BRITAIN MUST RULE THE AIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19325, 2 June 1925, Page 5

BRITAIN MUST RULE THE AIR

MAJOR-GENERAL SYKES URGES ACTION. Major-General Sir Frederick Sykes, who was Controller-General of Civil Aviation during 1919-22, has an important article in the April issue of the Empire Review on the development of Imperial communication by air routes. Civilisation, he points out, has evolved in ratio to the extension of human mobility. “All forms of surface transport arc reaching their limit. On ocean routes great speed entails vast cost. By a change from the sea to the air 75 instead of 15 knots is obtainable at comparatively small outlay. “A phase is emerging—the highways of the air. If we neglect it, and allow ourselves to take a secondary place in world transit, we shall endanger the unity of the Commonwealth.” OUT OF IT. Sir Frederick goes on to say that England, Australia and South Africa were responsible for the three great flights which demonstrated the coming of air communication —Alcock’s flight across the Atlantic, Ross and Keith Smith to Australia, and Van Ryneveld to the Cape. The United States has achieved the first flight round the world; Portugal has crossed the Atlantic to South America, and France and the Argentine have achieved uninterrupted flights to China. “British aircraft, unsurpassed at the end of the war,” he continues, “hold no place in a list of 50 world's record air performances. It is clear, then, that sound and vigorous action is called for. The time to develop Empire air communications is overdue. “The route over which our initial effort should be applied in Egypt— India—the key to the Imperial system.”

THE TIME-SAVER. Sir Frederick indicates the great saving of time over existing transit times which can be made when air highways are developed. He gives the following table:

(a) Existing transport. (b) Airship or airship and aeroplane. (c) Aeroplane (daylight flying). The cost of establishing such routes, considering the enormous results to be achieved, would be infinitesimal, he says. “It is probable that, had £6,000,000 of the total of £90,000,000 which has been spent by the Air Ministry in the last five years been utilised on a definite route plan, South Africa would by now be within seven days, and Australia within 10 days, of London.

(A) Days. D (B) (C) Days. London to Cairo .... 51—8 9 3 London to Karachi . 17 4J 6 London to Rangoon . 24 7 9 London to Melbourne 32 13 16 London to Mombasa . 18—24 10 London to Capetown . 164 7 11 London to Ottawa 9 7 —