s, and unless the enormous expense is incurred of maintaining
in peace a huge establishment of aircraft and personnel, other methods
must be adopted of possessing both of these available for war while
employed in peace for other purposes.

From the war two new methods of transportation have emerged--the
aeroplane and the airship. To the business man neither of these is at
the present juncture likely to commend itself on the basis of cost per
ton mile. When, however, it is considered that the aeroplane is faster
than the express train and the airship's speed is double that of the
fastest merchant ship, it will be appreciated that for certain
commercial purposes both these mediums for transport have their
possibilities. The future may prove that in the time to come both the
airship and the aeroplane will become self-supporting, but for the
present, if assisted by the Government, a fair return may be given for
the capital laid out, and a large fleet of aircraft together with the
necessary personnel will always be available for military purposes
should the emergency arise. The present war has shown that the
merchant service provided a valuable addition both of highly-trained
personnel and of vessels readily adapted for war purposes, and it
appears that a similar organization can be effected to reinforce our
aerial navies in future times of danger.

In discussions relative to the commercial possibilities of aircraft, a
heated controversy always rages between advocates of the airship and
those of the heavier-than-air machine, but into this it is not proposed
to plunge the reader of this volume. The aeroplane is eminently
adapted for certain purposes, and the greatest bigot in favour of the
airship can hardly dispute the claims of this machine to remain
predominant for short-distance travel, where high speed is essential
and the load to be carried is light. For long distance voyages over
the oceans or broken or unpopulated country, where large loads are to
be carried, the airship should be found to be the more suitable.

The demand for airships for commercial purposes falls under three main
headings, which will be considered in some detail. It will be shown to
what extent the present types will fill this demand, and how they can
be developed in the future to render the proposed undertakings
successful.

1. Pleasure.

2. A quick and safe means of transport for passengers.

3. A quick commercial service for delive