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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1426.PDF
MAY II, 1939 FLIGHT. 487 If! A RETRACTABLE FACTORY UNINTERRUPTED aircraft production in war time is a problem which occupies the governments of all countries. Underground factories form the solution adopted by some countries. In our own case we .have attacked the problem indirectly by arranging for aircraft to be produced in countries outside bombing range, i.e., Canada and Australia. Switzerland has adopted a different method. Last October a syndicate was formed there under the title '' Studiengesell- schaft zur Griindung einer Flugzeugfabrik," the object being to study the possibility of establishing a Swiss positively raid- proof aircraft factory. Some of the most influential Swiss industrialists were on the board, and Col. E. Messner, Central president of the Aero Club of Switzerland, Was elected president of the company, and Mr. A. Gazda, export manager of the Oerlikon Machine Tool Works, Biihrle and Co., was elected vice-president. A site was bought on the Biirgenberg, at Stans, near Lake Lucerne. The Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, as the. new company is called, will include in its factory two erecting sheds designed to run on rails, so that in the event of attack by bombers, the work can go on unhindered, by rolling the sheds into the mountainside. The system of construction has been patented by Mr. Gazda, and the general principle is shown in the accompanying draw ings. It will be seen that the erecting sheds are by no means small, measuring 246ft. in length and 82ft. in width. The front doors are armour plated, so that a bomb bursting in front of the sheds would do no serious damage. It would appear that the Gazda system of retractable sheds is worth looking into with a view to adopting it in this country. We have no great mountains, but we have plenty of hills into which sheds could be retracted. And if sites could be found with facilities for an aerodrome in front of the sheds, so much the better. Further information can be obtained from Mr. Gazda at the Dorchester Hotel, London. r VENTILATING SHAFT r The Gazda retractable erecting sheds which will form part of the new Swiss aircraft works at Stans on Lake Lucerne. The architect's picture, at the top of the page, shows how the sheds will appear when finished. ERECTING ROOM Wi._-f.ow _ l~ HALLOW S?ACE T^^W^T^: •' •• ^m? £.--• '/ Is • 68' lot
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