The Origins of Airmail in China & Hong Kong 1919-1922

The garage will have a separate aeronautical department which will be headed by Mr. J. Dymond, former pilot instructor in the British Army, who was an instructor at the famous Gosport School of Special Flying, and during the war was a member of the 85 squadron organised by Major Bishop the Canadian VC to oppose Baron von Richthofen’s circus. When the planes arrive, Mr. Dymond will conduct parties of five in larger machines and will demonstrate smaller types. The first machines are expected to arrive here within three months. Possibilities for commercial aviation in China are responsible for the Company’s new department, the management believing that quicker communication between headquarters of business houses in Shanghai and their output offices will create a demand for aerial transportation. Stress will be placed on the newest type of commercial plane, the result of peace-time adaptation of tremendous strides made in aviation during the war. The Central Garage will specialise in the single-seater 30-40 horse-power Avro machine which is equipped with a Greene engine capable of 27 miles to a gallon of gasoline under normal weather conditions, and will also carry Avros with a 90 horse-power engine. The latter type will carry five passengers. (China Press) The makers of the important Fiat motor have appointed the Shanghai Horse Bazaar & Motor Co.Ltd. as their agents in China. The local company is planning to open a branch of its extensive business dealing solely with aviation and its requirements, including the sale of aeroplanes, parts, etc., and it is hoped to have this in operation in the very near future. (North China Daily News) NATIVE INTEREST IN FLYING The press is full of unconfirmed reports, eg that the Government is to raise a loan to pay for the Handley Page machines it has purchased, or to provide aerodromes, or to lay down an air-line, or that there will be formed an Anglo-Chinese Aviation Company to run a service between London and Shanghai, the trip to take four days, etc, etc. Another report, repeated in many papers is of a contemplated San Francisco-Shanghai flight by the Pacific Air Mail Service. Yet another speaks of a Chengtu-Shanghai sir service to be run as a joint Sino-American enterprise. Little more is to be gathered from such reports than that the Chinese like everybody else are awakening to a realisation of the possibilities of civilian and commercial flight.

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