The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-02
Boake Carter
Says:
Air Supremacy
Why Germany ErceIs
We Need 10 Wake Up

'oo'uoo 4of SdSoliHe II ASob
Had American civil aviation
been using oil engines, it would
have spent IS. 432 900 less to cover
the same number Of miles.
American civil aviation lost 81
500 900 in 1886
In those few simple facts lies the
story OF why England and France
will not go 10 war with Germany
at present
In those same simple facts lies
another story-the woefully weak
condition of civil and military
ava ton in the United States.
Sheer stubbornnes. mixed with
politics, graft and lack OF scien-
tific research have combined again
to make the United States a lag
gard in the air.
The French and the British
have learned TO their dismay that
the German air force can run
rings around any equipment either
of the former nations can place
In the air. Furthermore, they
have learned that the German in
dustrial machine can produce
twice as many military planes per
month as the British and French
combined
Authorities of the government
in Washington know the facts of
this story: have been informed of
all the discoveries of the British
and French. But nothing is being
attempted to remedy this static
condition in American military or
civil aviation.
One must go back to 1925 to
find the real beginning of this
story:
In 1925 the German govern
ment began intensive research to
discover what was needed for any
specified nation to obtain control
of aerial warfare
From 1925 to 1880. Germany
never spent a nickel for q plane
with a motor.
BY 1882. the first fruits of seven
years research began to appear
Freight planes, Diesel powered
were put into operation. In 1888
the first oil-powered passenger
planes We're flown. In 1884. the
practical experience gained be-
came translated into bi-motored
ships. In the same year, oil
powered passenger schedules were
being operated from Berlin to
Copenhagen; Berlin to Malmo,
Sweden, and from Berlin to Swift
erland.
In 1885, the first of the four
engined Diesel planes appeared.
each engine $50 Il. II. p, or
total of 5000 horsepower. These
passenger ships of Germany oper-
ated nj one-quarter of cost of
operation of similar passenger
schedules in other nations using
American planes and American
gasoline engines.
All this development. stemming
from scientific and engineering re-
search, was confined in Germany
to civil aviation. This fact at last
caused worriment to the French
government. The air authorities
in Paris wondered why there was
seemingly no activity in German
military aviation.
In 1886 the French appropriated
100000 for the development of
three oil engines for use in aerial
warfare. Furthermore, the French
discovered that the German indus
trial picture had been so revamp-
ed as TO be able to procure 720
war planes per month If neces-
sary. The French found they
could produce but 1877 planes per
month and the British but 207
ships every 30 days
And so they grimly soft-pedal
ed at Munich and simultaneously
rushed to United States aircraft
builders with cries for help.
Seven weeks before the Munich
crisis, the French discovered that
when stacked against three stan
oaiu kaNpihf thi W
oil engines produced Is per cent
more power: could cover the same
distance with 35 per cent less
fuel. allowing. therefore. for IS
per cent greater load for bombs
and ammunition. Furthermore.
they discovered the frontal area of
the German oil engines for mill
tary usage was just under nine
square feet. compared to Is
square feet of frontal area for the
gas engines. This lesser resis-
lance meant the German military
ships. oil-engine powered, were
faster by an average of 81 m. p.
h.. at 800 miles an hour, than any
thing the British. French or
Americans have on hand.
Parallel with the frenzied
French effort to begin research
into the advantages of the oil en-
CINE over gasoline. a small group
in England built an engine. which
was demonstrated to British air
officials. The latter We're dunn
founded to observe this small en-
CINE provide 5 m. p. h. more speed
at 10000 feet than the standard
gasoline engines of most British
military planes; that its rate of
climb was IS per cent better than
gasoline with IS per cent better
fuel economy.
Thus the British and the French
discovered to their horror that the
German bombers were faster than
their pursuit planes.
While other leading countries
have been asleep at the switch,
smugiy content that their eff
ficiency was beyond compare, GER
man engineers and scientists re-
fused to build a plane until they
conducted sufficient research to
give them an answer to the eues-
ton: "Nhat is IL that we need TO