What the Paris Aircraft Show Reveals
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THE outstanding feature of the international aero exhibition in Paris, which closes on Sunday, is the concentration • of manufacturers upon bombing aeroplanes. The British exhibits of the Avro, Armstrong-Whitworth, Bristol and Hawker companies include only one transport aeroplane, and that in incompleted form. It is, however, a promising machine.
Made by the Bristol company, it is a low-wing, all-metal, twin-engined monoplane with a cabin for 6-8 passengers, and with a new form of monocoque construction which gives great strength for a given weight. It will be equipped with two of the new Bristol Acquilla 500 h.p. sleeve-valve engines, and we would estimate its cruising speed at 175 m.p.h. The American Breguet 46T, another machine somewhat like the Douglas in form, is present, but only as a " life-size " model. The company makes ambitious claims to performance, although the machine has never flown, Quite likely, however, it will cruise at about 180 m.p.h.
It is a pity that more British trans
port aircraft, especially the de Havilland, Airspeed, Handley Page and Short Brothers machines, are not present, but that is rather because British makers are developing new models which are too early to exhibit. The new Blackburn monoplane, with tubular-spar wing, is one of the British hopes which cannot yet be displayed in public.
Another striking aspect of the French Show is the strong position which Britain now holds in oil-engine development. The Napier-built Junkers 750 h.p. six-cylindered, two-stroke unit stands as tall as a man and is beautifully finished. The only other oil engine that is in an advanced stage is the Bristol Phcenix radial air-cooled unit.
Practically the only air-transport company exhibiting at Paris is Air France.
There is much talk of an aero exhibition in London, and if this comes about there surely ought to be an airtransport operators' section, which could be most impressive.