Guest Posted 8 July , 2005 Share Posted 8 July , 2005 is anyone able to tell me which of Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service was formed first. Many thanks John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 8 July , 2005 Share Posted 8 July , 2005 John The Royal Flying Corps was established (by combining the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers and the Naval Air Organisation) on 13 April 1912, and comprised a Miltary and a Naval Wing. Although theoretically part of the RFC, the Naval Wing went along pretty much on its own until 1 July 1914, when it was formally separated and designated the Royal Naval Air Service, a title that had been used unoffically for some time. I hope that this helps you. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 9 July , 2005 Share Posted 9 July , 2005 Hello I have just read that the RN produced an unsucessful airship in 1911 which, I think, predates the first army aviation units with aircraft by a short time. Don't know if they were the RNAS. Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 9 July , 2005 Share Posted 9 July , 2005 Hello I have just read that the RN produced an unsucessful airship in 1911 which, I think, predates the first army aviation units with aircraft by a short time. Don't know if they were the RNAS. Old Tom <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tom The Army established the Balloon Equipment Store (the first British military aviation unit) at Woolwich in 1878; a balloon is an aircraft. The Royal Navy first started experimenting with airships in 1908, and took over the Army's airships in January 1914, six months prior to the establishment of the RNAS. Cheers Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 9 July , 2005 Share Posted 9 July , 2005 Tom a balloon is an aircraft. Cheers Gareth <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Is ballooning classed as flying or is power/control required? Sounds more like floating to me! Does a bubble fly? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 10 July , 2005 Share Posted 10 July , 2005 Phil My Pocket Oxford Dictionary defines to fly as 'move through the air with wings or in an aircraft'; aircraft is defined as 'an aeroplane, airship or balloon'. Cheers Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 10 July , 2005 Share Posted 10 July , 2005 I`ll have to give it to you, Gareth! I tried to find a loophole in the New Oxford Dictionary of English. But failed! Did they ever refer to the units as "Flying Units" when they only had balloons? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 10 July , 2005 Share Posted 10 July , 2005 Phil Not that I'm aware, but the Kite Balloon Sections and Companies were part of the Royal Flying Corps. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 10 July , 2005 Share Posted 10 July , 2005 Kite Balloon Sections and Companies were part of the Royal Flying Corps. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> As Gareth has mentioned the RNAS initially operated the kite balloons; with the first RNAS kite balloon section entering France in May 1915. After 1917 (I think that Force ‘D’ in Mesopotamia was the last land deployment) they concentrated on ship borne balloon companies, I thought ‘aircraft’ was rather like ‘craft’ or ‘vessel’ in naval terms, which covers everything from a rowboat up to a battleship. So aircraft is anything that can carry people into the air, such as helicopters, balloons or planes. As opposed to ‘aeroplanes,' which are winged, but still they are aircraft. Isn't a balloon trip is called a ‘flight?’ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 10 July , 2005 Share Posted 10 July , 2005 Phil Not that I'm aware, but the Kite Balloon Sections and Companies were part of the Royal Flying Corps. Regards Gareth <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So were the Motor Transport Sections presumably, but they didn`t fly! It`s OK, gents, I accept that a balloon flies (in a fashion). I just wonder if the military called their units Flying Corps etc when they only had balloons. The Americans used balloons for observation in the Civil War, but I suspect there might have been earlier use? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 11 July , 2005 Share Posted 11 July , 2005 Phil, You can fly a kite, fly a balloon and fly an aeroplane I think that the usual way to differentiate the first two from the last is that The Kite/balloon are described as LTA = lighter than air craft Regards Michael D.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 July , 2005 Share Posted 12 July , 2005 many thanks to one and all for the info. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 12 July , 2005 Share Posted 12 July , 2005 Phil, You can fly a kite, fly a balloon and fly an aeroplane I think that the usual way to differentiate the first two from the last is that The Kite/balloon are described as LTA = lighter than air craft Regards Michael D.R. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I accept what you say, Michael. It`s just that "flying" implies a good degree of control over the aircraft. You wouldn`t say a balloon observer flew the balloon, would you? And the RFC presumably didn`t grant them pilot`s wings (on the uniform, that is!) Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 12 July , 2005 Share Posted 12 July , 2005 Phil I think that definitions have changed a bit in the past 90 or so years. Balloon observers wore the same winged 'O' as aeroplane observers. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now