Evening star., 1938-12-24
BY EDMUND j. LOWRY.

many OF RuSsia's key industries.
BY EDMUND ]. LOWRY.
CAS- told to Selig Greenberg, of the
Providence Journal -Bulletin)
PROVIDENCE, R. l., Dec. %
(N.AN.Ao-Soviet Russia undoubt-
edly has the biggest air force in the
world today.
While no absolutely exact infor-
nation is available on the air
strength of any country, I would
say from my observation while
working in Soviet aircraft plants
and visiting numerous airtields, from
my talks with leading Russian flyers
and from study of official figures,
that Russia has about 10000 mill
tary planes.
But of these 10000 machines,
5000 were built before 1888 and
virtually all are obsolete by now
and worthless for fighting purposes.
This leaves 1000 planes, of which
another 1000, in addition to the
outdated machines, are grounded
most of the time because the motors
are out of commission and there are
not enough spare parts to put them
back into service. And of the re-
manning 5000 planes, only about
5000 can be considered up-to-date,
flrst-line combat planes.
But for purposes of comparison
with the air forces of other coun-
tries, which probably also count
partly obsolescent machines and
craft which they cannot service at
the moment, let us be generous and
credit Russia with 1000 planes, ex-
cluding only the 5000 machines of
pre-1933 vintage.
How does that compare with the
effective fighting craft of other
countries?
Latest Figures on Planes.
According to the latest available
figures, the great powers range as
follows in military aircraft: Ger
many, 4,500; Italy, 4,200; England
and France, $500 each; United
States, 5000, and Japan, $500.
Quantitatively, Russia is thus far
ahead of any other country. But in
comparing air strengths, quality is
at least as important. 1t isn't the
number of planes that counts most,
but their speed, carrying power and
flying radius. In this respect I be-
lieve the Soviet air force makes a
poor showing. While it has num-
ber of formidable military planes,
most of the Soviet aircraft is me-
chanically inferior For each Rus
sian plane that takes the air there
is at least one in repair. and the
flying life of the average Soviet ma
chine is exceedingly short.
Another important factor to be
considered is how rapidly each ma
ton is able to increase its produc-
ton of fighting aircraft in order to
build up its force and replace OBJ
solescent machines and wartime
casualties. The minute your poten-
tial' enemy starts producing more
and better fighting machines you've
got to be able to match him or ad-
NIT your inferiority.
Inferior in Requirements.
In this respect Soviet Russia is
unquestionably inferior to Germany
Russia can now manufacture about
800 planes year in its own plants.
All authorities agree that Germany
at present is leading the world in
its capacity for aircraft production,
An American expert declared re-
Gently upon returning from visit
to the Reich that the Germans can
now produce up to 5000 planes a
month. While this figure may be
somewhat exaggerated, there is no
doubt that if Germany continues in
creasing her air armaments at the
present rate she will within two or
three years not only overtake but
pass Russia.
Theoretically, Soviet plants can
turn out 5000 planes a year. But
no Soviet plant has ever been known
to be able to produce at 100 per
cent Of capacity and, having worked
in seven of the II Russian plants
manufacturing aircraft engines, I
think 1900 planes per year is an
absolutely top figure.
To get graphic idea of how
short-lived Soviet motor is, We
need only compare the annual pro-
duction figures for the United States
and Russia.
In this country about 5000 fuse
lagos for new planes were built last
year. To service these 5000 new
planes and the 1000 military and
civil craft already in use American
plants manufactured about 5000
motors. This means that after 5000
motors had been installed in the
new planes another 5000 engines
were considered sufficient to take
care OF needed requirements in the
old machines.
Soviet Production.
What was the picture in Russia
during the same year? While $500
fuselages were built, only half of
the number built in this country,
between $4,000 and $4,000 motors
were turned out to keep in service
the new machines and the available
new ones. Soviet motor production
was thus between five and six times
that of the United States, although
only half as many new planes were
built. And still, due to poor work.
manship and inferior quality of
metals, the output was barely suf-
f1cient, because of the need for fire.
quent requirements, to furnish en-
gines for the older machines and
the new fuselages.
Airplane motors are among the
most accurate and delicate mechan-
isms In the world and must work
with clocklike precision. This re-
quires workmanship of the highest
specialization, for which very few
Russians can qualify. That's why
many foreign engineers and fore
men are employed in Russian air
craft factories, but their best efforts
are frequently frustrated by the lack
of mechanical aptitude on the part
Of unframed Russian workers and
their inability to keep in perfect
Shono tho roorhipoc ,,caJ u, tLo