Evening star., 1941-05-06
Captured Nazi Plane
Shows Shortcuts
Give Mass Output
Croft Sturdy and Built
We'll, but ToIeronces
Greater Than in U. S.
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.


Nazi Germany has achieved mass
production of warplanes by taking a
number of construction shortcuts"
which are not sanctioned in the
United States, it is revealed by pre-
liminary examination of the cap
tured Messerschmitt ME-110 escort
fighter which has been turned over
to Vultee Aircraft, Inc, according to
a report issued by the company.
Nevertheless, the German fighter
is a sturdy, well-built airplane, on
the whole, and there has been no
stinting of navigational equipment,
instruments, radio or equipment
contrary to many of the reports re-
ceived in this country earlier in the
war.
The Messerschmitt which now is
undergoing minute examination at
the California aircraft factory was
shot down in combat over England
and has been sent to this country
Dy the British Air Ministry. Under
direction of r. w. Palmer, Vultee
vice president in charge of engineer
Ing, a complete analysis of the de-
sign, construction and materials used
In the plane Is being made and the
results will be made available to the
entire American aircraft industry.
Design Simplified.
While the plane at Vultee appar-
emily was built early in 1910, the
ME-l10 first flew in 1887, when
American observers witnessed the
flights of the first production planes.
The preliminary studies show
facts "of definite interest to techni-
clans" from the standpoint of pro-
duction engineering, it was reported.
The German engineers have simpli-
fed the planes basic structural
design to eliminate complicated
assemblies and parts and have
achieved production economy by
loosening up manufacturing toler-
ances in so far as possible"
For example, the close tolerances
required for wing fittings have been
reduced considerably by boring large
attaching holes and using attaching
strips to clamp them in place. In
fitting the wing tips to outer panels,
the holes are bored large enough to
compensate for variations in the
holes in either section of the wing
and special washers are provided
to screw down over the attaching
holes Serrated fittings permit both
lateral and vertical adjustment in
alignment during assembly.
DC Irrltno cotH
'it may be reasoned that German
produced aircraft parts fall consid-
erablv short of the tolerances re-
nuired of American manufacturers.
but are made completely inter-
changeable through the use of the
above compensating devices"
Other Shortcuts.
Rolled and drawn sections were
substituted largely for the extruded
parts customary in American planes
and stampings have replaced forg-
ings on many of the simpler fittings.
The wiring passes through conduits
only where mechanically necessary
for protection and furthermore, in
stead of being bolted to the struc-
ture, as in American practice, ap-
pears to have been merely hooked
in place by use of simple wire
gadgets.
The plane was found to have an
exceptionally fine two-way radio.
The radio operator, also navigator,
operates two cannon from the rear
cockpit. These cannon proved dis
astrous to the Polish railroads dur
ing the invasion, shells from the
guns being capable of disabling
locomotives. Two fixed cannon and
four fixed machine guns fire from
the nose of the plane, which also
contains a camera aperture.
After their first look at the Mes
serschmitt month ago, American
engineers reported that at least four
American-made fighter planes are
equal to the German ship and in
some respects are It's superior. They
named the Vultee, Curtiss and Lock-
heed fighters particularly as being
equal to or better than the famed
German ship.
The two-engined Nazi ship has
a span Of SIS feet, length OF IS feet,
gross weight of $4,000 pounds. 1t
is powered with two 1.150-horse-
power Daimler-Benz engines.