Russian military aeronautics
In 1869 war minister General D. A. Muliutin established the Commission on the Use of Aeronautics for Military Purposes.[1]
1895, set up Officers' Aeronautical School.[1]
1909. Igor Sikorsky helicopter; Alxander Porkhovschikov airplane with armored cabin.[1]
1913. Purchase of 100 Farman biplanes and sixteen of a new Farman type equipped with machine guns – to be manufactured in Moscow and St. Petersburg.[2] [By the Farman company?]
The Russian government reportedly obtained 300 airplanes and 18 dirigibles, spending $12,000,000, in the period 1908–1913. According to these data it ranked third in military aero spending after Germany and France.[3]
Another source claims that Russia had more aircraft than Germany and France (with much lower estimates for the forces of both of these powers) but that Russia's fleet was obsolete and was reduced greatly early on in the war.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sanu Kainikara, "Soviet-Russian Air Power", Olsen, 2011, pp. 183–184.
- ↑ Arthur V. Prescott, "Foreign News: Russia", Aircraft, vol. 4., no. 1, March 1913, p. 13.
- ↑ Lawson, 1913, Educate Congress and Newspaper Editors, p. 8.
