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Aviation History
1923
1923 - 0203.PDF
APRIL 12, 1923 RUSSIAN AVIATION OF TODAY IN view of the many rumours of German activity in Russia, the following extract from Novoje Vremja, quoted in the Czecho-Slovak aviation journal l.eiectvi, may be of interest The German industrial domination of Russia after the signing of the Peace Treaty is also visible in Russian aviation. The Germans are furnishing aeroplanes to Soviet Russia, beginning to develop aerial lines and to build factories specially designed for giant aeroplanes. The aviation of Soviet Russia is beginning to wake up under this vigilant German eye. War aviation forms a special group of the aerial fleet under the direction of the General Staff. This aerial fleet is divided into five independent units or squadrons. Each squadron can depend on supplies, and therefore can fulfil all requirements. Each squadron consists of two types, reconnaissance and chasers. Each squadron has three groups of two machines. To each squadron belongs one air depot, two repair trains and two radio stations. The strength ot the force is as follows : In air divisions, 60 machines ; in the reserve, 15 machines ; total, 75. The personnel numbers 1,765. The squadron headquarters are placed in Moscow, Smolensk, Kieff, Odessa and Charkoff. There are 1\ squadrons in Russia capable of flying, and these are placed under :— 1. One squadron under English pilot Bujel (?). 2. Squadron under Shiripkin in Kieff. 3. Squadron consisting of one aerial division at Novgorod. To guess the size of the aerial fleet is somewhat difficult, because it is not yet in its complete form, but the following figures, showing the state of Russian aviation in July, 1922, give some idea :— Air divisions (scouts and chasers) .. 60 Air park , . . . . . ,. .. . . 6 Aerial workshops .. . . .. . . 14 Machines capable of flying .. .. .. 269 Under repair .. . . .. .. .. 70 To this number it is necessary to add 25 German machines which, according to agreement, were to be delivered by September, 1922, in Moscow. Moreover, Italy received orders for 100 Ansaldo 5 V.A. 300 h.p., the majority of which have already been delivered. There is also reason to believe that many machines have been bought in England, because at the end of September a Russian pilot flew an Avro Baby from London to Moscow without landing in German -. The appearance in the Soviet Russian aerial fleet of Fokkers, Junkers and Ansaldos certainly strengthens its position. According to the programme Soviet Russia intends to enlarge its aerial fleet by 1926 to 5,000 aftroplanes. The pilots have a special uniform consisting of a black tunic with blue breast cords (similar to Hussars), and receive pay of 300 to 400 million roubles monthly. The scheme for interior aviation is as follows :— 1. Normal air park placed far in the interior belongs to a squadron, where all repairs of machines and motors are carried out. To it belongs train workshops and depots with spare parts, capable of effecting small repairs. 2. Central park accepts, preserves and guards all air material manufactured in the workshops, and distributes these at given orders to the normal parks. 3. Central head depot. To it are sent all the materials from all aerial parks which are either destined for repair or destruction. In this central depot all the material is sorted, cleaned and again delivered according to instructions. Technical Schools.—The following higher technical schools are in operation :— 1. School of the Russian Red Fleet, which carries the name of Prof. N. E. Zhukovsky. 2. Aerodynamics school (experimental aerodrome). 3. Aerial War Academy. 4. Aerial War High School. Intermediate Schools.— 1. School of aviation technique (Theory). 2. Practical aviation school. 3. School for technicians and mechanics. 4. .School for motor mechanics. 5. Aerial photographic school. 6. Course of photographic aerial laboratory. 7. School for hydroplanes. 8. Preparatory school for pilots (Petrograd). 9. Preparatory school for pilots (Egorjevsk). ' •'• 10. High preparatory school for pilots (Kieff). 11. Course for air mechanics (Petrograd). The time of training in the aerial war academy is 2J years, one of which is a preparatory year, the rest being highly specialised, and this course has again two divisions, one war aviation and war aviation technique. The students are required, besides attending lectures, to carry out practical flying. At the highest aerial school for the student it is necessary to jump from the aeroplane with parachute (system Kotelnik) from a height of 1,000 metres, and during the descent to fire at an imaginary enemy. Aviation Literature.—Aviation literature finds its propaganda in Russia through two journals, The Journal of Aerial Fleet and a technical journal called Aerial Work. The aviation journal is a periodical of 8,000 copies, which are not on sale, but are given to all interested in aviation. It is now the third year that this journal has been in existence. This journal appearing in about 80 pages, has many articles deploring the state of aviation in Russia, and has also a very comprehensive summary of aviation outside of Russia. Besides these, in 1921 there was established a special aviation reference library, which comprised (1) scientific notes, (2) newspapers, (3) foreign literature, (4) lectures, (5) books, (6) book depot. There is also in preparation for printing, " The Causes of Accidents to Aeroplanes." The material for this publication will be gathered from various workers, and it is intended to give 22 articles dealing with aeroplanes and 40 dealing with pilots. There is a prize given for the various essays. THE LONDON-CONTINENTAL SERVICES - Route (including certain diverted journeys) Croydon-Paris ... Paris-Croydon Croydon—Brussels- Cologne Cologne-Brussels- Croydon Croydon—Rotterdam ... Rotterdam-Croydon ... Manchester-Croydon- Amsteruam Amsterdam-Croydon- Manchester Total for three weeks FLIGHTS BETWEEN • •y • »-t q=l No . c 69J 59 21§ 21|| 16 16 141f 18** 234 snger s (ft ft No . of 204 337 74 97 31 38 72 54 907 No. of flights carrying m Mai l 22 14 16 14 14 14 13 107 CO rr-t Goo c 43 36 10 6 15 14 4 14 142 Is o ^^• -^>o *S S° o 6 ° 64 52 20 19 16 16 14 16 217 MARCH vin g « » S..S Ave i h. m. 3 4 2 41 4 30 3 51 2 42 2 38 5 19 5 42 18 AND APRIL 7, Fastest time made D.H. 4 G-EAMU (2h. D.H. 4 G-EAMU (lh.. D.H. 34 G-EBBR (3h. D.H. 34G-EBBW(2b Fokker H-NABQ (2h. Fokker H-NABN (2h. - : .- - — INCLUSIVE by 3m.) 46m.) 39m.) 45m.) 9m.) 20m.) • •.•", ' . .• 'r*-• Type and (in brackets) Number of each type flying B. (2), D.H. 4 (1), D.H. S G. (14), H.P.W.8B. (2), Sp B. (1), D.H. 4 (1), D.H. 9 G. (15), H.P.W.8B. (2), Sp. D.H. 18 (1), D.H. 34 (4). D.H. 34 (4). -*.v- ••• '„ F.(7). '"^A.,:':;..; F. (8). •• :-.^ ' • D.H. 34 (4). D.H. 34 (4). ' • -•••:'-"• X'. (1) (3) (1) (3) 203
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