RUSSIA AND THE AIR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 81, 17 March 1934, Page 7

RUSSIA AND THE AIR

Big Development Plan POWERFUL MACHINES . LONDON, March S The existence of a vast Soviet plan of aerial development, including construction of a six-engined machine carrying 74 passengers, with a wing span of 169 ft. is reported by the aeronautical expert of the “Daily Mail.” The Soviet experimental engine institute, the expert says, employs 5000 persons, investigating the best British and American aeroplane engines, with * view of producing 10,000 of the highestclass engines a year. The Soviet Aeroplane Institute employs 4000 persons in building and testing civil and military aircraft. The institute includes extensive chemical and physical laboratories, and three wind tunnels. The Soviet favours all-metal aircraft, and has built several monoplanes of stainless steel. It is at present experimenting with m new low-wing metal fighter, capable of flying 225 miles an hour. Bombers are being built at the rate of one a day. A special plant, employing 6000. has designed a new bomber with a range of 800 miles, and a speed of 140 miles an hour, equipped with three gun cockpits. It can carry 80001 b. of bombs. A message from Riga says that after circling the town several times, two Russian military scouting ’planes were damaged in landing near Dvinsk. The occupants, four flying officers, were arrested. They told the Latvian political police that they lost their way in had weather, and were forced to land, owing to lack of fuel.