“ An increasing number of people obtain their pilot certificates and lists of these are still given, although the title of "aviator" is in the bulk of cases somewhat of a courtesy one, since so few keep on flying once they have secured their brevets.
It is as a war machine that the aeroplane has come into its own. The Italian aeroplanes over and over again proved their utility in Tripoli. Although in the Balkan War aircraft were less in evidence than many expected, this may be attributed to the peculiar circumstances of the campaign and also to the scarcity of available machines. ”

“ The increased war utility of aircraft has necessitated an extension of the pages devoted to organisation of military aviation, etc. The details given are by no means as full as I could wish; but all organisations are being so continually changed owing to increased experience that satisfactory data are not very easy to come by.
During the past twelve months or so we have learned at least one or two important things. The mere fact of the possession of aeroplanes by a nation is a military factor of comparatively little importance. ”

“ Every country is now engaged in forming its aerial fleets. How far the naval and military branches will coalesce, or how far they will differentiate remains to be seen. The probabilities, at present, all point in the latter direction, and that just as an army is made up of cavalry, infantry, artillery, etc., and a navy of battleships, cruisers, torpedo craft and submarines, so the sky fleets seem destined to consist of groups of different types of machines, each type designed for some special purpose. ”

“ The air strength of any nation in case of war resides in its efficient flying men and in its own productive capacity. The next war will see aircraft quite as much "contraband" as warships, and the nation which relies upon aerial imports will be foredoomed at once. One month is probably the utmost effective life of an aeroplane on hard active service and it may well be a good deal less. And firms capable of building efficient machines cannot be improvised. ”

“ Took up ballooning at an early age. He was the first to use a petrol motor in a balloon. In 1900 the fifth dirigible constructed by him crossed the Seine. On Oct. 19th, 1901, in No. 6, he circled the Eiffel Tower and won the 100,000 franc Deutsch prize. In 1906 he became interested in heavier than air machines, and began on a helicopter. Abandoning this he built a box kite type of aeroplane, and on October 23rd, 1906, won the Archdeacon prize for a heavier than air flight of not less than 25 metres. ”

“ The damage that a single aeroplane can do to land defences or ships is, however, entirely trivial—at any rate at present.
Hence the aerial war unit already formed in Germany, and likely to be in existence everywhere else ere another year or so has passed. This unit is a dirigible of great offensive powers, associated with a number of aeroplanes presumably intended to defend it and ward off and defeat attack by hostile aeroplanes. ”

“ Military machines.—The 1912 sales of these were:—32 to France; 5 British; 3 Italian; 1 Swedish.
Steering.—The patented control system consists of a wheel mounted on a pivoted lever. The backward and forward movement of the entire system operates the elevator: the sideway movement warps the rear edge of the upper wings, and the rotation of the wheel steers the machine. The latter operation also governs the front wheel of the landing chassis, so that when on the ground the machine can be steered like a motor car. ”

“ The machine must be able to ascend at least 2000 feet in ten minutes while carrying a weight of 600 lbs. including the aviator and passenger, 150 lbs. of gasoline, and extra weight to make 600 lbs. All of the extra weight must be carried on the engine section and not distributed over the wings. (4) The fuel and oil capacity must be sufficient for at least four hours continuous flight. This will be determined by a trial flight of at least one half-hour, measuring the consumption of gasoline while carrying the passenger and weight stated in paragraph 3. ”

“ General Note.—In the early nineties, Professor Langley and the Bros. Wright were experimenting with heavier-than-air machines, but general interest in the subject is quite recent. Though some small dirigibles exist, American attention is mainly devoted to aeroplanes. Ballooning was quite the thing in 1907-11, but has languished.
It is stated that there are certainly no less than two thousand people in the U. S. A. who have built flying machines. The greater percentage of these have been home-made copies of standard machines. ”

