AVIATION NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 60

AVIATION NOTES.

Mr Haldane has announced that the British Government proposes to form a regular aeronautical corps such as exists in Germany. It is intended that the balloon school shall become the training school for the new corps. In the course of a few weeks," it is said in well-informed circles, the War Office wilL invite officers of the navy and the army and the Territorial Force who are anxious to take up practical aviation to send in their names. in order that their services may possibly be accepted. A comparison of Mr Haldane's recent statement in the House with /that which he made a vear ago on a similar occasion shows what an enormous advance aeronautics has made; indeed, it f-was clear at that time that the whole question was regarded by the authorities its of very small importance. The recent aero show at Olympia had the "finest collection of flying machines ever assembled. It put the French Salon of last year into the "shade, and at Olympia there was, moreover, a far better assembly of accessories than was seen at the Grand •Palais. Apart from exhibits connected with dirigible ballooning, and with military aeronautics, artillery, etc., the British show was also very much superior to the Frankfort Aero Exhibition of last autumn. The significance of all this is its proof of the fact that Great Britain is at last thoroughly alive to the importance of aerial navigation. She has been slow to wake •up. but is now developing an energy that ■will probably surprise her Continental neighbours. It was a splendid show, with plenty to interest both experts' and the general public.