Evening star., 1936-11-26
AIR STRIDES HELD
CLOUDED ABROAD
Gardner of Aeronautical In
stitute, Reports Vast
Building in Secret.

Comparison of the air strength OF
European nations is difficult because
Of the many elements besides numeri-
cal advantage that are held in secrecy
by the governments, says Maj. Lester
d. Gardner, secretary of the Institute
Of Aeronautical Sciences, who re-
turned recently from an air tour Of
Europe. He will not say which Euro
pean nation Is the most powerful in
the air because, he says, no one can
know for sure.
Maj. Gardner does not agree with
;. those who feel that the authoritarian
states such as italy, Germany and the
Soviet are outdistancing the democra-
cies of Great Britain and France in
the air. On the contrary, he says, the
latter nations are beginning aviation
programs that may put them in the
lead.
Building Plans Secret.
Comparison is dificult because of
the huge production facilities in all
!. countries that are building airplanes
and aircraft engines at a rate not
disclosed to visitors" he says.
Suppose one nation does have the
largest number of aircraft. The ques-
ton Immediately arises of whether
they are the fastest. the best equipped
and the most modern. Also are the
factories Of that nation ready to turn
out requirements and capable of keep
ing up with technical progress?"
France is not permitting her aero
nautical standing to be impaired, he
rays. Construction of a great wind
tunnel at Chalais- Meudon, with a
throat as large as that of any in the
world, he considers evidence Of
yFrance's intention to keep to the
front economically.
The British Advantage.
England, of course, has had the
advantage Of continuous scientific and
engineering aeronautical progress for
so years" Maj. Gardner says. Her
aeronautical scientists and engineers
have made some of the greatest con-
N1butionS to aviation. Her civil avia-
ton has extended its routes to all
parts OF the dominions and colonial
possessions.
"England's airplanes and aircraft
- have always been noted for their ex-
cellence of design and construction
In all classes except in air transport
English aeronautical development
has been endeavoring to lead in quail
1ty rather than in numbers. English
spokesmen in Parliament have an
nounced that Great Britain will not
Be content until she has an air force
as powerful as that Of any other air
power. BY her new aircraft industry
program the air ministry plans to
build factories which will produce air
Ocraft engines in large quantities"
Saw Reich Laboratories.
In Germany. although he did not
zee much Of Germany's military avia-
ton and aircraft. Maj. Gardner Wis
tied the new aerodynamical labora-
tories at the Berlin -Adlershof, Goet-
tingen and Berlin Gatow. These, he
says, appeared to have been equipped
during the last three years
Like all Germany's Industrial de-
velopment, the great new aircraft in
dustry which has been created in the
last few years is based on scientific
investigation and research" he re-
ports. Each Of the huge aircraft
factories has most complete equip
ment for testing airplanes and en-
gines. In three years Germany has
made great strides in its aircraft pro-
h,yt ill
years to put into practice or con-
struction the most recent work OF its
engineers and scientists"
U. S. Position Envied.
For those who fear that the United
States is being outdistanced by Euro
pean nations, Maj. Gardner has
cheerful report. Observers with whom
he talked felt that the technical posi-
ton of the United States was to be
envied and admired
I'VE are able to proceed with our
aeronautical development under less
pressure than is evident in Europe
as we are favored by having two great
oceans which up to now have pro-
vided barriers giving the United States
unique protection" he says.
Maj. Gardner was a delegate to
the first meeting Of the Lilenthal-
Gessellschaft in Berlin, the successor
TO all previous aeronautical scien-
tifc societies in Germany. He called
on members of the Institute of the
Aeronautical Sciences in other coun-
tries.