“ The naval force at the end of 1912 consisted of 4 hydro-aeroplanes (2 Curtiss and 2 Farman) . The available total of qualified naval aviators was 5.
Finance.
The total amount granted for aviation of the navy in 1912 (fiscal year) was 100,000 yen (£10,000) .
For the year 1913 the estimates amount was 100,000 yen (but not approved yet) .
Pay of Flying Officers.
The special pay for officers employed in aerial work is undecided.
Army.
The army wing is responsible for the dirigible. Aeroplanes are one or two Bleriots, a Grade, 2 Tokogawa, and a Farman. ”

“ In the following pages an attempt has been made to include photographs of all aeroplanes of the past six years, which, for one reason or another, "made history" in their own day.
While many are merely freak machines, which in the light of present knowledge seem ridiculous, the germ of modern practice is to be found in many other aircraft illustrated in this cemetery of dead ideals; and it is worth noting that at least one constructor, who is one of the first in the field to-day, commenced operations with machines which were entirely "freaks." ”

“ Founded by C. Grahame-White, the well-known aviator, who in 1909 commenced operations with a school at Pau. Later this was removed to England, and a general agency for the sale of aeroplanes, etc., established. This developed, and early in 1911 the firm was handling a special British agency for the U.S. Burgess type known as "The Baby." The Hendon Aerodrome was acquired, and a factory established, which has grown continually ever since. In April, 1912, a monoplane to special design was completed. By the close of the same year biplanes of advanced design were constructed. ”

“ Cyr, which was specially selected because the ground is rough and mostly covered with small shrubs: it being held important to train officers from the first to rise and land on ground similar to that most likely to be found in war time. Each station is supplied with large portable wooden-framed hangars covered with canvas. These can be rapidly taken to pieces and re-erected. Each station is supplied with its own special motor transport.
All military machines are provided with a compass and map case in front of the pilot and sketching apparatus in front of the observer. ”

“ Cody flying school, Farnborough. Cody commenced experiments with kites in very early days on behalf of the British Admiralty. Subsequently built the first British Army dirigible, and an experimental Army aeroplane. In 1909, his direct connection with the Army ceased. A Cody I was built in 1908. A Cody II was completed June 1910. The special features of both were: very strong construction, great size (II had area of 857 sq. feet) , ailerons. Later types, except that warping is substituted for ailerons, do not differ very materially except in minor details. All wood construction. ”

“ Normally each motor drives its own propeller through two sets of gearing connected by a Cardan shaft. On stopping one motor, the stopped motor is unclutched from its propeller shaft, which is then connected up by chain drive to the opposite shaft. The running motor is then put on to a "low gear," so that it can make the revolutions necessary for obtaining full power, while the propellers run slower than before. The ratio of "low gear" to "high" is 2 to 1, so that a single motor will be running under its best conditions when well throttled down. ”

“ Our 35 Branch Offices in charge of skilled Salaried Official, our Engineering Staff wholly in the service of the Corporation, our expert Claims Staff everywhere, and the fact that we are the Pioneers and Originators of all the Insurance Facilities now enjoyed by Motorists, enable us to offer something more than money indemnity; we can, and do, protect a motorist in a thousand ways, unobtainable elsewhere, by means of our experience and splendid organisation, and yet we only charge competitive rates of Premiums. ”

“ HOWARD WRIGHT (1908-09) . The first machine in the world in which special attention was paid to securing a stream line body and minimised wind resistance.
HUMPHREY (1908-09) . Earliest British attempt at a hydro-aeroplane; possibly the earliest design ever produced anywhere.
HUNTINGDON (DUNNE II) (1910) . One of the earliest aeroplanes in existence—designed by Captain Dunne about 1905-06, previous to the secret experiments of the British War Office in Scotland, on the Duke of Atholl's estate. Assigned to Prof. Huntingdon in 1910. ”

“ The rear end of the keel is expanded into fixed vertical and horizontal fins, and carries a vertical and a horizontal rudder.
The rear end of the gas bag is fitted with thin fixed planes (compare with the pear shaped or tubular fins of the "Astra" class) .
The cars are provided underneath with an extraordinarily strong conical structure, which takes the shock of striking the ground and distributes it over the whole car.
Aeroplanes are now fitted, one each side of the keel, well forward. ”

