§ Mr. SANDYSasked the Secretary for War the number of airships and aeroplanes, respectively, at present in the possession of the War Department; how many of these aeroplanes are biplanes and how many are monoplanes; how many of such monoplanes are being used for practice or instructional purposes, and how many are being reserved for use solely in time of war; how many of the biplanes are being regularly used for instructional or practice purposes; the districts in which detachments of the Royal Flying Corps are at present stationed; and how many biplanes and monoplanes are available for use at each of the stations?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Royal Flying Corps is stationed at South Farnborough, Salisbury Plain, and Montrose. It is not considered to be in the interests of the public service to publish the other information which the hon. Member asks for.
§ Mr. SANDYSalso asked the numbers of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men at present serving in the Royal Flying Corps; whether there are any civilian mechanics at present employed by the 340W Royal Flying Corps, and, if so, how many; and what are the numbers of officers, noncommissioned officers, men, and mechanics at each of the stations of the Royal Flying Corps?
§ Colonel SEELYThe strength of the Royal Flying Corps, Military Wing, on the 1st May, amounted to seventy officers and 583 other ranks; and at the Central Flying School there are six military officers and sixty-eight other ranks belonging to the Royal Flying Corps. There are no civil mechanics employed with the Military Wing or at the Central Flying School.
§ Mr. SANDYSfurther asked the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men on the active list who are in possession of flying certificates; the date on which the first flying certificate was obtained; and whether any changes have been made in the tests since that date?
§ Colonel SEELYOn the assumption that the certificates mentioned are those granted at the Central Flying School, there are sixty-three officers on the active list in possession of such certificates and there are twenty officers who had qualified before the school started; there are seventeen of other ranks in possession of certificates. The first officer to graduate at the school after it was opened on 17th August, 1912, obtained his certificate on 24th August, 1912. The tests have not been altered since last August.