مجموعة ٥/٧٣ "سلاح الجو الأفغاني: تقارير" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٨] (٤٣١/٢٩٥)

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3, (contd)
(e) Maintenance ,
(i) Karachi trained Afghan mechanics and fitters are still utilized
for maintaining Romeo aircraftc The Britim instructors carry
out minor repairs, but major repairs ace held up owing to a
general shortage of spares and lack cf welding material and
trained welders.
(ii) Only four Romeo aircraft are serviceable and capable of long
distance flights, while three aircraft are able to carry out
short flights in the vicinity of Kabulo This is duo to a shortage
of rubber washers for petrol pumps as reported last quarter.
(iii) The Czech engineer has made no progress in effecting welding
repairs except to spoil some material, or in the training of
Afghan personnel in welding.
(f) General.
The prestige of Italian aircraft has sunk even lower than before
amongst officers of the Afghan Air Force 0 It is stated that after the
accident reported in (d) above the Italian Legation tried to spread a
rumour to the effect that the aircraft which crashed on the 28th June
was a British Rind aircraft.
Flying Training School.
(a) During May and June pupils who passed out in 1941 were given short
training flights of -g- an hours 1 duration, but at the beginning of July
most of them were given leave to proceed to their homes for the harvest
season.
(b) The nine students who joined the school earlier this year are
being given instruction in foot drill and the theory of aviation.
Providing they pass their medical tests they are to commence their
flying training in the spring of 1943 0
5. Aerodromes .
(a) The construction of workshops and buildngs on trie Khwaja Rawash
aerodrome is making slow progress, and work is being delayed through
a lack of motor or animal transport for conveying material. The
hangers under construction are stated to be capable of housing bombers
of the Blenheim type. The workshops at this aerodrome have not been
established yet, or has the cement run-way been constructed.
(b) The hanger under construction at Kandahar still lacks a roof, and
it appears that the project may be held up indefinitely owing to the
difficulty of obtaining material from India at a reasonable price.
(c) The Afghan Government have authorised the construction of a hanger
to house 4 aircraft on the Herat aerodrome* It is to be a brick build
ing with a tin and earth roof, 50.90 metres long, 13.80 metres wide and
5.80 metres high.
The roof supports and folding doors of the hanger cannot be constructed
in Herat, and will probably be made in Kabul, end. transported to Herat
by sections.
A stone and cement reservoir for storing water and a petrol storage
tank, capacity not known, have been installed on the Herat aerodrome.
6. Avia.tion petrol .
(?0 The stocks of petrol at the Sherpur aerodrome remain at approximately
100,000 gallons. Supplies of aviation petrol from India were held up
for about one month during the quarter*
Petrol arriving from India has been utill j lor refueling aircraft at
Sherpur or transferred to Khwaja Rawash foi borage. No aviation petrol