“ One point, however, may perhaps be mentioned, and that is that victory or defeat in aerial warfare seems likely to depend upon which side can first destroy the other's bases. A base-less dirigible will not live long. This is likely to lead to very great attention being paid at an early date to anti-aircraft guns and other devices for the defence of aerial bases. ”

“ Evans made a number of exhibitions in the middle West, but had given up flying by summer of 1911.
EWEN (W. H.) British. Head of the School for British Caudron.
"F. A. I." Federation of the leading Aero Clubs of all countries, for control of International Aviation Meets, Pilot certificates, etc., etc. The bulk of certificates were first obtained in France, but in 1910 they were made obtainable in any country from its own Ae. C., under identical rules. No aviator may compete in any International event without a certificate. ”

“ Notes.—Petrol for 5 hours (higher endurances can be fitted) . Specially designed for military work—all steel construction. All parts unwelded to admit of rapid displacement. Clear observation provided for.
Fuselage.—The fuselage is V shaped and constructed of weldless steel tubing in the form of a lattice girder. The main longitudinals are of round section; cross members, oval section. Connections are not welded but made with strong steel clips so that should any member become damaged a new one can be readily arranged. ”

“ The 1912 model is of entirely novel type, a tail first monoplane with a propeller either end of the main planes, and a triangular tail aft. Principal details are:—Length, 34-2/3 feet (10.50 m.) Span, 30 feet (9.15 m.) Height, 12 feet (3.65 m.) Wing frame in three sections with gap between. Motor, 50 h.p., Gnome chain driven. Fuselage, old style; landing chassis on three wheels only, with a single ash skid in front. Covered in engine driving the 31 foot propeller shaft for the 2 propellers. Rear tail consists of 2 fixed planes, a triangular damping plane and a triangular keel plane. ”

“ Piggott Bros. & Co., Ltd., 220, 222 & 224, Bishopsgate, London, E.C. This well-known firm of shed makers built a novel biplane in May, 1910 (details Flight, May 21st, 1910) , and in 1911 a monoplane with enclosed body (Flight, April 1st, 1911) . In 1912, both were disposed of, and the firm is not proceeding with its experiments. It has, however, a staff of skilled mechanics and a great deal of floor space for the construction of aeroplanes to specifications. ”

“ Has been successfully experimenting for a number of years with a staggered quadruplane, and has given the aviation world a number of valuable papers. His aim is to fly successfully with the least possible horse power. For several years he has been making flights with various engines delivering from 5 to 6 h.p. on careful test. The actual thrust has been measured and recorded in late 1911 experiments. ”

“ Military Aviation.
At the end of 1912 there were 6 military aeroplanes (3 Bleriot, 1 Castaibert, 1 Nieuport, and 1 H Farman) —all 1912 models.
Marcel Paillette is director of the military flying ground at the Palomar Aerodrome.
More machines will be added and by the end of the present year it is probable that a very considerable air force will exist. ”

“ There are but a half-dozen live aero clubs worthy the name in America. Three clubs own balloons, which are rented to members for ascensions. Little attempt is made by more than one or two associations to popularise aeronautics, to encourage experimenters, or to indulge in scientific work. ”

“ Making a total of 270 of which number about 200 were war-effectives.
For 1913 there are 200 new aeroplanes building or provided for.
Under the new regulations, military machines must comply with the following conditions:—
Must be of entirely German manufacture, with ample and comfortable seating accommodation for pilot and passenger. Design must permit of fitting bomb droppers and photographic apparatus. Speed capabilities must not be less than 90 kilometres (56 m.p.h.) ”

“ A few civilian aviators are still flying, but in practically every case they are doing so in connection with the business aspect of the question. There is no "sport of aviation" such as the prophets foretold a few years ago. ”

“ Individual builders of copies and freaks have diminished greatly in numbers, and there remains a few well-established manufacturers.
Although inventors are still prolific in the Patent Office and clubs numerous, the general public takes very slight intelligent interest in aviation. The majority of clubs are inactive. ”

“ The effective age of aeroplanes is somewhat of a vexed question, for while one year probably represents the really effective war utility endurance, even in peace time, school life is more or less indefinite and so is ordinary private life. ”