OUTPUT OF ’PLANES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 98, 25 March 1940, Page 7

OUTPUT OF ’PLANES.

LAG IN GERMANY. USE OF SUBSTITUTES. LONDON, Feb. 12. Aji authoritative survey of Germany’s aircraft production indicates that her output is greatly below that claimed in German propaganda figures, and that it is even 60 per cent, below the oiiicial programme. Two years ago American observers estimated Germany’s output to be 1000 machines a month, while Italian sources fixed her potential pre-war output at 1800 a month. On the other hand, it is known that during the six months preceding April, 1939, military machines were delivered at the rate of only 500 a month. The United States Assistant Secretary for Air (Mr L. Johnson) quoted 1937 figures as indicative of the discrepancy between the German programme and the German output. The programme specified 3154 machines, but only 720 were completed in the first six months, representing a lag of more than 50 per cent. This lag persisted, and it is estimated that it was between 40 and 50 per cent, at the beginning of the Polish campaign. It is difficult lor Germany greatly to increase her output in a short period, because her peace-time production, unlike that of Britain, was geared up almost to war level. The number of types being built is deliberately small, in order to facilitate mass production. The use of substitute materials is not responsible for any great inferiority in the German machines, as the new materials often have qualities which surpass those of the original materials. A drawback to the large employment of substitutes is the enormous wastage of raw materials involved in their production and the number of workmen employed in this process. The shortage of labour is one of (lie most serious handicaps to German aircraft production.