AIR POWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 1

AIR POWER

Russia is Ambitious STUDY IN SCHOOLS Enthusiastic Fliers By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. Received 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. LORD THOMSON, formerly Secretary of State for Air, in an article in the “Observer,” says it is curious and significant that Russia, in addition to creating a formidable air force, perceives more clearly than any other* Government the essential nature of air power. It is using the State machinery to instil air sense into the Russians.

IT is making the study o£ aviation compulsory in schools, and facilitating adult flying as a pastime. The Ukraine alone has 4,662 aeronautical societies, with a membership of 360,000. Two other aviation societies. with a united membership of two millions, cover 19 air clubs and 1,200 libraries. The air force has 1,500 military aircraft. A national industry has been founded, building machines for the Russians successfully, and specialising in all-metal machines constructed of a new alloy—Koltchou Galuminiuin

—which has a tensile strength of 8,500 Founds a square inch. Russia a few years hence may con trol the Asiatic air routes eastward Italy, it is reported, intends to construct 2,800 military aircraft by 1930. If Moscow makes the Russian peasants air-minded, Italy, France and Germany together will be unequal to Russia’s air power.—A. and N.2J.