1938-06-04 — Page 8

THE CHIŃA MAIL, JUNE 4, 1938

AIR FORCE PRODUCTION Growing Disparity Between Britain And Germany Effort May Have To Be Trebled

WHETHER THE PLANS NOW LAID WILL ENABLE GREAT BRITAIN TO KEEP PACE IN AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION WITH GERMANY IS THE MOST VITAL CONSIDERATION ON WHICH THE AIR MINISTRY'S PREPARATIONS WILL BE JUDGED.

Scheme "F" for expansion, which has now been superseded, provided for a first-line strength of 1,750 air- craft for home detence by the end or March next year.

known, and this is a matter upon which it is highly desirable that the Air Ministry should make a statement.

A

in

Shortage Of Materials At the present moment the great deal has been done strength for home defenec is 1,560, the past two years; but if, as there so that merely upon that could the is some reason to believe, Germany position appears to be satisfactory. is now able to turn out finished air-

Delayed By Strike

craft at the rate of 300 a month and

But upon closer examination there more, as compared with our 200 a is reason for uneasiness. It was montn, there is a rapidly accumulat- More- recently admitted that a serious ing disparity of strength. Shortage of certain instrumental over, it has been stated that Ger- equipment was, to say the

least, many has the capacity to double her holding up an important side of present output.

training.

Aiter making all allowances, the

it is stated that supplies of this situat.on, in view of Britain's far equipment are now adequate. But greater vulnerability to air attack, an assurance. that this is the case is serious. would be acceptable.

Although the production capacity An even graver aeficiency is that under Scheme, "F" will, we are told, there is reason to believe that a pe doubled in the next six month., proportion of the 1,560 first-line it is suggested in well-informed aircraft for home defence still-line quarters that measures ought to be the guntur.ets for which certain taken to provide for its trebling, classes are designed, and is for or even quadrupling. this reason not to be counted on the enactive strength.

It is also pointed out that 88- surance is necssary that production 'The manuracture of these tur will not be delayed, as it was at rets was partly delayed by a lab- one perid, by shortage of materials. Failure in other directions could our strike, which probably could

"in advance of schedule.”

THE EYES OF BRITAIN OVER EGYPT. Constant air patrols are carried out in Egypt and much of this work is carried out by the R.A.F. from the base at Hellopolis. Machines lined up outside the han- gars at Heliopolis ready for a fight make a striking camera study. (Copyright).

NEW SYSTEM OF DE-ICING PLANES DEMONSTRATED

not have been foreseen; but the easily have been avoided. For eirect of the delay imposes a modi- example, failure of a sub-contract-' fication to the claim that production ing firm to supply certain compon- for the Scheme "F" programme is ents has delayed the production of a new fighter which is to form an

A new method of preventing ice The secret lies with the colloidal Germany is undoubtedly build- important part of our defensive

formation on aeroplanes by the use city is a simple matter, needing only paint. The transmission of electri- ing aircraft at a considerably measures. greater rate than England. How In another case there has been of colloidal metal paint through normal apparatus and connections. much greater is not exactly (Continued at Foot of Next Col.) which an electrical current is pass-

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ROYAL DUTCH AIR LINES AGENTS: JAVA CHINA JAPAN LINE YORK BUILDING, CHATER ROAD. Phong 28015 (Fassage Dept.)

ed, was demonstrated__recently_in London.

GREAT HEAT GENERATED

The power needed for a big air- liner would not exceed 8 h.p., and Although the test was not made it could be supplied by a small under flying conditions, there ap- dynamo, carrying out other sub- peared to be no reason to doubt the sidiary duties in the machine. No efficacy of this method.

important demand would be made The system embodies a new elec- on the aeroplane's engines, for these trical resistance and may have a are not normally run at more than great many applications besides that about 65 per cent. of their full of preventing ice formation on aero- power, and can therefore easily planes.

failure to execute an order for a certain type of training machine.

Increased Personnel

There is an impression that the Air Ministry is caught unprepared |for emergencies of this kind.

spare something for the occasional brief periods of flying in ice-form- ing conditions.

A current of only 25 volts is re- quired, but the heat obtainable may be as high as 600deg Cent. Even this great heat does not injure the metallised paint.

The method can be applied, it is claimed, not only to the leading edges of the wings, but to propellers, Provision of the greatly increas- control members, wireless aerials ed personnel which the scheme will and other parts.

need will not be a simple matter.

So far it has not been necessary

Already there are long waiting

to lower the physical or other standards for admission to the Air Force; and, despite competing de- lists of flight pupils who have been mands for the other Services, there accepted for training in the Volun- need not, perhaps, be any anxiety teer Reserve and certain other on this score. Whether the present branches; and there is a large num- organisation of the Air Force is ber of subsidised flying clubs, the capable of dealing with the great machines and instructors of which influx demanded is another matter, have but little to do during five days

There must be a much bigger in the week.

intake of aircraft apprentices. Hal- The suggestion, supported though ton and the smaller schools are it was on all sides, that the. Air full. There is a new and very big Ministry should arrange for the school in process of building at Cos- utilisation of these idle machines ford, near Wolverhampton number tors for, at any rate, part training but if and only partially employed Instruc- It is to accommodate a large

In the present year building, will for the Air Force, has not yet been have to be expedited.

adopted, although clearly it will

THE CHINA, MAIL, JUNE 4, 1938

CHINESE

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