Evening star., 1927-09-12
CZECHS FEED FIGHT PLANES
INTO RESTLESS BALKAN STATES
Lieut.. Col. Davis Finds Flow of Aircraft
Going Into Trouble Regions
ofEurope.

, as the length Of life of an engine Is
one of the determining factors which
throw the balance on the right or
wrong side of the profit ledger in COM
mercial aviation. Usually an engine
has to be overhauled after 800 or 400
hours in the air.
| Until the recent development of the
Wright Whirlwind motor by the
American designer Lawrence the
Czechs thought they led the world
in the staying power and dependa bill
of the Wright engine in the BellanCa
plane. establishing a new record for
| sustained flight in April, caused in
tense interest throughout Europe.
One of the best designers in Czecho-
slovakia admitted to me that he be-
lieved the American radial air-cooled
motor would replace the old N-shared
water-cooled engines, and that this
would be the one great aviation en-.
gine of the future.
For purposes of comparison, one
, might group Czechoslovakia with the
Balkan states, so far as aviation de-
velopment is concerned-particula
in its absorption in the development
of military planes.
On opposite sides Of this dividing
line there are interesting contrasts to
be observed. Germany, paying indem-
mites and stripped of her war estab-
lishment, had to find new sources of
economic life. Money which otherwise
might have gone into armies and fight
ing fleets for sea and air was turned
to the production of new wealth. The
healthful and stimulating effects. of
this were Immediately felt. Not only
greater German unity, but the begin
pjrC of rauv iptorna fiopn1 unoitv xyocc
the results.
Similar commercial activity in the
air on the part Of France, England
and Italy brought a new conception
of European fraternity in economic
life. Technicians Of all these coun-
tries contributed vastly to this result.
in teaching the lesson that a war plane
was one thing and a peace-time plane
another.
German scientists, with their end
less capacity for patient research,
emerged from their laboratories with
priceless discoveries. They are now
deep in the problem of economical
fuel. There is every reason to believe
they will find it. Is it not possible
that the genii of world peace will come
out Of test tube instead of a diplo-
matte conference?
On the other side of the dividing
line are Serbia. Rumania, Bulgaria
and Montenegro, between the Black
Sea and the Baltic. Rich in natural
resources, with land, water power and
minerals in abundance. they are divid-
ed by high mountain ranges and an
cient rivalries and hatredS.
If they have learned anything from
the great war, no one has been able
to discover it. In each case belliger-
ent nationality appears to have been
intensified. And CZechoslovakia is
feeding them fighting planes and
bombers.
Fortunately. the Balkans lie in the
pathways of the great colonial air
routes. On the plane with me from
Paris to Prague was a great French
industrialist on his way to the Balkans
to search out mineral and water-power
concessions.
1t is this kind Of penetration, I be.
lieve. which will pacify the Balkans, if
anything will. My hope, as 1 re-
turned to the air and got a more re.
assuring bird's-eye view, was that
world aviation would develop so rapid
ly that the Balkans, being but a minor
detail of a great world pattern, in
evitably would be pacified and civilized.
(Col. Davis next article will tell of
the experience of his wife and himself
in Vienna during the recent riots, and
of their escape by plane)
Copyright 1927. in All Countries by North
American Newspaper Alliance.