NATURE — 
[ FEBRUARY 17, 1923 
The Third Air Conference. 
By Prof. L. Barrstow, F.R.S. 
HE Air Conference at the Guildhall, London, 
occupied four sessions—the mornings and 
afternoons of February 6 and 7—the first day being 
devoted to the reading of papers, and the second to 
their discussion. Of the papers read, that of greatest 
interest to men of science was by Sir Geoffrey Salmond, 
the Air Member for Supply and Research on the Air 
Council, on ‘‘ The Progress of Research and Experi- 
ment.’’ Before referring to this paper and the sub- 
sequent discussion, it is desirable to note some of the 
points made by Sir Samuel Hoare, the Secretary of 
State for Air, who spoke immediately after the 
opening ceremony by the Lord Mayor of London. 
It was.pointed out that the new Air Ministry; had 
only been in office for three months and that the time 
had been all too short for the determination of a fixed 
policy. Later speakers emphasised the importance 
of the earliest possible declaration of policy, and were 
not wholly inclined to agree that, so long as the world 
is in a state of confusion and uncertainty, military 
aviation must have the first and principal call on the 
nation’s purse. It was argued that civil aviation will 
have the same relation to the Air Force as the mercan- 
tile marine has to the Navy, and that the most 
economical expenditure of money would lead to a 
rearrangement of the vote so as to give a greater share 
to the commercial aspect. 
It was argued by one speaker that private enter- 
prise would be ready to find the capital for aerial 
transport when once it felt certain of a continuous 
and sympathetic policy on the part of the Air Ministry. 
The Secretary of State for Air had previously said 
that he was trying to develop a consistent civil avia- 
tion policy, and for weeks past had been considering 
schemes for its organic development. 
The Conference was assured that the Air Ministry 
fully realised the importance of research and was 
anxious to foster it within the limitations imposed by 
finance. It is necessary to bear in mind the fact that 
the word “ research ’’ does not mean the same thing 
to all men, but in the sense in which that word is 
understood by men of science, there is a marked im- 
provement in policy. It may be some time before 
the effects of the change are evident in results, for we 
have fallen on evil days, but it is to the good that the 
tide has ceased to ebb. 
The Air Ministry organisation was described by the 
Air Member for Supply and Research in his opening 
paragraphs. He said: ‘‘ Perhaps I may be forgiven 
if I describe to you our organisation for research, as 
I fear it is sometimes misunderstood. In the first 
place, there is the Air Ministry charged with the general 
direction of research. The Air Ministry is advised by 
the Aeronautical Research Committee, either on the 
initiative of the Air Ministry or on the initiative of the 
Aeronautical Research Committee, as to the problems 
to be solved, or as to the methods by which they should 
be solved. A representative of the Aeronautical 
Research Committee works in the Air Ministry and 
has direct access to me on all questions. 
“The Aeronautical Research Committee does in- 
valuable work in investigating all sorts of problems, 
and is wonderfully assisted in its work by the National 
Physical Laboratory and a whole body of scientists 
who give their services free to the nation, as well as 
by the great universities and consulting engineers. 
“These organisations deal with the theoretical 
solution of air problems in the domain of pure research. 
But research cannot stop here ; its practical applica- 
tion has to be considered, and this portion of the work 
is carried out by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at 
NO. 2781, VOL. 111] 


Farnborough and various experimental stations such 
as the Aircraft Experimental Establishment at 
Martlesham, and the Marine and Armament Experi- 
mental Establishment, Isle of Grain. 
“A third organisation also exists, and that is the 
Aircraft and Aero-engine Constructors, who maintain 
most capable designing staffs’who constantly bring 
forward solutions of problems, which enable us to 
step forward. I would be failing in my duty if I did 
not here acknowledge the debt this country owes to 
all these organisations, the joint efforts of which have 
undoubtedly brought our world position as regards 
research to a position second to none.” 
This constitutes the clearest statement of the organ- 
isation yet given, and it will be obvious to readers of 
Nature that research as defined by the Air Member 
for Supply and Research has a much wider range than 
research as understood by men of science. In his 
interpretation, all technical development and experi- 
ment is included, and there is an absence of recognition 
of the usual criterion as to the fundamental or specific 
nature of the inquiry. It is in conformity with this 
definition that the Director of Research in the Air 
Ministry has wholly different functions from the 
Director of Scientific Research in the Admiralty. 
With adequate subdivision of funds and duties the 
matter of definition is unimportant, although the 
effect is the nominal allocation of a large sum for 
research, while in fact only a small fraction is devoted 
to scientific operations. There are marked indications 
of a welcome change, and that the advice of the Aero- 
nautical Research Committee as to need for greater 
attention to fundamental inquiries is being acted on. 
Sir Richard Glazebrook, chairman of the Aero- 
nautical Research Committee, made during the Con- 
ference a special appeal for fundamental research, 
giving as subjects the study of the motion of viscous 
fluids from first principles, the provision for full scale 
research on airships should these again come into 
operation, and the study of the motion of aeroplanes 
in flight. All these forms of inquiry are greatly 
assisted by laboratory experiments and wind channel 
tests on models of aircraft. 
The mathematical treatment of viscous fluid motion 
has not hitherto received any direct recognition by 
the Air Ministry, although the programme of the 
Aeronautical Research Committee leaves an opening 
for the staff of the National Physical Laboratory. 
The inquiry is, however, being fostered by the De- 
partment of Scientific and Industrial Research, and 
by the governors of the Imperial College of Science 
and Technology. Sir Richard Glazebrook asked for 
favourable consideration of such research by the Air 
Ministry. 
The position of airship research was shown by the 
inquiry into the disaster to R38, but, in pursuance of 
instructions from the Air Ministry, the Aeronautical 
Research Committee has been unable to carry out its 
programme. A paper by Commander C. C. Burney, 
on “ The Establishment of a Self-Supporting Airship 
Service ’’ has led to a reopening of the subject and to 
a divergence of opinion between the Air Ministry and 
Admiralty which is generally regretted. It appears 
that the Admiralty needs airships and is prepared to 
pay for them, but that the Air Ministry considers itself 
to be the proper body for supervising their construc- 
tion. While it is hoped that the latter body will prevail, 
it would appear to require a change of policy and a 
real desire to retrace its disastrous past. Sir Alan 
Anderson expressed the point briefly when he asked 
whether it was really necessary to build airships at 
