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Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19124, 8 December 1933, Page 6

To summarise briefly the progress of British civil aircraft design, from early days to the present time, it may be noted that whereas 4hc first small machines were built of wood, to-day we have entered an era of metal in the construction of our liners of the air, high-grade steels and alloys being utilised in special systems which embody an immense amount of strength with an astonishingly low factor of weight.

As regards motive power we have moved from small machines with one engine to the great multi-motored craft of to-day, the power reserves now available having the effect of eliminating, to all intents and purposes, any risk of a forced landing. la carrying capacity our civil aircraft have developed from machines with a pay-load of only about -'lOOlli to air liners carrying several tons in addition lo their fuel and crew. In speed we have progressed from the 30 miles an hour of early craft to the 120 miles an hour cruising speed and 130 miles an hour maximum of the big monoplanes on our Empire routes; while as for comlorl in Hying there is hardly any comparison between the small, cramped, noisy cabins of the early-type craft and the size, luxury, and silence of llie airliner saloons ot to-day, providing as they do just ns high a standard, in convenience, equipment, and catering as passengers expect in any other form of modern luxury travel.