RUSSIA’S AIR FORCE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 September 1927, Page 9

RUSSIA’S AIR FORCE

LATE EDITION

FORMIDABLE PROPORTIONS. STUDY OF AVIATION. MADE COMPULSORY SUBJECT. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 11.40 a.m. to-day. LONDON, Sept. 11. Lord Thomson, 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 essentials of air 'power. It is using'State machinery to instil an iair sense into the Russians, making a study of aviation compulsory in schools and facilitating adult Hying as a pastime. Ukraine alone has 4662 aeronautical societies, with a membership of 360,000. Two other aviation societies, with a united membership of two millions, cover nineteen aero clubs and 1200 'libraries. The air force has 1500 military aircraft. A national industry has been founded and is building machines from Russian material successfully and specialising in allmetal machines constructed of a new alloy, koltohou galuminium. which has a tensile strength of 8500 pounds to *tlie square inch. Russia, a few years lienee, may control the Asiatic air routes eastward. “Italy, it is reported, intends to. con struct 2800 military aircraft by 1930. If Moscow makes Russian peasants aiirminded, Italy, Prance and Germany together will be miequal to Russia’s air power.”—“Sydney Sun” cable.