FAITH IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 85, 4 January 1941, Page 13

FAITH IN BRITAIN

Famous Aviator’s Opinion ZENITH OF HER POWER One of the great living designers of aircraft and a man whose name is known in every country where aeroplanes fly, Mr. Igor Sikorsky is a great admirer not only of the British people, but of British warplanes and the men who fly them. He firmly believes that Britain will win the war, and in a recent interview with the Toronto “Star Weekly,” he .set out his views on the air war of the .past year. “Enough has happened for me to say that in my opinion Britain is there to stay,” Mr.' Sikorsky said. “I am quite sure that what is happening now, no matter what differences may come, will make a great and glorious people greater and more glorious still. “I know that I shall go again to England, where I have often been, and find that gallant people at the zenith of their history, not in their decline. The gallantry of England now will be one of the show pieces of history. Moreover, it is defending the ideas ot freedom and democracy, which are now in greater danger titan ever before.” . , Air. Sikorsky, who is a Russian and who designed the famous Sikorsky 5.428 flying-boat which pioneered many Pan American Airways’ ocean routes, including that to Auckland, was definite in his estimate of the quality of Britain’s aircraft. He said no aeroplanes in the world were superior to Britain’s. Judging by those lie had studied, he could say sincerely and conservatively that the greatest admiration must be given to the quality of British machines, to the vo.uine or Britain’s aircraft production, and to British aeronautical engineering. “In Germany you have a clever and powerful adversary, and one who is still producing more aeroplanes than any other country,” he said. "But i repeat my admiration lor Hie Biitls . Tlie .Spitlire, the Bristol bombers, some of the Supermarine flying-boats and several oilier types, are second to none in the world. The general character of the organization of the aircraft industry in Britain, her plant expansion, her engine production, and scientific research, and her training of pilots, are wonderful.” Mr. Sikorsky is engineering manager of the Vought-Sikorsky division of United Aircraft at Stratford, United States. He is building “flying dreadnoughts” tor the United States Navy, 30-ton machines with a range of 0000 miles, and has also produced new 30ton Clippers to succeed the famous earlier models which contributed largely to the success of ocean flying.