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form of machine； and his first experiments in flight were made with a
triplane equipped with an engine which developed only 9 horse…power。
Later on； he turned his attention to the biplane； and with this craft he
has been highly successful。 The Avro biplane； produced in 1913； was one
of the very best machines which appeared in that eventful year。 The Daily
Telegraph； when relating its performances； said： 〃The spectators at
Hendon were given a remarkable demonstration of the wonderful qualities
of this fine Avro biplane； whose splendid performances stamped it as one
of the finest aeroplanes ever designed； if not indeed the finest of all〃。
This craft is fitted with an 80…horse…power Gnome engine； and is
probably the fastest passenger…carrying biplane of its type in the world。 Its
total weight； with engine； fuel for three hours； and a passenger； is 1550
pounds； and it has a main…plane surface of 342 square feet。
Not only can the biplane maintain such great speed； but； what is of
great importance for observation purposes； it can fly at the slow rate of 30
miles per hour。 We have previously remarked that a machine is kept up in
the air by the speed it attains； if its normal flying speed be much reduced
the machine drops to earth unless the rate of flying is accelerated by
diving； or other means。
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What Harry Hawker is to Mr。 Sopwith so is F。 P。 Raynham to Mr。 Roe。
This skilful pilot learned to fly at Brooklands； and during the last year or
two he has been continuously engaged in testing Avro machines； and
passing them through the Army reception trials。 In the 〃Aerial Derby〃 of
1913 Mr。 Raynham piloted an 80…horse…power Avro biplane； and came in
fourth。
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER XXXVIII The Royal Flying Corps and
Royal Naval Air Service
The year 1912 was marked by the institution of the Royal Flying
Corps。 The new corps； which was so soon to make its mark in the greatest
of all wars； consisted of naval and military 〃wings〃。 In those early days
the head…quarters of the corps were at Eastchurch； and there both naval
and military officers were trained in aviation。 In an arm of such rapid
almost miraculousdevelopment as Service flying to go back a period of
six years is almost to take a plunge into ancient history。 Designs； engines；
guns； fittings； signals of those days are now almost archaic。 The British
engine of reliable make had not yet been evolved； and the aeroplane
generally was a conglomerate affair made up of parts assembled from
various parts of the Continent。 The present…day sea…plane was yet to come；
and naval pilots shared the land…going aeroplanes of their military brethren。
In the days when Bleriot provided a world sensation by flying across the
Channel the new science was kept alive mainly by the private enterprise of
newspapers and aeroplane manufacturers。 The official attitude； as is so
often the case in the history of inventions； was as frigid as could be。 The
Government looked on with a cold and critical eye； and could not be
touched either in heart or in pocket。
But with the institution of the Royal Flying Corps the official heart
began to warm slightly； and certain tests were laid down for those
manufacturers who aspired to sell their machines to the new arm of the
Service。 These tests； providing for fuel capacity up to 4。0 miles； speeds up
to 85 miles an hour； and heights up to 3500 feet； would now be regarded
as very elementary affairs。 〃Looping the loop〃 was still a dangerous trick
for the exhibiting airman and not an evolution； while the 〃nose…dive〃 was
an uncalculated entry into the next world。
The first important stage in the history of the new arm was reached in
July； 1914； when the wing system was abolished； and the Royal Naval Air
Service became a separate unit of the Imperial Forces。 The first public
appearance of the sailor airmen was at a proposed review of the fleet by
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the King at a test mobilization。 The King was unable to attend； but the
naval pilots carried out their part of the programme very creditably
considering the polyglot nature of their sea…planes。 A few weeks later and
the country was at war。
There can be no doubt that the Great War has had an enormous forcing
influence upon the science of aviation。 In times of peace the old game of
private enterprise and official neglect would possibly have been carried on
in well…marked stages。 But with the terrific incentive of victory before
them； all Governments fostered the growth of the new arm by all the
means in their power。 It became a race between Allied and enemy
countries as to who first should attain the mastery of the air。 The British
nation； as usual； started well behind in the race； and their handicap would
have been increased to a dangerous extent had Germany not been obsessed
by the possibilities of the air…ship as opposed to the aeroplane。 Fortunately
for us the Zeppelin； as has been described in an earlier chapter； failed to
bring about the destruction anticipated by its inventor； and so we gained
breathing space for catching up the enemy in the building and equipment
of aeroplanes and the training of pilots and observers。
War has set up its usual screens； and the writer is only permitted a very
vague and impressionistic picture of the work of the R。F。C。 and R。N。A。S。
Numerical details and localities must be rigorously suppressed。
Descriptions of the work of the Flying Service must be almost as bald as
those laconic reports sent in by naval and military airmen to head…quarters。
But there is such an accomplishment as reading between the lines。
The flying men fall naturally into two classespilots and observers。
The latter； of course； act as aerial gunners。 The pilots have to pass through
three； and observers two； successive courses of training in aviation。
Instruction is very detailed and thorough as befits a career wh