The Washington times., 1935-03-02
RUSSIA CALLED.
ONLY MENACE
TOU.S.|NA AIR
Soviet Plane Fleet, Already
Powerful, Soon to Exceed
American Forces

HIIleIICdH FOTCeS
Russia is the only nation in the
world which at present threatens
the United States in the race for
supremacy in the air.
With a formidable armada of
the air already available for use
in case of war, the Soviet govern
ment is driving steadily forward
in the development of "air con-
SciousneSS" among the Russian
people and the construction of
commercial aircraft in numbers
surprising any other nation in
Europe.
From the age of 10, children in
Soviet schools are taught the i'm.
portance of aviation and given
elementary instruction in aero
nautics, as part of the govern.
ments program for acquiring
mastery of the air.
Study Is Made
This report, backed up by a
first-hand investigation in other
countries of Europe and supple
mented by information received
from airmen who have been in
Russia, has just been brought
back to the United States by Rex
Martin, assistant director of the
Bureau of Aeronautics, Depart
ment of Commerce. 1t is under
stood that the data gathered in
the course Of several weeks study
Of European aviation, with the
Russian situation as it's highlight.
will be laid before Secretary
Roper next week.
Although other countries have
made no secret of their strength
in commercial aircraft, Mr.. Mar
tin found that no figures are OBJ
tainable on Russia. Not even
France, England and other ma.
tionS which. in case of another
European war, would be threat.
ened by the Russian air fleet, know
the extent of her resources. They
only know that from all of the
information at hand, Russia is
climbing rapidly toward the Amer
lean totals, with the same factors
of great geographic distance,
abundant labor and enthusiasm
for aviation in her favor.
Mr.. Martin made it plain in
talking with The Washington
Times that his studies were not
concerned with military aviation.
He went to Europe to study COM
mercial aviation exclusively.
America in Lead
His report shows that in this
field the United States is far in
the lead among the world powers.
except for Russia, and leads the
latter country by a relatively mar
row margin. AS he put it:
"Russia's strength in CONNER
cial aircraft is likely to be close
to the United States totals"
Everyone familiar with the sub
ject realizes, he indicated, that
the Soviet has taken tremendous
Jump since the 1882 figures
showed 1000 commercial planes
registered and half that number
engaged in regularly scheduled
service.
italy Experimenting
In Italy he found Italian en-
gineers leading those of other ma
tions in experimental work in
aviation design and motors.
Discussing his findings, he said:
"The United States is still
supreme in commercial air
travel, number of planes, pilots
and distances covered. There
is no comparison between the
best Europe can offer and the
routes here.
"In experimental work and
advanced aircraft construction,
however, Europe is we'll ahead
of this country. This is notably
true of the development of the
Diesel engine for aerOnautical
purposes and the utilization of
specially designed liquid-coOled
motors for StratOSphere travel.
The CaprOni factory in Italy is
far in the lead in this develop
ment. They maintain a large
laboratory, and are building q
3,2OO-hOrsepower motor using a
secret cooling liquid with a 500
degree boiling point for great
attitudes.
"CaprOni planes now hold the
altitude and speed records.
"FOr all ordinary flying, how.
ever, l found that American
planes and American motors
were preferred over the best to
be obtained abroad"