The fifth Aero Show held by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, under the auspices of the Royal Aero Club, opened on Monday last. Before the Show was opened to the public it was honoured by a visit from the King, who, as usual, displayed not only a keen interest in the exhibits, but showed a knowledge of aviation which one wishes extended to all the senior officers of his Services.

One noted with extreme regret the flagrant discourtesy of one exhibitor, a member of the Royal Aero Club, who deliberately remained covered while speaking to His Majesty, and one hopes that further notice will be taken of the incident.

After the King's departure the usual inaugural lunch was held, with the chairman of the S.M.M. and T., Mr. S. F. Edge, in the chair. Lord Tullibardine, chairman of the Royal Aero Club, proposing the toast of British Aviation, thanked the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for the service done by them to British aviation in holding the Show. He said that the amazing progress of the last seven years was due to the motors. Aeroplanes now were in advance of the motors, and it was again the turn of the motor to advance.

The pilots of aeroplanes were being tested as the pioneers never expected them to be. He said that there was no degeneracy in the British race so long as pilots came forward as they did to take the place of those who fell.

General Henderson, in replying, regretted the absence of Colonel Sykes and his squadron commanders, who were today paying their last respects to certain of their comrades.

It was a sign of the times that the reply to this toast had to be spoken by soldiers and sailors. The science of aviation must advance along many lines, but the Services were necessarily cramped in their selection of designs, and so many thought they did not give enough encouragement along other lines, but their duty was primarily that of defence rather than the development of aviation, though he asked whether the progress showed to-day was not in a measure due to the requirements of the Services-a sentiment with which everyone will cordially agree. The better the machines, the better the chance a maker had of selling them.

The Army was now trying to help by giving information as to what was wanted, and makers could go as far in advance of the published tests as they like. The engines did not yet show the advance required, but there was now every prospect of having what was wanted of British manufacture. The Army did not want one record breaking engine to fly 24 hours, they wanted all engines always to fly for three hours.

No other country had advanced so much in aviation in the past year as this country, and we now had better machines for military purposes than any other.

Captain Godfrey Paine, R. N., replying to the same toast, said that there were no better aeroplanes than British machines, and no better pilots. Some people expected perfection in five minutes, and they could not have it. Submarines were not developed in a year. He thought that good pilots

were now in advance of their machines. A good pilot did not want a fool-proof machine, and a bad pilot had better give up flying. Reliable engines were more necessary in seaplanes, for a land flier could always find a good Samaritan to house him, whereas the position of a seaplane pilot adrift in a choppy sea was not at all alluring. He knew that the ardour and zeal of those concerned with aviation was not damped by recent accidents.

Mr. Joynson Hicks, M.P., proposing the toast of The Exhibition, said that he wished to associate himself with the previous speakers in their tribute to those who had fallen. Referring to engines, he said that the makers should resolve to excel all foreign competitors. Aeroplanes would make vast alterations in the pleasures of life as well as in the grim business of war. Who would be so foolish as to set a limit on the developments of the future?

Mr. S. F. Edge, replying, remarked on the great encouragement it was to all to see the King's interest in flying. Mr. Edge said that he had been trying to find out the difficulties of the trade, and undoubtedly there were many. The early success of the motor trade was due to the fact that each buyer could not compare notes with the others and so thought that his own troubles were the worst, otherwise people would not have gone on buying the early motor cars, but as the Services were the only users of aeroplanes, all the buyers knew the faults of every machine.

He appealed to Government Departments to give out small orders which would keep works going, and keep trained men together, so that they could build the ultimate best types when they were evolved. He also suggested, as has often been suggested in this paper, that if Service aviators were allowed to compete in public competitions with civilians, it would stir up public interest and encourage the better class civilians to take up flying as a sport-one may add that it would also make it easier for the Services to obtain money for development. He said that if small engine firms were encouraged with orders they would be able to find someone who knew no better to put up money with which they could make improvements.

He remarked that pilots of aeroplanes should be of a sufficiently mechanical bent to know when their engines were being maltreated. He also appealed for a revision of the prohibited areas, and instanced the hindrance to the aeroplane industry on Southampton Water owing to the prohibition of flying over certain parts. He hoped that a British machine would win the Gordon-Bennett race, as it would certainly bring buyers from other countries here.

After the inaugural lunch, the Show was thrown open to the public, and there was quite a respectable attendance during the afternoon, and one hopes that it will be greatly increased in the remaining week during which the Show remains open.

Hereafter follows a comprehensive description of the various exhibits. Next week it is proposed to deal with constructional details of the machines, and to describe the various accessories and components which are exhibited at Olmypia.-C. G. G.