For some time reliance was placed upon foreign
light highspeed explosion motors, but private enterprise was
encouraged, with the result that British Motors comparing
favourably in every respect with the best productions upon the
Continent are now available. Development is still proceeding,
and there is every evidence that in the near future entire
reliance will be placed upon the native motor.
Undoubtedly, as the war progresses, many valuable lessons will
be learned which will exercise an important bearing upon the
design and construction of warplanes. The ordeals to which the
machines are submitted in military duties are far more severe
than any imposed by the conditions of commerce. Accordingly
there is every indication that the conflict upon the Continent
will represent a distinctive epoch in aeroplane design and
construction. Many problems still await solution, such as the
capacity to hover over a position, and it is quite possible
that these complex and baffling questions will be settled
definitely as the result of operations in the field. The
aeroplane has reached a certain stage of evolution: further
progress is virtually impossible unless something revolutionary
is revealed, perfected, and brought to the practical stage.
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