Effort and Enthusiasm T this time, when all British citizens
arc called upon to make
• greater effort, the aircraft industry may be depended upon to give good measure. Indeed, the necessity to count the cost with particular care has had a beneficial effect upon our technical progress. Because we cannot afford to be prodigal we have exercised the more shrewdness in our judgment of design policy, stepping far enough ahead to reach a market for our products but not so far as to find ourselves without a market while struggling with unfamiliar problems.
On the day following this public appeal for greater endeavour the Comet made a trip from London to Africa and back in half a day. A long road of development lies ahead before this new liner can be earning for the country. In the meantime, however, the de Havilland Companies have re-established the sport business which accounted for the major share of all de Havilland activity before the war, and have, in fact, obtained a large proportion of the total exports of the British aircraft industry since the war ended.
The spur to do better is ever with us and the will is strong. In what department of effort may we discover opportunity for higher efficiency, greater output? Doubtless, it is to the element of enthusiasm, more than to any other, that we can attribute such successes as we have achieved. Enthusiasm will accomplish anything. No barrier can withstand it. From the hard days of 1920 onward to the Jet airliner of today enthusiasm has been the keynote of all de Havilland accomplishment.
If there Is cause for enthusiasm in the task which we have today in band then let us hope that this will have its counterpart in the broader issues over which we have no control.
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