Likelihoods and Present Trend of Progress: Non-Stop Glider-Train Carrying Mails Just a little over twenty-five years ago, on July 25, 1909, M. Louis Blériot created aviation history by fying the English Channel from Calais to Dover. To modern ideas of flying this achievement is insignia dcant as can be judged from the fact that on that day 1994 the same Jcourse was flown by a machine in the inverted position. However, when comparisons of equipment jate made Blériot's achievement can Jonly be likened to the first fight of the Atlantic Ocean and other similar feats which to us now oppe risky and highly dangerous.
'M, Bi¢riots machine which was of yhis own design was a high wing monoplane with a span of 245 wing surface of 1806 sq. ft. and was Atted with a three cylinder Anzani engine of nominally 22-25 lip. Actually during the cross Channel Bight the power output at the start was probably nearer 20 lip. and by the -time halt way was reached it cannot have been more than 17 to 18 lip. Fortunately at about that time a shower of rain provided some very necessary water cooling.
The total weight of the machine including pilot and three hours fuel at 37 mph. was 660 Ib. giving a wing loading of approximately 5 1b. per sq.
In those days there was.no Air Ministry to approve designs,' inspect material, and no certificates of airworthiness to put up prices consequently this type of machine could be purchased for £400.
On the 25th anniversary of this famous "fight M. Blériot was in England and was entertained to dinner in the evening together with number of distinguished guests by the Royal Aero Club, For the frst time the Club had the honour of galcriaining the Secretary of, State the Most Honourable the Marquess of Londonderry, and the French Ambassador, M. Charles Corbin. Among those present were many of the pioneers of British Aviation, many of whom have not appeared among aviators for years.
One thing is certain, however, and hat is that the orthodox machine as we know it will not always. remain in prominence. Vast strides are being and will be made with the autogiro or windmill type machine and also with the tailless aeroplane, and it is an open secret that before long particulars of something start-Ving in the latter category will be published by the British aircraft industry. Nor must we forget the helicopter, for although up to present time no really practicable machine of this design has been built, number of ideas are being success: fully developed.
We can reasonably expect that in the next five or ten years high speeds will increase and low speeds will decrease making possible the operation of commercial aircraft from restricted areas in the middle of cities instead of as at present from large aerodromes which of necessity are located some considerable distance from the busy centres using loss of time and revenue, Smuggler Flushed Recently one of the Finnish Coastguards aeroplanes which was patrol Ling the coast in search of smugglers noticed a speed boat in Estonian waters near Eckholm lighthouse, In response to a signal to stop, the boat increased speed and the pilot of the aeroplane opened fire. with a machine-gun. The men in the boat at once started to throw overboard kegs [of alcohol. Two hand grenades ere thrown into the boat from the aeroplane and the motors were put out of action. The men were Jarrested, and evidence showed that there had been 3,000 gallons of alcohol on board. This is no novel Joceurrence in the Baltic, but it illustrates the value of the aeroplane.
'An aerial train' consisting of a biplane towing three gliders, is to attempt a journey between New York and Washington, a glider being slipped at Baltimore and at Philadel-phis. If the post authorities sanc-ion the project each glider will carry 200 Ib, of mails, Modern Progress (Continued from base of last column)
When the progress in aviation [during the last 25 years is considered, we are led to wonder what will be the developments in the next quarter Jof a century. Already we have private owners who use their machines much as cars were used some five years ago and cruise at speeds varying from 120 to 160 mph. Passenger machines with cruising speeds between 160—210 mph. are becoming common, sports planes have speeds in excess of 250 (MBN, and racing machines have reached over 400 mp.
Siberia. 'The road, with its connections, would' traverse, for the most part a thickly populated country, and open' Immenese cattle and wool-trowing. tricts, which are mow isolated from the business world. it would have to be! bultt'in sections, commencing with a fortified town in Western Russia, and ultimately reaching Peking. The Com~ tnission report that, "As an impediment 9 railroad from Europe Asia, the Ural mountains amount to nothing, The Chinese gunboat Chingyuen as taken on board seven Vavasour rifled me, and 2000 shot and shell for Foo
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.