Show r r ENGLAND TURNS TO ALL METAL WAR AIRPLANES By KEITH JONES United Press Staff Correspondent LONDON Jan Tan 29 United Press Great Britain has turned to all all- metal construction for her fighting aircraft After 1928 1925 no more machines of wood construction will be built for forthe forthe forthe the air ministry Such is the Information which has been conveyed to the constructors constructors constructors tors of aircraft for the British government government government gov gov- with the intimation that the government go would change hange over overto overto overto to metal all construction Immediately immediately immediately immedi immedi- but realizes time is required for the re equipment of ot shops of airplane manufacturers with metal metalworking metalworking metalworking working machinery to take the place of ot the working wood-working machinery with which most most of ot them are now equipped 1 The decision to change over from wood to metal construction it is said was not due to the unquestioned unquestioned unquestioned superiority of ot metal construction construction construction con con- over wood for wood for there are some feature of at wood construction in aircraft that are superior to metal met met- al but al but to the scarcity of sufficient quantities of ot suitable wood to meet the tremendous us demands that would woul be made upon airplane manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers in the event of a new war England is well equipped to supply sup sup- supply ply pl all the metals needed in con con- of ot metal aircraft but it is dependent upon other countries countries- I notably the United States States for for eVery foot of at the air airplane lane spruce that goes extensively into the construction construction construction con con- of airplanes built of ot woodIt wood It is also pointed out by the air ministry that for mass production the metal all-metal type lends itself to cheaper and quicker construction By metal all construction the theair theair theair air ministry does not necessarily mean that the wing covering need also be made of metal but provision provisions is s made for the use of fabric for tor this purpose where the Special purpose of ot the designers deems f fabric bric more suitable than metal The framework framework frame- frame work vork of ot the airplane however must be constructed entirely of metal and the still newer use use of t stainless steel in airplane Construction will win play playa a large part partIn partin In n the makeup of ot the new machines The decision will have reach far ing effects not only on the aircraft manufacturers but on the training of ot mechanics in the Royal air force who have to be retained g gaining expert knowledge of metal working in place of the knowledge of woodworking woodworking wood wood- working that they now have It is believed here that the decision decision decision deci deci- sion may also have reaching far-reaching ef effects effects effects ef- ef on the aircraft industry in the United States In connection with both military and commercial ava- ava 1 tion |