DEVELOPMENTS IN
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IERCIAL AVIATION.
How Progress is Being Made in Encoi The Importance of Rapidity in Tra Inter-Continental Transport of Goods. tection with Cettain Consignments.
In the early days of commercial aviation the majority of the aeroplanes used on all the services were converted from war types, and these, by reason of the fact that they were designed for fighting and bombing purposes, were not particularly well adapted to the needs of civil aviation. T'o-day practically all the machines used on the air lines are types which have been specifically built for the purposes far which they are used.
Among the main concerns operating from Croydon Aerodrome are the Handley Page Transport, Ltd., who use aeroplanes of their own construction; the Instone Air Line ; the Daimler Hire, Ltd., and the C.M.A. Air Line, a French concern, and one of the oldest in existence. A great deal of very useful work in connection with air transportation is being carried out by the Lcp Aerial Bureau, of 27 Piccadilly, London W. 1, which. can arrange for the transportation of practically any goods or any number of passengers to almost anywhere in Europe. The regular services now in operation from London are to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Ostend, and to those who are not conversant with 016 the developments that have recently been made in transportation the time-tables published (and which are adhered to as regularly, almost, as are the A.B.C. 'and the Bradshaw) would come as something of a surprise. For instance, no fewer than, nine passenger and goods-carrying aeroplanes leave Croydon every weekday for Paris, the same number, of course, returning each day. The first 'plane leaves at 8.30 a.m., arriving in Paris at 10.35, the last machine taking off from Croydon at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and getting to Le Bourget at 6 o'clock. Thus, practically speaking, there is one" machine every hour.
By through and interconnecting air lines Belgrade, Budapest, Brussels, Constantinople,Marseilles, Strassburg and even Warsaw can be reached, while trips to North Africa can also be arranged.
Compared with the time saved, the aerial fares are now not unduly exorbitant; for instance, a single ticket from London to Marseilles costs 17 guineas, Rotterdam is 10 guineas return, or a single ticket to Constantinople costs 237 16s.,' which is the highest-priced single journey for • which a quotation is given. So much for the passenger side.
Aerial transport as a commercial proposition has triumphantly passed its experimental stages, and the facilities afforded by some of -the larger concerns -for the collection, transport and delivery of goods from England to the Continent show very praiseworthy efficiency and progress. The majority of the big concerns, such as the Instone Air Line, run a fleet of vans—generally the lighter type, the 1-ton Ford being popular—and these will call at any address in the London area-, pick up goods, take them to the aerodrome and the Air Line undertakes all the necessary packing.
In the majority of cases the modern aeroplanes now used are provided with watertight and airtight compartments, which absolutely prevent any damage being done to the load during the trip. On landing, the goods are delivered, again by commercial motor vehicles, to their destinations, and the time saved by this method is well worth the extra cost entailed by air transport.
The goods rate between Paris and. London
on the Handley Page service is is. 10d. for parcels not exceeding 2 lb., 12s. 6d. not exceeding 33 lb., 16s. 6d. not exceeding 44 lb., and over 44 lb. at 5d. per lb., the prices between 2 lb. and 44 lb. ascending by intermediate steps according to the weights. These charges include collection and delivery within a radius of London and Paris, and usually goods are collected and delivered by car the same day.
Some curious loads are carried sometimes on these aerial liners ; for instance, it is no uncommon sight at Croydon to see pedigree pigs or other valuable livestock being transported by aeroplane to France or Holland. In one of our photographs we show a consignment of live chicks—a type of load which it is very difficult to transport safely and without loss of value by methods other than aerial transport.
The Gloucestershire Aircraft Co. are reported to be producing a very ingenious goodscarrying aeroplane. The difficulty of getting bulky goods into the fuselage of an aeroplane sometimes militates against its usefulness, owing to the fact that the space available for the door may be somewhat restricted, due to the cross-bracing and other con structional details. The Gloucestershire Co.'s design provides for a fuselage the tail portion of which can be hinged over at right angles to its normal position when the machine is on the ground, thus giving an enhance-way the full section of the fuselage, through which the largest packages an easily be inserted.
Practically all the air /ince:to-day are fitted with wireless telephones, and every effort is made to ensure the convenience of the passengers. Nor mally, the seats are arranged in two rows down the fuselage or framework of the aeroplane, with a gangway between, this arrangement ensuring a window seat for each ,passenger. Return fare to Paris per passenger is, on most of the services, in the neighbourhood of 212. Lunch can be obtained (5s. 6d.) on hoard the Handley-Page machines, and it is interesting to note that personal luggage up to -30 lb. is carried free, 5d. per lb. being charged for excess weight. Heavy luggage can be sent unaccompanied, by air or mail express, at reduced rates. Some notes On the types. of machines used are of interest. The -Vickers-1741)y, for instance, that is proving itself very popular on the Instone Air Line and the Grandes Expresso Ariens, is a twinengined machine equipped with either Rol!s-Royce or Napier aoro engines, and it makes the journey from London to Paris in 2,4 hrs. to 21 hrs. with 12 passengers. The Daimler Bird, Ltd., exclusively use the D.H.34, a single-engined machine equipped with a 450 h.p. Napicr-Lion. It carries ten passengers, and does the London-Paris trip in 2 ISMS. 5 mins. The Handley Page W.8b. carries 12 passengers and goods, and takes just 2 lir& for the trip.
Just as in the commercial motor world, there are taxi aeroplanes, which can be hired out privately for short flights ; these accommodate two, three or more passengers, fly at 100 m.p.h., and are always available at the Lop Aerial Bureau, The charge is made on a mileage basis, 2s. per mile being the rate of pay.
Thus it can be seen that commercial aviation-. is making steady and definite progress, although it May not be so rapid as was at one time expected.