Evening star., 1932-10-23


shafts mounted one within the other.
both propellers being mounted at the
nose Of the plane, one just far enough
ahead of the other to give adequate
clearance
Another remarkable feature of this
unusual engine is the fact that it is
one of the first in the world to produce
more than l horsepower for each pound
of weight Though 1890 horsepower
delivery is claimed, the engine weighs
but 2,050 pounds dry; that is, without
cooling fluid or oil. The ratio of weight
to power is but .73 pound per horse
power.
With this engine the Italians already
have established an unofficial world
speed record and have hopes OF of1-
cially exceeding the British record of
more than 408 miles per hour.
Russian Air Strength Shown.
The world also Is indebted to the
British publication for summary OF
the military air strength Of Soviet Rus
sia, which indicates present military
strength OF more than 5000 airplanes,
which would make the Russians, nu-
merically, one of the greatest air powers
in the world.
BY far the greatest part of the Rus
sian air strength is in airplanes OF the
DH-9A type. known in Russia as the
RIMS. The De Haviland airplane
formed the greater part OF the United
States World War air strength. ana the
DH-9A is a development OF the same
type. There were $500 planes OF TINS
type available in Russia at latest re-
port, according to the article. Tnese
planes were powered with Liberty en-
aith IN,
or In Russia after United States models.
Each plane of this type carries one
Vickers and two Lewis machine guns.
bomb gear and radio set. Four nun
dred of them are mounted on WOODEN
floats for use as seaplanes.
There are 200 RllSsian-bullt R3M-o
all-metal two-seat airplanes, WIN
top speed of l40 miles per hour. Ihey
also have Liberty or Lorraine engines
and carry the same armamentS as 'iie
De HavilandS.
By latest report the Russians also nso
2O0 Fokker and Martinsyde planes, ldo
Junkers high-wing landplanes ana 20 20
Junkers seaplanes. There were oo
Jlnkers K-30's mounting six machlne
guns. two in a revolving turret peiledtr
the fusselage, and 10 Russian piaaiee
novered with three Napier Lion en-
eines each. A four -engine macnlne
was built last year. There were Az low
wing all-metal Russian-bullt mono
planes carrying Liberty motors; W al
wood two-seat biplaneS of high per-
formance and go low-wing single-seat
monoplancs with Liberty engines
Latest available reports showed 3o
Gregorovitch flying boats.
The Red air fleet controls one air
craft factory, producing IL planes
month. and two large repair shops. The
Supreme Economic Council controls
several factories, the largest OF Wnicn
employs 1,750 hands and produced last
year an average of 25 planes per month.
At the Ikar works in Moscow 10 Liberty
and Jupiter type engines were pro-
duced monthly during the past TWO
wears Eighteen engines a month are
produced at another Moscow plant. AT
Taganrog there Is plant which mas
produced Is wooden planes month.
There are II factories supplying the
needs of the aircraft industry in RuS-
sia, according to the article.
Giant New Planes Ordered.
A greatly improved version OF the
largeat cir transport plane i'll use to12y
OH scheduled airline runs i'll the united
States is to make its appearance early
in the Spring. One Of the new planes
will be operated through the National
Capital by Eastern Air Transport ana
four have been ordered, with an option
on two more. for use on Transamerican
Airlines' Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago
lines.
The new airliners are notifications OF
the Curtiss Condors. Instead OF IL pas
sengers they will carry Is, with an IN
crease in mail and baggage capacity TO
$50 pounds. Engineering figures call
for a cruising speed of 140 miles per
hour and q top speed OF 165 miles per
hour. Retractable landing gear will be
a feature. The ships will be biplanes,
but with less wing area than the pres
ent models.
Another innovation in the Transamer-
ican ships will be the substitution OF SO
horsepower air-cooled engines for the
horsepower fiuid-cooled Conquerors
now used on all Condors. Eastern Air
has not decided whether to go to air.
cooled or remain true to fluid cooling
on its new plane. !.
The largest autogiro yet built, closed
cabin model seating four persons. with
baggage, or five without baggage, has
model has a span of so feet and the
gross weight Of the machine runs to
1000 pounds.
In many respects the big windmill
is unique The fixed wings are given
high degree OF Gihedral and sweep,
back. The upturned wing-tips, So
characteristic feature Of previous auto.
giros, have disappeared The intricate
wire bracing of the landing gear has.
given away to a simple three-strut un-
dercarriage without wire bracing. The