounds; value of imports an< exports transported by air, £200,000