BRITAIN’S AIRCRAFT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12867, 22 May 1936, Page 5

BRITAIN’S AIRCRAFT

FIVE MACHINES A DAY. During the next- twelve months the*. British aircraft industry will he producing on an average, live new aeroplanes every workng day, says the Daily Telegraph. • Of these, at least three will be Royal Air Force machines, and two commercial or civil. These are minimum estimates and will probably bo exceeded. The number of engines will b m' eh ■greater, for many of the machines have two or more engines. The figures given do not ineluude the “Flying Elea,” or “aerial scooter” class, many of which are being made privately. - During the summer, certain new high-performance R.A.E. types, now undergoing tests, will bo in full production. The two-year expansion scheme, whiefi was to bring the first line strength of the R.A.E. up to about 2000 aeroplanes bv the end of March, 1937,i will bo fulfilled. The newer programme, which is to bring tho total to about 2450, will not bo completed for another year.

During the four years of the war tho industry produced 55,093 aeroplanes and 41,034 aero engines. No doubt- this rate could be surpassed, if necessary, -despite the fact That modern machines are more complicated than -'those*, of the .war period, .of greater weight, and much higher quality. The original .power lias increased on an -ayeiuge five-fold p pr machine. *' ' . : V